22 SHOWS! OVER 100 ARTISTS!
With producer Sue Matsuki at the helm, WINTER RHYTHMS 2024 marks the 16th year that Urban Stages welcomes noted and up-and-coming musical artists to its stage during the holiday period. This celebrated series will feature cabaret, musical theatre, jazz, classical, the Great American Songbook, pop, rock, international music and more! All proceeds go to Urban Stages’ Outreach, our city-wide touring program reaching libraries in all 5 boroughs of NYC with educational, multilingual and FREE theater, art workshops and programs —> learn more here.
All tickets are $35
(except Our Opening Night Gala starring KT Sullivan which is $60)
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4 (Gala Night)
7:00pm | Champagne and Wine Reception
7:30pm | KT Sullivan in MY PIANO & ME
“Ms. Cabaret”, the Director of the Maber Mercer Foundation and a beloved champion of our Cabaret community, KT Sullivan opens our series in a show called “Far Away Places”. Ms. Sullivan’s personal connection to her lyrics, her funny and poignant storytelling and her exquisite voice promises a very special evening. $60.00
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5 (Welcome To The Family Night)
7:00pm I Seung Choi’s CHRISTMAS ISN’T JUST FOR ASIANS
Also a new act to Winter Rhythms, Seung has been a part of Urban Stages performing for our Outreach Programs. It’s now time for him, and his very talented cast, to take the main stage! Starring: Seung Choi - Ryanne Claritas – Carmen Ezcurra – Ellis Gage - GG - Chaeyeon Kim – Timmy Ong & Karen Joy Pangantihon
9:00pm | SNOWED IN WITH THE ABOMINABLE MAGRITTE & ROSEN
Musical theatre writing duo and rumored cryptozoologists Alara Magritte and Daniel Rosen emerge from hibernation for one night only to present a cozy cabaret that’ll leave you warmed up like a good cup of cocoa. Known for “their gift for scoring harmony and pushing the boundaries of subject matter in musical theater,” the pair’s catchy, genre-bending, and femme-centric work has been produced from coast to coast. A seasonal showcase of their repertoire will be performed by the glittering talents of Lucy Hall - Andrew Harvey & Moana Poyer. With Musical Director: Allison Kraus.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 6 (Pop, Rock & Original Song Night)
7:00pm | Lucille Carr-Kaffashan in EIGHT DAYS A WEEK:
CELEBRATING 60 YEARS OF BEATLES MUSIC
This Bistro & MAC Hansen Award Winner and 2024 MAC Female Vocalist nominee has been presenting a series of singer-songwriter shows that have been extremely popular with both audiences and cabaret reviewers. Also new to our family, we’ve asked her to bring her very popular show celebrating none other than The Beatles! With Music Director Jeff Cubeta on piano & Matt Scharfglass on bass. Directed by David Hilder.
9:00pm | Amy Loper & Kenny Passarelli in
FOREVER IS NOW…A STORY OF LOVE, MUSIC & TRANSFORMATION
The romantic and unlikely story of a professional musician and a lawyer who fall in love when they are both eligible for Social Security. A Winter Rhythms favorite, Amy and Kenny bring their own charming love story to our stage unfolding through their original songs that will leave you feeling transformed!
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 7 (Holiday Reunion Day)
3:00pm | Michael Colby’s HOLIDAY REGARDS
A celebration of all the holidays…Christmas, New Years, Hanukkah, Valentine's Day, Martin Luther King Day, Easter, The 4th of July, Halloween, and Thanksgiving. Featuring lyrics by Michael Colby in collaboration with a pantheon of top New York composers. The cast, subject to availability, includes Broadway and Cabaret stars: Celia Berk – Nikita Burshteyn - Eric Michael Gillett – Stephanie Pope Lofgren & Megan Styrna. Featuring a very special guest in each show including: Bethe Austin – Steven Brinberg - Robert Cuccioli & Linda Purl! With Musical Director: Michael Lavine. Directed by: Sara Louise Lazarus.
7:00pm | WE GO TOGETHER: A GREASE REUNION
Celebrating the 52nd year of Grease, some of the Original Broadway cast members and Producer Ken Waissman come together to celebrate this landmark show. Grease opened on Broadway on February 14, 1972 and played through to 1983 with 3,388 performances making it, at the time, the longest running Broadway show until 1983. This beloved show was revived in 1994 and again in 2007, but it still plays in regional theaters across the country. Our cast tonight includes Carole Demas - Ilene Kristen - Jim Canning & Ray DeMattis. All will perform selections from the show as well as some of their own. With Musical Director: Ian Herman.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8 (ALL ABOUT THE HOLI-DAZE)
3:00pm | Beth & Ritt’s 9th Annual HOLIDAY SURVIVAL KIT
In a joyous and soulful celebration, award-winning songwriters Beth Falcone and Ritt Henn serve up original and originally-arranged songs and stories from around the globe, honoring the winter solstice and the return to light. Joined by Roosevelt André Credit (Met Opera/Broadway) and Christine de Frece (BroadwayWorld Award Winner), this foursome will sing you safely through the seasons, from Diwali to Lunar New Year and all that’s in between, including Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa, with songs in French, Ladino (Judeo-Spanish), German, Sanskrit, merry olde English and more. Happy DiwanukKwanzmas to one and all! Cast: Beth Falcone, Ritt Henn, Roosevelt André Credit, and Christine de Frece
7:00pm | ENCORE! Michael Colby’s HOLIDAY REGARDS
A celebration of all the holidays…Christmas, New Years, Hanukkah, Valentine's Day, Martin Luther King Day, Easter, The 4th of July, Halloween, and Thanksgiving. Featuring lyrics by Michael Colby in collaboration with a pantheon of top New York composers. The cast, subject to availability, includes Broadway and Cabaret stars: Celia Berk – Nikita Burshteyn - Eric Michael Gillett – Stephanie Pope Lofgren & Megan Styrna. Featuring a very special guest in each show including: Bethe Austin – Steven Brinberg - Robert Cuccioli & Linda Purl - ! With Musical Director: Michael Lavine. Directed by: Sara Louise Lazarus.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10 (OUR FAVORITE GUY’S NAMED JOHN NIGHT)
7:00pm | THE BIPOLAR EXPRESS – AN EVENING OF MUSICAL MEDS TO GET YOU THROUGH THE HOLIDAYS!
Yule laugh! Yule cry! Holidays can be tough aboard the Bipolar Express, but the devilish musical wit of award-winning songwriter and performer John Forster will bring us home safe. “The Christmas that Fell Off A Truck” and “Hanukkah Aboard the Starship Enterprise” are just two of the evening’s treats. Come join John and friends Tom Chapin, Amy Englehart and more for an evening you won’t forget.
9:00pm I AN EVENING WITH JON WEBER
Jon Weber is considered one of the best and most beloved Musical Directors in the city working with some of the biggest names in the business. He is also a super-star in his own right. Tonight, we experience just Jon is his natural habitat…on stage, behind the piano.
WEDNEDAY, DECEMBER 11 (FROM CABARET TO “STRIESAND” NIGHT)
7:00pm | MATTHEW MARTIN WARD & FRIENDS
Another beloved Musical Director, Matthew is a great singer-songwriter who just debuted his first ever solo Cabaret show! Tonight, he will sing for us and play for some wonderful singers. Featuring: Ellen Auwarter– Ira Lee Collings – Goldie Dver – Stew Frimer – Daryl Glenn - Mary Lahti – Debbie Kane Raymar – Bennett Silverstein & Geoffrey Stoner.
9:00pm | Steven Brinberg in SIMPLY BARBRA: THE HOLIDAY SHOW
Steven Brinberg is a multi-award-winning International, impersonation star performing as the one and only Babs…Barbra Streisand! Your eyes and ears will make you swear that you are at one of her concerts. Steven's voice, much like Barbra's is other-worldly. With Musical Director: Michael Lavine.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 12 (STARS OF THE FUTURE NIGHT!)
7:00pm | SINGERS YOU SHOULD KNOW
This show features some singers that should all be on your artistic radar. Producer Sue Matsuki met each of these singers randomly as one does here in New York. Come find out how and come hear some incredible singing! Starring” Anthony Ferr – Grace Flavien – Jenny Kluth & Elvira Tortora. With Musical Director: Ian Herman.
9:00pm | Sara Louise Lazarus presents
Circle in the Square’s BROADWAY BLOCKBUSTERS
Hear all your favorite Broadway songs sung by The Circle Singers, Circle in the Square Theatre School's exciting Musical Theatre graduating class. "Broadway Blockbusters" will include songs from Phantom of the Opera, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Les Miserables and many more. This show is a delight, and is always a huge crowd pleaser! MAC and Bistro Award-winner Sara Louise Lazarus directs, with Musical Director: Joe Baker.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13 (A NIGHT OF NITES!)
7:00pm | Lady Singer-Songwriters Nite
This show celebrates three of New York's favorite lady singer-songwriters featuring their glorious voices singing their own songs! We are thrilled to put these three gals on one stage as part of this year's festival...Jazz Goddess Laurie Krauz (with Daryl Kojak) - Cabaret Icon Nancy Winston and R&B/Soul Sister Lina Koutrakos (with Gregory Toroian) will share an incredible, eclectic evening of music celebrating the female song writer with jazz, blues, cabaret, R&B and soul songs
9:00pm | JAZZ NITE
Tonight we have some of the best working jazz vocalists all on one stage! Starring: Marion Collins - Mary Foster Conklin – Wendy Luck – Jeanette Miller – Elizabeth Hayden-Passero & Saundra Silliman. With a Jazz Trio to be announced soon.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14 (SHOW TUNES, JAZZ & OTHER FUN STUFF!)
3:00pm | Gerry Geddes Presents SOMEONE ELSE’S HAT: A SONDHEIM WISHLIST
All-Star Broadway and Cabaret Cast: Dana Aber – Brian Childers – Matt DiPasquale – Karen Mack – Sue Matsuki – Andre Montgomery – Lauren Mufson & George Winters will sing songs that Sondheim told New York Times he wished he had written. There will also be original stories from producer Gerry Geddes’ new book, Didn’t I Ever Tell You This? With Musical Director: Darius Frowner.
7:00pm | THE VILLAGE GATE REUNION SHOW
Come meet some of the original Village Gate singers reuniting to sing for Urban Stages and to honor our Village Gate mother, Trudi Mann. Featuring: Greg Calderone - Ian Daisey - Jennifer Pace - and more names to be announced. Hosted by: Sue Matsuki. Featuring: Piano: Gregory Toroian – Bass: Skip Ward & Drums: David Silliman.
9:00pm I Olivia Stevens in
PLEASURE & PERIL: THE STORY OF ZARAH LEANDER – THE SIREN OF THE THIRD REICH
Swedish actress Zarah Leander was the biggest star in the Third Reich and became Hitler’s favorite singer.Her films were box-office successes beyond the German borders and her record sales made her millions. Then, in 1943 she faced a choice that would alter her life forever. This sparkling and riveting show portrays a woman torn between artistry and politics, who was both idolized and hated – who´s now a gay icon in Europe, and who´s songs remain unforgettable to this day. Olivia mixes the story with her Jewish Grandparents’ escape from the Ukraine to New York. With Musical Director: James Followell. Directed by: Eric Michael Gillett.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15 (A FUTURE OF HOPE DAY!)
3:00pm | Fiona Misiura & Darin F. Earl II present THE CABARET IS GOING WRONG!
When the holiday comes around, an enthusiastic group of artists plan to put together the season’s best carols but, as the age-old adage goes, “the show must go on.” What will happen when their winter classics are thwarted by chance and the spectacle of theater falls into chaos? Join this journey of laughter and celebrate the mishaps of holiday cheer! Featuring: Trent Dahlin - Sean Diveny - Liam Gerard - Gaby Henriquez - Abeba Isaac - James Mosser - Caitlin Navarrete - Darianna Pérez - Elizabeth Ritacco & Devon Wells. Directed by Darin F. Earl II and Fiona Misiura.
7:00pm I Tom Toce & D.C. Anderson Present "Songs of Hope VII"
For our 7th Annual closing concert producers and songwriters Tom Toce (and Urban Stages’ President) and D.C. Anderson will co-host a show of all hopeful and inspirational music. Special Guests: Folk Goddess, Christine Lavin with book author of Amoeba Hop, Betsy Franco Feeney, Elizabeth Ward Land and more cast members to be announced soon.
TBA