Cabaret at the Castle (www.magiccastle.com) has chosen Grammy-nominated recording artist, television and Broadway star, Ilene Graff (www.ilenegraff.com), to appear in celebration of 100th anniversary of the structure known today as the Magic Castle. Accompanied by her Musical Director-husband Ben Lanzarone, Graff performs songs from Broadway, the movies and the pop world with completely unique interpretations and arrangements. From Harold Arlen to the Beatles, the Bergmans to Sondheim, you've never heard these songs sung the way Ilene does. Graff's career started on Broadway, performing in Promises, Promises, the original production of Grease (Sandy), and in the original cast of Cy Coleman and Michael Stewart's I Love My Wife, creating the role of Cleo. Feeling honored that he tailored it to her specific talents, Ilene reprises “her very own Cy Coleman song,” Love Revolution in her show, as well as pieces from Grease, Porgy and Bess, Gypsy and many others.
The event is set to take place at The Inner Circle at the Magic Castle on Monday, Sept. 14th, 2009 and Tuesday, Sept. 15th, 2009 - Doors 7pm - Show 8pm.
Tickets cost $25 for non-members, Call 323-851-3313 x434 for more information.
Ilene Graff is best known to audiences as Marsha Owens, the mom on the long running ABC comedy Mr. Belvedere. She made her professional Broadway debut years earlier on the musical stage in Promises Promises, the Neil Simon, Bacharach/David hit, where she understudied the leading lady and sang backups from the orchestra pit. She performed the role of Fran Kubelik in New York before starring in the National Tour. One of her biggest Broadway triumphs was creating the role of Cleo in the Cy Coleman, Michael Stewart musical comedy hit I Love My Wife, directed by Tony Award winner Gene Saks. She can be heard on the show's Original Cast Album. Other theatre credits include: Charley's Aunt with Charles Grodin, Cabaret as Sally Bowles, Annie Get Your Gun as Annie Oakley, and Over Here directed by Mr. Belvedere himself, Christopher Hewett. Ilene created the role of Donna in the world premiere of composer/arranger/producer husband Ben Lanzarone's musical, You and Me, with book and lyrics by Lloyd J. Schwartz; she won the Artistic Directors' Award of the VAlley Theatre League for her performance. She had the thrill of performing the role of Mama Rose in a Los Angeles revival of Gypsy as well as entertaining Jerry Herman himself at a performance of Jerry's Girls and is very proud to have co-starred in ABC/Disney's film version of South Pacific, working with Glenn Close and Harry Connick, Jr.
The Magic Castle is the world's most famous club for magicians and magic enthusiasts and home to The Academy of Magical Arts, Inc. The Magic Castle is the showplace for some of the greatest magicians from around the globe and houses one of the largest original collections of Houdini's great tools of the trade including his personal handcuffs, straight jacket, metamorphosis trunk and famous milk can escape. Houdini himself used these props to mystify thousands. Great pride is also taken in showcasing the magnificent building that houses the Magic Castle. Construction of the was completed in 1909 and this storied mansion has watched Hollywood grow and change for nearly 100 years while never losing its original charm.
