Musical theatre actress Sally Mayes has released "The Story Hour," a new CD on the Varese Sarabande label. Absent for several years from the New York stage, Hayes has to credits such shows as the Maltby-Shire Off Broadway hit Closer Than Ever and the Broadway revival She Loves Me. The latter performance won her a Tony nomination.

"The Story Hour," produced by Bruce Kimmel, was recorded live in August at New York City's Clinton Studios. The CD features selections by Maltby and Shire ("I'll Get Up Tomorrow Morning"), Frank Loesser ("Hamlet") and Jim Steinman ("Heaven Can Wait"), as well as some more unconventional numbers, such as the old Leon Russell-penned Carpenters hit "Superstar" and Bruce Springsteen's "Meeting Across the River."

The song list of "The Story Hour" is as follows:

€ "Once Upon a Time"
€ "Crooked Smile"
€ "I'll Get Up Tomorrow Morning"
€ "Babysitter Song"
€ "Hamlet"
€ "Southbound Train"
€ "Shopping Cart of Love"
€ "Dear Danny"
€ "Painting my Kitchen"
€ "Superstar"/"Anyone Who Had a Heart"
€ "He Ain't Mr. Right"
€ "Sweet Dreams"
€ "Meeting Across the River"
€ "Heaven Can Wait."

--By Robert Simonson