Entitled Take the A Train: NYCGMC Sings Billy Strayhorn, the evening will be presented in June — specific date to be announced — at the Nokia Theatre in Times Square. Written and directed by Gleason, the concert will boast arrangements by Grammy winner Alan Broadbent.
Jazz composer-arranger Strayhorn was, perhaps, best known for his two-decade collaboration with Duke Ellington, but he was also an out African-American gay man in an era when that was an anomaly. Strayhorn's most popular compositions include "Lush Life" and "Take the A Train."
Joanna Gleason recently starred as Muriel in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. She received a Tony nomination for that performance, and she won the Tony for her work as the Baker's Wife in the original cast of Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods. Gleason's other Broadway credits include I Love My Wife, The Real Thing, Joe Egg (Tony nomination), Social Security and Nick & Nora.
The Nokia Theatre is located in Manhattan at 1515 Broadway at 44th Street. Tickets, priced $30-$67, will go on sale Oct. 2 by calling (212) 344-1777.
* The New York City Gay Men's Chorus season will also include 2006 Holiday Spectacular (Dec. 11 at 8 PM at Carnegie Hall) and Classically NYCGMC (March 11 and 12 at 8 PM at the Merkin Recital Hall).