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Play It Cool Nominated for 2012 OCC Award
Mark's original jazz noir musical about Hollywood gay life in the 1950s was just nominated for "Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical" by the Outer Critics Circle in New York City!
Outer Critics Circle, the organization of writers and commentators covering New York theater for out-of-town newspapers, national publications and other media beyond Broadway, announced its nominees for the 2011-12 season in 24 categories.
On Monday, May 14th, 2012, the Outer Critics Circle 2012 Awards will be announced publicly.
Reviews for the Score of "Play It Cool" (Fall 2011 - NYC)
“The abundant score by Phillip Swann with lyrics by Mark Winkler is consistently excellent and smartly conceived.” - Backstage
“The upbeat, jazzy original and tuneful score, music by Phillip Swann and lyrics by Mark Winkler is just plain terrific” - Talk Entertainment
“Four Stars” - New York Theatre Examiner
“The original musical is well served by Mark Winkler’s lyrics and the energetic music by Phil Swann” - Asscociated Press
“Entertaining“ - New York Times
“It boasts an infectious, jazz tinged score, lyrics by Mark Winkler and music by Phil Swann sung by a stellar 5 person cast. Sally Mayes tears the roof off the small theatre in sizzling number after number” - Theatremania
“Play It Cool strikes the right chord! The music and lyrics are a delight… I especially like “In My Drag”, “Jazz is a Special Taste” and “Scattin’ in the Moonlight”. This is one hip musical cast!” - Time Square Chronicles
“Play It Cool is a must see for Jazz musical fans. It is the music that helps the audience feel the emotions.” - Newark Theatre Examiner
“The music…runs away with the show, enlivening the story arc. Phillip Swann’s tunes and Mark Winkler‘s lyrics paint a moody, harsh portrait of a hidden society brightened only by the cool California sound of the day. Songs like “Club Life/Welcome”, "Like Jazz” and “Play It Cool” are as snappy as the dialogue.” - Curtain Up
“The smooth grooves, mostly by Phillip Swann and Mark Winkler would not sound out of place at, say the Village Gate” - Chelsea Now
“Swann’s music is harmonically complex, and it has the rhythm and fluency of bebop jazz improvisation… Chris Hoch brings a resonant baritone to “Happy Ending” and Michael McGuirk more than holds his own as an actor who can sing with his poignant “How Do I Go Home Tonight?” - Solomon Says
“It indeed does Play It Cool…most notably in it’s score, comprised of songs that double as jazz pastiche and musical theatre character numbers” - Show Business
“Cast all your cares away and be transported to a land of jazz ecstasy.” - Oscar E. Moore
All photos by Joan Markus
Play It Cool Opens Off Broadway
Mark's original jazz noir musical about Hollywood gay life in the 1950s is going to open Off Broadway in New York City!
Play It Cool's official opening night is September 14, 2011 and has a limited run through October 8th, 2011. Previews start on September 2nd.
Here's all the details:
Starring:
Sally Mayes (as Mary)
Jenn Colella (as Lena)
Michael Buchanan (as Will)
Michael McGuirk (as Henry)
Chris HockWhere (as Eddie)Where:
The Acorn Theatre (Theatre Row)
410 W 42nd Street
New York, NY 10036
(212) 714-2442When:
Previews start September 2nd Opening Night is September 14thTickets:
Get tickets at Telecharge.com
If you're planning to be
in New York don't miss it!
Winkler/Bentyne Top West Coast Cabaret Duo
BroadwayWorld.com reports that San Francisco's weekly Jazz & Cocktails column has announced their 2010 Top Cabaret Artist Awards - and Mark Winkler & Cheryl Bentyne have been named among the "Top Cabaret Duos".
Here's what they say: "These two blend beautifully & are among the finest in the art of West Coast Cool jazz." Congratulations, Mark & Cheryl!
You can read more at: BroadwayWorld.com
Samuel French Adds "Too Old For The Chorus"
Play publishers and author's representatives Samuel French of New York City have added Mark Winkler, Marie Cain & Shelly Markham's musical comedy "Too Old For The Chorus - But Not Too Old To Be A Star" to their repertoire. The show is a smart, funny musical revue about men and women who find themselves suddenly 50!
The Samuel French website has a show synopsis, cast and orchestra breakdowns, several reviews and MP3 musical examples from the show - as well as offering the book for sale.
To visit the page CLICK HERE.
Why Is This Man Smiling?
Last Spring Mark made a music video to the song, "Sissies" from his new CD. It got such great response that he decided to make another music video from the CD this Summer - this time to "How Can That Make You Fat?" When he wrote the lyrics to this song he had a laundry-list of food images and scenarios in mind - all of which are cleverly represented in the video, as well as the video debut of his dog Sparky (or as she's now called, "One-Take Sparky"). Her scene went so well that she now wants her own trailer and Perrier in her water bowl.
To see the new video go to Mark's Video Page.
Make sure you watch the video all the way to the end for the "Big Surprise!"
PLAY IT COOL Selected for NAMT Festival
The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) has announced the selections for its 22nd Annual Festival of New Musicals taking place on Thursday, October 21 and Friday, October 22, 2010 in New York City. Mark Winkler's PLAY IT COOL will be one of the 8 featured musicals.
At NAMT's Festival, New York City's longest-running musical theatre festival, theatre producers from around the world come together for this industry-only event to discover 8 new musicals presented in 45-minute staged readings over two days. Since 1989, the Festival has presented over 230 musicals and 420 writers, and almost 80% of these shows have found subsequent productions, tours, licensing agreements, and/or cast albums as a direct result of the Festival.
NAMT Executive Director Kathy Evans said, "We are proud to provide these writers with the opportunity to present their musicals to the industry people who can make a difference for their show and their careers. We are eternally grateful to our funders and sponsors, who fully underwrite the costs of our Festival, so that the writers have no financial burden and can focus on their work. I can't wait for those electrifying 2 days, when 100 artists and 700 producers gather to find the musicals of the future."
Congratulations to Mark, Larry Dean Harris, Martin Casella and all of the composers: Jim Andron, Michael Cruz, Marilyn Harris, Emilio Palame, Joe Pasquale and Larry Steelman and Phillip Swann.
MARK RETURNED TO SHOW 'EM HOW IT WAS DONE
Cabaret West Presents . . .
By Popular DemandMARK WINKLER - HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN CD (and not go broke!)
A Singers WorkshopOn Monday, March 8, 2010 (from 7:00pm to 10:00pm) Cabaret West presented Mark Winkler's "How To Make Your CD (and not go broke!)" workshop at the Gardenia Restaurant and Lounge in West Hollywood.
Mark said, "I promised to get to the nitty gritty. To give 'em costs, studios , no bull---! And I delivered. I've produced over 15 CDs and that experience has taught me what
works and what doesn't. We covered from planning your CD to promoting it!"Thanks to Cabaret West and to the Gardenia - let's do it again!
PROF. WINKLER WAS IN THE HOUSE - AGAIN!
Starting April 5, 2010 Mark taught lyric writing at UCLA Extension again this year. He has described the past classes he taught as, "some of the best experiences I've ever had! The students were incredible and having the twelve weeks to work with them - produced some great music." Mark's lyric class got the highest ratings a first year instructor has ever received at UCLA Extension. He's hoping to come back for a 5th year in a row - with even more new songs and tips to impart to budding songwriters.
Mark and his 2010 UCLA Lyric Writing ClassHere are some comments from past year's students:
"This is the best workshop I have ever taken on writing song lyrics. Mark's method really works for me."
Christel Knonang Ph.D."I have learned so much in these workshops...anybody from beginning-est of beginners right up to Stephen Sondheim himself could benefit from Winkler's phenomenal syllabus"
Kilbourne Craddock
Here's a course description:Of interest to beginning as well as more experienced songwriters, this course offers a supportive and inspirational writing workshop environment. Instruction focuses on three equally important and interrelated aspects of songwriting: form, theme, and content. Each week, students perform practical exercises and write lyrics to strengthen their songwriting skills. Exercises are designed to broaden rhyming patterns and add specificity and color to songs. Hit songs by such writers as The Beatles, Jason Mraz, John Mayer, and Joni Mitchell provide templates for commercial lyric writing. Ultimately, each participant's lyrics are evaluated by the hit song formula: to entertain, to tell the truth, and to connect with your audience.
Mark Winkler, platinum awarded lyricist and songwriter who has written for such artists as Dianne Reeves, Nancy Wilson, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Liza Minnelli, has written or co-written songs for five musicals - Naked Boys Singing!, Bark!, Too Old for the Chorus, Play It Cool, and Hangin' Out. He has nine CDs out of his own songs out, the latest being the recently released "Till I Get It Right" available on Amazon, iTunes and CDBaby.
WINKLER ACTIVITY UPDATE for 2010 (as of January 27th) This looks like another busy year for Mark on the many musical and theatrical fronts that he covers - here's a quick listing of what is upcoming in 2010.
PERSONAL APPEARANCES
JANUARY 30: Upstairs at Vitello's, Studio City - Mark's first appearance at this new, hip Jazz room. He'll have an amazing band, will be singing a mix of songs from his recent album, some Bobby Troup, and a couple of new songs.
FEBRUARY 14: Las Vegas Jazz Society Concert, Summerlin, NV - For Valentine's Day, Mark will be singing with Judy Wexler at a new Performing Arts Center, singing a mix of originals and standards. (For more info on this concert, see his Appearances page)
MARCH 30: Guest appearance with Therese Genecco Big Band at the Iridium, NYC - Therese Genecco is a fantastic entertainer, small of stature and huge in talent. She and Mark are very "simpatico" and have plans to work together when possible. She has invited Mark to appear at her gig at one of New York's most famous jazz rooms. This is a "one-time only" appearance at present.
APRIL 10: The Gardenia, Hollywood - Mark will be presenting a new show with New York songbird Mary Foster Conklin in the intimate space of the Gardenia, the area's premier Cabaret room.
AUGUST 18: Catalina's Jazz Club, Hollywood - Mark and Cheryl Bentyne (of Manhattan Transfer) are putting together a new show called "West Coast Cool" featuring material associated with West Coast songwriters and singers. This will be the first performance of this show, which will be booked into several other venues soon.
RECORDINGS
In the studio during February: Cheryl Bentyne's new , as yet untitled CD featuring the George Gershwin songbook. Mark is singing a duet with Cheryl on "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off"
Mark's 2009 release "Till I Get it Right" has been named as one of the top 10 jazz CD's of the year by three publications: DOWNBEAT, JERSEY JAZZ and JAZZ TIMES.
For release in 2010: Charmaine Clamor, the wonderful Philippina jazz singer who is Mark's label mate, is in the process of finishing up a new jazz CD. One of the tracks is a song Mark wrote, called "Sweet Spot". It's hot, and Charmaine makes it hotter!
Also for release in 2010: Cheryl Barnes Untitled - As noted in our last summary, Cheryl Barnes has been working diligently on finishing up the recording of her first CD, an amazing piece of work that showcases her great voice and sultry style, as well as many wonderful tunes. Among those tunes are two written by Mark Winkler and they are given sparkling renditions here.
MUSICAL THEATER
Currently Playing: NAKED BOYS SINGING is still playing in New York (11th year) and in London. And God knows where else.
Opening on February 13: BARK! is being given in a new production by the South Bay Civic Light Opera at the Redondo Beach Performing Arts Center. This revised, final version of the show has a book co-written by Mark and the score features four songs he co-wrote with David Troy Francis, the show's composer. A couple of international productions are also in the works.
Deals being negotiated: Deals for productions of both "Hangin' Out" and "Play It Cool" are currently being negotiated with interested parties; however, until signatures appear on the dotted line, we can't predict when these shows will hit the boards. There is a strong possibility that one or both of them will be presented in a New York Off-Broadway house before the end of the year.
WORKSHOPS AND TEACHING
March 8: WORKSHOP "How to Make Your Own Jazz CD, and not go broke" - Mark gave this workshop in October and it was so successful that he was asked to do it again, on a larger scale, by a cabaret artists' organization. This time, the workshop will be given at the Gardenia, in Hollywood.
Week of April 5th: LYRIC-WRITING CLASS, UCLA - Once a week, three-hour classes for 12 weeks. If interested, let Mark know and he'll tell you how to enroll. Mark loves to teach this class and so far, the students have loved taking it.
CD PRODUCTION
Current: 'Presenting Dolores Scozzesi" - Mark is producing jazz singer Dolores Scozzesi's first CD. They are still in the process of recording vocals but the album should be completed by early March.
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES
We are still waiting for the Jessica Marberger album to be released. It's in the hands of Warner Records Europe and they seem to be dragging their heels.
Our friend Claire Martin, who has had a hit with her latest album called " A MODERN ART", was recently voted Great Britain's best Female Jazz Vocalist by a major British publication. She has recorded a couple of Mark's songson her current album, it's a song called lowercase (co-written with Lori Barth) with music by Joshua Redman.
TOP
Christopher Loudon of the prestigious Jazz Times Magazine has selected Mark Winkler's "Till I Get It Right" CD as one of the 10 Best Jazz CDs of 2009.
Joe Lange of Jersey Jazz also picked "Till I Get It Right" in his Top 10 for 2009.
Also, Don Albert of Downbeat selected "Till I Get It Right" to his Top 10 Jazz CDs for 2009, as well!
Congratulations to Mark, producer Barbara Brighton and FreeHam Records on this great success!
Lowercase Goes Uppercrust
Mark Winkler's new song from his CD "Till I Get It Right" was recently recorded by British jazz thrush Claire Martin. The London Sunday Times offered the following review:
"The most gifted jazz singer this country has produced in 20 years, Claire Martin ought to be a much bigger name on both sides of the Atlantic. At least she has the satisfaction of having helped to redefine the repertoire. As ever, she veers left-field in an intelligent yet passionate set, a haunting treatment of Esbjorn Svensson's Love Is Real nestling alongside Mark Winkler's memorably angular lyrics on the Joshua Redman tune Lowercase. Martin leaves ample space for a band featuring some of our most accomplished musicians, the saxman Nigel Hitchcock among them. (You can't help wishing that she would be more willing to grab the limelight, instead of being one of the boys in the band.)"
Linn AKD340You can hear samples and purchase this CD at amazon.com and on iTunes.
Mark on David Kenney's
Everything Old is New Again
On Sunday, June 7th, 2009 Mark Winkler did an in-studio interview on David Kenney's popular radio program, EVERYTHING OLD IS NEW AGAIN. David chatted with Mark about his life, career and friends - and about his new FreeHam Records CD "Till I Get It Right". EVERYTHING OLD IS NEW AGAIN can be heard every Sunday from 9:20-9:40pm (ET) over WBAI 99.5 FM (in NYC) and on the internet at: www.wbai.org
CLICK HERE to hear the entire interview.
6 Nominations for Winkler at
2009 Just Plain Folks Awards
The nominations for the 2009 Just Plain Folks Awards were recently announced and Mark Winkler has garnered 6 nominations spanned across 4 different categories. Voting for the winners is done by JPF members and will take place online beginning July 1st, 2009. Remember the old city of Chicago adage: "Vote early and vote often!" Good luck to Mark and all the nominees.
2009 Cabaret Album Nominee
"Till I Get It Right"
Mark Winkler - Artist2009 Theater Album Nominee
"Play It Cool"
Original Los Angeles Cast Recording2009 Cabaret Song Nominee
"Sissies"
Louis Durra, Mark Winkler - Writers
Sung by Mark Winkler
(from his CD "Till I Get It Right")2009 Theater Song Nominees
"Like Jazz"
Mark Winkler/Larry Steelman - Writers
Original Los Angeles Cast Recording
(from "Play It Cool")"Scattin' in the Moonlight"
Mark Winkler, Jim Andron - Writers
Original Los Angeles Cast Recording
(from "Play It Cool")"Whatever It Takes"
Mark Winkler, Phillip Swann - Writers
Original Los Angeles Cast Recording
(from "Play It Cool")
Mark Winkler and Lea SolongaAn Evening With Asia America Symphony
By Lea Salonga - Philippine Daily Inquirer - June 3, 2009My friends' jaws dropped when I broke the news that I would perform with him and the Asia America Symphony Orchestra. Actually, earlier, so did mine.
David [Benoit] is well known on our shores for a lot of his songs, two of which I've recorded: "When The Winter's Gone" and "Land of the Loving." It was thanks to my recording the second song that this performance came about.
Mark Winkler, co-writer of "Land of the Loving," heard my version on my MySpace page and told David. Conversations about a concert in Los Angeles with the Asia America Symphony followed, and voila!We rehearsed the day before the show: once at David's house (we would end up doing a piano-and-vocal duet of "Land of the Loving" for one of three encores) and once at the Aratani/Japan America Theater with the orchestra. During the three or so hours at the venue, we went through most of my repertoire. I normally have my back to the orchestra; but for the rehearsal I needed to communicate with David, so I stood close to the conductor's podium.
Next day, I was brought to the theater by the family of one of the violinists. David had earlier discussed that he would do things in show order, more or less the orchestral pieces first, then my music. Suited me fine. I holed up in the dressing room for a little bit to warm up. A couple of my friends were in the theater to watch the rehearsal, which was really sweet.We went through the music that we were having a little trouble with from the previous rehearsal, and then played things that we weren't able to visit at all. Notes were exchanged and given markings made to denote cues, cut-offs and such.
(L to R) David Benoit, Mark Winkler & Richard del Belso
Once rehearsal was over, I headed backstage to have a little dinner before the performance. My make-up guy then arrived, got set up and we were off and running.I didn't watch the first half of the show, so I can't comment on it a bit of a shame, since the orchestra played Leonard Bernstein's Symphonic Dances from "West Side Story."
My set started at around 9 p.m. and ended an hour or so later. The room had gotten dry over the course of the day, and I noticed its effect on my voice. My instrument felt strange and sticky, despite my consuming copious amounts of water during the show, but oh well such is life! On the whole, though, I was very happy with how everything turned out.
As fantastic as it always is singing with an orchestra of this size, my personal highlight was performing "Land of the Loving" with David on the piano. That made me very happy.
My sincerest thanks to David Benoit, to everyone at Asia America Symphony Orchestra, to Gerard Salonga (for sending some of your and your team's most beautiful orchestrations, which received numerous compliments) and everyone that came to the Aratani to see the show. I do hope I get invited back!
Winkler Charts with "Till I Get It Right"
Mark Winkler's
March 16th Freeham Records release "Till I Get It Right" made the JazzWeek charts at #49 - actually a week earlier than the radio promoters thought.
The CD is currently getting airplay in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Boston, Miami, Phoenix, Albany, Miami, Atlanta, Orlando, New Orleans, Boston and many other cities. Go to Mark's Radio Friends page for a list of stations currently playing the CD - and see how YOU can get them to play it more!
Winkler Featured on L.A. Jazz Scene Cover
Mark Winkler was the coverboy and had the featured article, "Mark Winkler On Creativity," in the March 2009 issue of L. A. Jazz Scene.
CLICK HERE to read Myrna Daniels' entire interview with Mark.
"Bark!" in Upland
A Note from David Troy Francis:
I am very excited to tell you about our new production of BARK! the runaway smash hit Musical. BARK! ran for two years in Los Angeles and 7 months in Chicago. This new production opens on February 20th, At The Grove Theatre in Upland, CA., and has new songs and new WOOF! Seen by over 35,000 people in L.A., BARK! is fun, funny and uplifting.
BARK! has received critical and audience acclaim wherever it has played. THIS MUST SEE musical earned critics' choice designations from the Los Angeles Times and The Chicago Tribune as well as "two paws up" from The Humane Society of the United States, Hollywood office. BARK! is all about man's best friend and is told and sung from the dog's point of view. Howlingly funny, fast paced and sometimes poignant, BARK! is a joyful new original American musical with compelling performances by a stellar six member cast. If you love your dog, you will love BARK!
Performances run through March 15th, 2009 and are Fridays and Saturdays at 7:29 pm and Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 pm. Tickets can be purchased by calling (909) 920-4343, or by visiting The Grove's website at www.grovetheatre.com. When you call the Box Office, mention this email for a discount on the purchase of tickets. Discounts are not available on the web site.
Please come and see my beloved show and please tell your friends. Upland is located about 30 minutes east of Pasadena out the 210 Freeway. This production is directed by award winning director and performer Larry Raben with choreography by Ms. Lee Martino. I am serving as musical director.
Respectfully,
David Troy Francis
Upcoming Productions of Bark!
The Runaway Smash Hit MusicalUpland, California-March 2009
Sao Paulo, Brazil-April 2009
Danver, Colorado-TBA 2009
New York, New York-TBA 2009
Winkler Gets It Right On New CD
Mark's new CD from FreeHam Records entitled, "Till I Get It Right" is now available on CDBaby.com. The CD features mostly original Winkler songs with a few favorites thrown in by such writers as Ivan Lins and Brock Walsh and Steve Allen. There's a neat duet on a Winkler/Marilyn Harris original called "Cool" with Cheryl Bentyne and lots more. Musicians for the CD include bassist Dan Lutz, guitarist Anthony Wilson, pianist and arranger Jamieson Trotter, drummer Steve Haas, saxophonist Bob Sheppard and trumpeter Ron Blake. Mark Winkler provided all solo vocals and was joined by Cheryl Bentyne on "Cool". The producer was Barbara Brighton and Geoff Gillette handled the recording and mixing. See Mark's Videos page to view a music video of a song from the CD entitled,"Sissies".
Play It Cool Nominated for GLAAD Media Award
Los Angeles, Tuesday, January 27, 2009 The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) announced today the nominees and honorees for its 20th Annual GLAAD Media Awards Presented by IBM. "The 20th anniversary of the GLAAD Media Awards is an excellent opportunity to reflect on how media representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community have evolved over the past two decades, clearly helping shape and evolve people's hearts and minds about LGBT people," said GLAAD President Neil G. Giuliano. "GLAAD's media advocacy and anti-defamation work as a resource for media professionals, combined with enabling LGBT people and allies to be compelling storytellers, has played a significant role in stories about our lives achieving greater visibility and being more compelling, honest, and real than ever before. We are proud to recognize all of this year's GLAAD Media Awards nominees."
The GLAAD Media Awards ceremonies will be held in New York on March 28, 2009 at the Marriott Marquis; in Los Angeles on April 18 at the Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE; and in San Francisco on May 9 at the Hilton San Francisco.
The nominees for OUTSTANDING NEW YORK THEATER: OFFOFF BROADWAY
Arias With A Twist by Joey Arias and Basil Twist
The Be(a)st of Taylor Mac by Taylor Mac
Dina Martina: Off The Charts! by Grady West
Lustre, A Midwinter Trans-Fest by Justin Bond
Play It Cool book by Martin Casella and Larry Dean Harris, music by Phillip Swann, lyrics by Mark Winkler
PLAY IT COOL was presented at the 2008 New York Musical Theatre Festival. It starred Sally Mayes (Urban Cowboy, Closer than Ever) and Josh Strickland (Tarzan).
WINKLER RETURNS TO UCLA TO LEAD THE CLASS
Once again Mark will be teaching lyric writing at UCLA. He has described the past classes he taught as, "one of the best experiences I've ever had! The students were incredible and having the twelve weeks to work with them - produced some great music." Mark's lyric class got the highest ratings a first year instructor has ever received at UCLA Extension. Now he's back for a 3rd year - and with even more new songs and tips to impart to budding songwriters.
Here are some comments from past year's students:
"This is the best workshop I have ever taken on writing song lyrics. Mark's method really works for me."
Christel Knonang Ph.D."I have learned so much in these workshops...anybody from beginning-est of beginners right up to Stephen Sondheim himself could benefit from Winkler's phenomenal syllabus"
Kilbourne Craddock
To register for the class call (310) 825-9971 and give them the course number (# U8149) or go online at www.uclaextension.edu and go to the music program.UCLA extension class course #404.4
The class begins April 9, 2009. Here's a course description:Of interest to beginning as well as more experienced songwriters, this course offers a supportive and inspirational writing workshop environment. Instruction focuses on three equally important and interrelated aspects of songwriting: form, theme, and content. Each week, students perform practical exercises and write lyrics to strengthen their songwriting skills. Exercises are designed to broaden rhyming patterns and add specificity and color to songs. Hit songs by such writers as The Beatles, Jason Mraz, John Mayer, and Joni Mitchell provide templates for commercial lyric writing. Ultimately, each participant's lyrics are evaluated by the hit song formula: to entertain, to tell the truth, and to connect with your audience.
Mark Winkler, platinum awarded lyricist and songwriter who has written for such artists as Dianne Reeves, Nancy Wilson, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Liza Minnelli, has written or co-written songs for five musicals - Naked Boys Singing!, Bark!, Too Old for the Chorus, Play It Cool, and Hangin' Out. He has nine CDs out of his own songs out, the latest being the just released "Till I Get It Right" available on Amazon.com, iTunes and CDBaby.
MARK'S BEEN HANGIN' OUT WITH OLD & NEW FRIENDS
Mark's been working on a new musical with his old friend Robert Schrock (the guy who brought us NAKED BOYS SINGING!). Well this time it's Naked men - and naked women! It's witty, sexy, entertaining and a great way to get the New Year started. Now, it's not for your Aunt Marge from Pomona-- they are naked as Jay birds - really - and the stage is pretty bright - but it's not lascivious or anything-- Just good clean American fun! Here's the scoop:
Hangin' Out
That Naked Musical
Not since "Naked Boys Singing!", "Oh! Calcutta" and Adam and Eve has there been such a celebration of the human body. 3 men and 3 women perform naked in a hilarious new musical revue.
Fri, Jan 9, 2009 Sun, Feb 15, 2009
Thur, Fri, Sat 8:00pm
Sunday 3:00pm
$34.99 Thur, Fri, Sat.
$25.00 Sunday MatineeSpecial Show Info
Running time: 90 minutes.
There will be an intermission.
Hangin' Out is for mature audiences who tolerate nudity.Macha Theatre
1107 No. Kings Road
West Hollywood, CA 90069The theatre has concessions.
Reservations: (323) 960-4443 - or order tickets online at plays411.net
The Reviews Are In...And They're COOL!!!
Play It Cool (NYMF)
by Rob Lester
EDGE-NY Contributor
Thursday Oct 2, 2008The audience at Play It Cool didn't. I haven't heard such enthusiastic and prolonged applause after songs and scenes at any NYMF or FringeNYC show this year. The people loved the show, as did I. This story of gays hiding in the shadows in the repressive 1950s apparently struck a chord. It's haunting, with dark humor. Of course, the very talented cast giving their all -- suavely singing jazz that's sly and slinky or energizing doesn't hurt. The very satisfying songs all boast Mark Winkler's lyrics with melodies by Philip Swann and numerous others.
At a Hollywood bar run by Mary (the dynamic Sally Mayes) which showcases her female vocalist lover and her band, discretion is the watchword in order that the cops don't bust and hassle them. Mary pays protection money to her ex-brother-in-law who's on the take and on the make, like so many other we meet. A green but game kid with stars in his eyes and eyes on the guys, wants to sing but is too square for jazz (Broadway's Tarzan, Josh Strickland swings vinelessly), but gets a quick lesson in music and life.
Signs of the times include gay-bashing outside the bar, arranged marriages to hide true sexualities, and no public displays of affection in case an undercover cop lurks nearby. Fear hovers, and the worry and longing are well captured by this company under the direction of the project's longtime helmer, Sharon Rosen. (It had a California production.)
The story, occasionally slowing down, presents no pat, easy answers or fake "happy endings" and isn't predictable. Drinking in the film noir ambience is as satisfying for us as actual drinking seems to be for the barflys. They stress that everyone has a secret at Mary's - but it's no secret that "Play It Cool" plays it right and, for a musical, evokes a rare combo of reactions: applause and thought!
At TBG Theatre, 312 West 36 St. Part of the NYMF musicals festival. Friday October 3 at 8 pm; Saturday October 4 at 1 pm -- SPECIAL JUST-ADDED PERFORMANCE DUE TO DEMAND: SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5 AT 4:30 PM. See www.nymf.org. for Tickets $20 and sound clips/info on this show and the many others in the festival. A cast album from the LA production is also available at Cdbaby.com and elsewhere.
Rob Lester is a freelance writer living in lovely N.Y.C., also contributing weekly to www.TalkinBroadway.com (Sound Advice, etc.), Cabaret Scenes Magazine, www.CabaretExchange.com and is a judge for the Nightlife Awards and next year's Bistro Awards.
Play it Cool
reviewed by Roger Nasser
Sep 24, 2008Hollywood, 1950s. A place where people come from their small towns to make it big. A place where things aren't always what they seem. A place where a cop can make money on the side to look the other way. A place where a dame with the voice of a songbird will pack the house. A place where you have to keep up an image of what the studios want you to be. No funny business. No free love. If they think you're "different" you can land in jail or worse. If you want to let your hair down and take it easy, you have to go to "special" bars. Mary's Hideaway, a gay jazz club, is that kind of bar. Mary's Hideaway is where Play It Cool takes place.
Play It Cool is a jazz musical that is extremely entertaining. It has a lot of fun jazz songs and also has a lot of substance. The story is about Mary, a lesbian, opening a jazz club so her girlfriend Lena can sing. Mary has put all her money into Mary's Hideaway so there is a lot riding on the opening. Henry, a cop-also Mary's ex-brother-in-law-keeps an eye out on the club for a cut to make sure that it doesn't get raided. Henry also loves jazz, which is why he is at the club a lot. As Lena is practicing her songs, two men come into the club for a drink. These men are Eddie, a producer with MGM, and Will, a wide-eyed kid trying to make it big. Eddie and Will met at the bus station and came to Mary's Hideaway to get to know each other.
The cast is terrific; they are all strong actors and singers. There are only five performers in the cast but for some reason I thought there were a lot more people in the cast-it was great! Sally Mayes is amazing as Mary. Mayes is a phenomenal actress and singer-it was an honor to be there and hear her sing. She has great presence and timing. Josh Strickland is quite engaging as Will. Strickland has a silky smooth voice and brings a nice innocence to Will. Angelica Lecta Cave is remarkable as the conflicted Lena. Cave is a really gifted chanteuse. Cave and Mayes have really good chemistry with one another. Michael McGuirk is a joy to watch as Henry, who also acts as the narrator and gives a really fantastic performance. Daniel Torres is a delight as Eddie. Torres has a beautiful voice and is a talented actor as well. He is very charismatic. The cast works really well together and makes a great ensemble. They are all generous with each other. I could tell that the enjoyed being onstage with each other. I also loved the way that the performers interact with the band. Joseph Baker plays Smokey, the bandleader. Baker is great conducting the other musicians and is also very funny.
The creative team behind Play It Cool has done a great job. The book provided by Martin Casella and Larry Dean Harris is full of smart, snappy dialogue and really has a noir feel. It is funny and poignant at times. Lyricist Mark Winkler does an extraordinary job, the songs are enjoyable and help in the progression of the story. Philip Swann has composed a great jazz score, as have the additional composers. Sharon Rosen has done an awesome job bringing everything together. She's brought forth a production that moves well and is interesting and fun to watch. Play It Cool will hopefully have a life after NYMF. Play It Cool has a great story and great star power behind it and a jazzy score that will have you bopping in your seat.
Written/created by: Larry Dean Harris, Martin Casella, Mark Winkler, Phillip Swann
Directed by Sharon Rosen
NYMF's "Play it Cool"
Tuesday, October 7, 2008 - by Joseph F. PanarelloThe New York Musical Theater Festival may be spawning something extraordinarily special with their production of PLAY IT COOL. The show, with a book by Martin Casella and Larry Dean Harris, features music by Philip Swan and lyrics by Mark Winkler. Is set in a 1920's Hollywood jazz club catering to a gay clientele and is owned my Mary (Sally Mayes), who has put all her life's savings into it. Mary is very much involved with her star vocalist, redheaded Lena (Victora Lecta Cave) his is a time when Hollywood studios were extremely powerful and could force their male stars to stop co-habitating and would arrange marriages for their gay actors. In short, it was an exceptionally stressful and dangerous time for the homosexual community.
Mary is a resourceful woman and knows how to survive in her business. She pays off a detective, effectively played by Micheal McGuirk, who frequents the bar more than he should-- claiming that he does so because he likes the music. He's amused when a sleazy agent (Daniel Torres) brings an innocent young man (Josh Strickland) into the club promising the newcomer that he can make him a star in Hollywood. These five performers are the sole members of the cast which is accompanied by an on-stage band comprised of Joseph Baker, Matsutaka Odaka and Wayne Dunton. All of them perform brilliantly under Sharon Rosen's expert direction.
What makes this production so very special is the score by Swann and Winkler. It is filled with various jazz idioms and boasts wonderful melodies and lyrics that are intelligent and not only move the plot along but explore the emotions of the characters who are singing them. This is such a rarity in today's musicals which seem to be fixated on the premise that banality reigns supreme.
Most of the cast is exemplary. Broadway veteran Sally Mayes is outstanding as Mary. Her characterization is letter perfect and her zingers hit the mark each time. She is also a superior vocalist and she can bring down the house with a number like "My Drag" and then demonstrate her ease with jazz in "Jazz is a Special Taste". She's absolutely remarkable in the role.
Less successful is Ms Lecta Cave as her love interest. The actress has much going for her and she wears the slinky costumes of T. Michael Hall very nicely, but she never really gets under the skin of her character. She sings well but one is always aware of the fact that she's PLAYING a character and never really BECOMES the woman she's portraying. That character has an underhanded side and none of that rings true in this actress' portrayal.
That is not the case with Daniel Torres. A handsome fellow, Torres is very effective as the duplicitous agent who seems able to charm members of either gender to get his way. The aforementioned Michael McGuirk serves as the show's narrator, creating a "film noir" atmosphere for the piece. He's exceptional in the role and his rendition of "How Do I Go Home Tonight?" is truly memorable.
With this abundance of talent on stage, it's hard to believe that there's one who stand out from the rest, but Josh Strickland as Will is nothing short of remarkable. Shorn of his Tarzan locks and looking very much like the choir boy his character is referred to in the text, Strickland may be delivering the break-out role of his career. His transformation from a hick singer to a jazz vocalist can easily be compared to what Laura Benanti undergoes nightly in GYPSY. Strickland;s metamorphosis is every bit as brilliant and perhaps heralds the success that was never actually achieved when he played Tarzan. He's got a remarkably versatile voice which is very much at home with the jazz elements of the score and he takes on a special luster in the ballad-like segments he sings. His total immersion in the role is a joy to watch even when the dramatic focus is on other characters. He's a bona fide actor, singer, and he handles the dance moves well too. Gosh by golly, here's a reality-TV personality who's really a genine musical comedy talent!
PLAY IT COOL is a damned good show. Its score deserves a recording and the show itself deserves greater exposure. With a modicum of luck it will find a small venue that could allow more audiences to enjoy this remarkable work. Is anything booked into the Circle-In-The Square?
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