Aug 30: The 10th Annual Art Deco Festival - RMS Queen Mary

On Saturday, August 30, I'll join Dean Mora and The Queen Mary Orchestra and fellow vocalist Kayre Morrison as we return to The Art Deco Grand Ball, "an exquisite vintage affair to remember with a delectable four-course historic menu," at the Tenth Annual Art Deco Festival aboard the legendary Queen Mary.

In addition to tours, lectures, cocktails and dances, the Festival also makes an important contribution to ongoing efforts to preserve the original Art Deco design elements aboard the ship. Proceeds from the Grand Art Deco Ball will go to updating the Queen Mary Story Tour with new exhibits from the historic archives. Presented in association with the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles.

Dean Mora and the Queen Mary Orchestra,
with vocalists Damon Kirsche and Kayre Morrison,
at the 9th Annual Art Deco Festival (photo: Paul Liles)

The Art Deco Grand Ball

at the 10th Annual Art Deco Festival

Saturday, August 31, 2013, 7PM - 12AM 

Dean Mora and The Queen Mary Orchestra

with Kayre Morrison and Damon Kirsche

RMS Queen Mary, 1126 Queen's Highway, Long Beach, California 90802

“Cruise” back in time to the Golden Age of Travel for a weekend aboard one of the greatest Maritime Monarchs in history. Drink, dine, dance, and discover the opulence of this by-gone era immersed among the largest collection of Art Deco in the World.

The Queen Mary boasts some of the grandest and intricate interior designs ever accomplished on an ocean liner. Influenced by the Art Deco movement of the 1920s and 30s, her strong curves and geometric forms represent elegance, glamour, function and modernity. Art plays a prominent role in the décor of the ship. Further enhanced by the use of over 50 different types of woods from all over the world, The Queen Mary earned her nickname, the "Ship of Woods." With elaborate murals, paintings, sculptures and wood carvings found throughout the ship, it’s no wonder she is widely considered one of the best examples and landmarks of Art Deco style in the world.

Pack your vintage duds and celebrate the luxury and grandeur immortalized in F. Scott Fitzgerald's literary classic The Great Gatsby at the 10th Annual Art Deco Festival presented by the Queen Mary in association with the Art Deco Society of Los Angeles.

Tickets start at just $25 for an Art Deco Day pass. Get an all-inclusive Art Deco Grand Passport for $469. To buy single tickets or find more information on the entire festival, visit the Queen Mary.com.

Aug 25: An Evening of Classic Broadway hosted by Brad Ellis - Upstairs at Vitello's

Monday, August 25th at 8PM, I'll appear Upstairs at Vitello’s, singing AN EVENING OF CLASSIC BROADWAY, hosted by acclaimed musical director Brad Ellis and featuring a cast of A-list singers singing favorite songs from classic Broadway shows.

Brad and I will present a new medley of "The Songs Forty-Second Street," (tunes Warren and Dubin wrote for Warner Brothers Pictures about Broadway in the '30s, but which didn't appear on the Great White Way until 1980), as well as a Jerry Herman rarity, "The Antique Man," (from the revue PARADE, 1960) in an arrangement I first presented with the Fred Barton Orchestra at the American Showstoppers: Jerry Herman concert in 2013 (video link: "Damon Kirsche and the Fred Barton Orchestra present Jerry Herman's "The Antique Man," from PARADE, 1960).")

UPDATE: video link: "The Songs of Forty-Second Street" (Warren/Dubin; arr. Kirsche/Ellis)

Brad Ellis,
Host and Musical Director

Long regarded as one of the most respected and sought after composers, arrangers, and musical directors in the Broadway community, Brad Ellis is currently enjoying a newfound fame as the on-camera pianist on the hit television series Glee. Lately, he has been traveling the world with Matthew Morrison as Musical Director for Matthew’s solo show.

Fraser Entertainment Group presents

AN EVENING OF CLASSIC BROADWAY

hosted by Brad Ellis

Monday, August 25th at 8PM

Upstairs at Vitello’s Jazz and Supper Club

4349 Tujunga Avenue, Studio City, CA 91604

TICKETS: $15 / 818.769.0905 or at ticketweb.com

Aug 6-10: 42ND STREET at MTWichita

Julian Marsh (Damon Kirsche) tells Peggy Sawyer (Tessa Grady)
 about the lullaby of old Broadway.

I'm honored and thrilled to return to Music Theatre Wichita to present 42ND STREET, the musical valentine to the Great White Way that celebrates the timeless songs of Harry Warren and Al Dubin. Directed and choreographed by Jon Engstrom of the original Broadway company in an entirely new production designed by Bruce Brockman and costumed by Debbie Roberts, this 42ND STREET is a stellar presentation of Gower Champion and David Merrick's original 1980 production.

"Come and meet those dancing feet!”  Broadway’s liveliest tap-dance extravaganza triumphantly returns to Music Theatre Wichita, bringing all its lively humor, gorgeous costumes, and exhilarating dance numbers. 42nd Street is the ultimate in spectacular feel-good entertainment, featuring an unprecedented array of magnificent songs:  “The Lullaby of Broadway,” “Young and Healthy,” “You’re Getting to be a Habit with Me,” “We’re in the Money,” “Shuffle Off to Buffalo,” ”Go Into Your Dance,” “About a Quarter to Nine,” and the hypnotic title tune.

Watch "The Brett and Sierra Show" (KWCH12) — Damon Kirsche joins Brett and Sierra to discuss MTWichita's production of 42ND STREET.

Watch a "sneak peek" of rehearsal footage and interviews with the cast and creative team of MTWichtia's 42ND STREET and view additional photos at BroadwayWorld.com.

Julian Marsh (Damon Kirsche) leads his cast to "glory."

Dorothy Brock (Tracy Lore) in the shadows, where she comes to sing to you.

Peggy Sawyer (Tessa Grady) and Billy Lawlor (Shonn Wiley)
in the 42ND STREET ballet.

Julian Marsh (Damon Kirsche) celebrates
"naughty, bawdy, gaudy, sporty" 42ND STREET.

presents

42ND STREET

August 6-10, 2014

Music Theatre Wichita

Century II Performing Arts and Convention Center

225 West Douglas Avenue, Wichita, Kansas 67202

Music by Harry Warren, Lyrics by Al Dubin

Book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble

Based on the Novel by Bradford Ropes

Original Direction and Dances by Gower Champion

Originally Produced on Broadway by David Merrick

The use of all songs is by Warner Bros., the owner of music publishers’ rights

For tickets, call the box office at 316.265.3107, or visit: MTWichita.org

All photos: Christopher Clark Photography

Jul 25: Mora's Modern Rhythmists 20th Anniversary Party

Damon Kirsche, Dean Mora, Kayre Morrison, Jim Ziegler and Denny Hardwick
at the 20th Anniversary Party of Mora's Modern Rhythmists at
Maxwell DeMille's Cicada Club (Photo: Dave Welch, Photos With Class)

Mora's Modern Rhythmists celebrates its 20th Anniversary playing classic jazz and swing tunes of the 1920s and early 1930s. Using period arrangements and transcriptions from the original recordings, Mora's Modern Rhythmists has established itself as one of the foremost interpreters of early big band and society swing orchestra music.

Friday, July 25, 2014
MORA'S MODERN RHYTHMISTS'
20TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY
The Cicada Club, 617 S. Olive Street, Los Angeles, CA 90014

For upcoming performances, visit morasmodern.com.