Dec 22, 2011

1/15: The Metropolitan Room, New York

FRED BARTON PRESENTS
AND THINKS YOU'RE GONNA LOVE IT!

UPDATE: BroadwayWorld.com's Michael Dale reviews the evening.

Fred Barton hosts, sings and plays once a month with his 9-piece Broadway Band, bringing back classic Broadway show music with some swing on the side.  Fred's guest singers on January 15 are the incomparable ELENA BENNETT, and the dashing DAMON KIRSCHE in a rare New York appearance, with a special appearance by the legendary PAMELA MYERS.   Fred's previous guest singers KAREN WILDER and JESSE LUTTRELL will also appear.  Included will be songs from TENDERLOIN, LI'L ABNER, FADE OUT-FADE IN, SARATOGA, SUGAR, LIFE BEGINS AT 8:40, PLAIN AND FANCY, TWO ON THE AISLE, DO RE MI, SUPERMAN, HELLO DOLLY!, LITTLE ME, and a rare outtake from CHICAGO.

Fred: "Classic show music has fallen into a bit of disrepute and disuse around town. I just don't hear enough of it to suit me, in the piano bars, the cabarets, and of course on Broadway. My friends know I've been bitching about this for a few years. I love show music. I love a good band. I love a great singer. And I especially love a great singer singing a great show song with a great band."

"I know a bunch of great old-time Broadway singers trapped like me in a rock-and-roll world. I know a bunch of great songs that aren't being heard. I know a bunch of show music fans like me, who are staying home on the internet. Tell you what. Why don't we all get together?"

"ELENA BENNETT has one of our time's uniquely powerful and rich voices, with a Broadway repertoire to match. DAMON KIRSCHE is the quintessential Broadway matinée idol with a voice for the ages and consummate taste. I can't wait to feature them with the Broadway Band."

"FRED BARTON PRESENTS – AND THINKS YOU'RE GONNA LOVE IT!" will be presented monthly throughout 2012, with a CD release in July.

The show's debut in September was a sell-out smash, with a line down the street, walkups turned away and a jam-packed room.

FRED BARTON is a performer, arranger, songwriter, conductor, and TV composer. His previous cabaret revues include FORBIDDEN BROADWAY (Drama Desk, Tony Award, 27-year run), MISS GULCH RETURNS! (Bistro Award), and WHOOP-DEE-DOO! (Drama Desk Award.) He's conducted numerous Broadway shows, composed numerous TV shows, and his symphonic orchestrations are played almost weekly by orchestras around the country. His symphonic pops arrangements were played in four different concerts at Carnegie Hall in 2011.

As Jerry Herman wrote: "There's just no tune as exciting as a show tune."

Fred Barton Presents – And Thinks You're Gonna Love It!

Sunday, Jan. 15 at 7PM
The Metropolitan Room
34 West 22nd St. (Between 5th and 6th Avenues)
New York, NY 10010
$20 cover, 2-drink minimum (food available)
For TICKETS, visit metropolitanroom.com
or call: 212.206.0440