La Mirada Theatre Presents NEW YORK STATE OF MIND 2/7

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & UPRIGHT CABARET are thrilled to announce the performers for their second sensational UPRIGHT CABARET experience at the NEW Cabaret Lounge at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts. The Light in the Piazza's David Burnham, Spring Awakening's Kyle Riabko and Little Shop of Horrors' Jennifer Leigh Warren will be performing their own selections while highlighting the music of Robert Goulet, Billie Holiday and Bob Dylan, under the musical direction of Chris Bratten, in a one night only concert - NEW YORK STATE OF MIND on Sunday, February 7, 2010 at 8PM.

ABOUT THE PERFORMERS

Kyle Riabko has been performing since the age of ten and has enjoyed both critical and commercial success ever since. He began his international music career during his junior year of high school, touring in Canada, the US, Australia, and Japan, and opening for such musicians as John Mayer, Maroon 5, Jason Mraz and Buddy Guy. At 15-years-old, Kyle signed his first record deal with Aware/Columbia Records and his debut single "What Did I Get Myself Into" went to the top ten at AAA radio. Aware/Columbia released his EP in 2004 as well as and his full-length album, Before I Speak in April 2006. Kyle wrote each song and played guitar and bass on the album, with backing from former Prince drummer Michael Bland and former Grapes of Wrath keyboardist Vince Jones, and featuring guest vocals by both Liz Phair and Robert Randolph. In 2005, Kyle took part in the Next Generation Rainforest Foundation Benefit helping to support the rights of the native people living in rainforests.

Kyle also took part in 2006's Song for Africa, a benefit project for AIDS in Africa. In March 2007, Kyle Riabko released The Duo EP: Volume 1, a six-track disc recorded with Dylan Hermiston, featuring what Riabko describes as a "deeper, more experimental sound." In September of 2007, Kyle joined Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers on tour to replace Chris Soucy as second guitarist. Already an accomplished musician, Kyle has turned his creative energy into theatre, film, and television. He has starred and directed two independent films as well as directed and starred in promotional video podcasts for his website. On television, Kyle was seen in Instant Star, the hit Gemini Award-winning Canadian show from the makers of Degrassi, as Milo..

Kyle made his Broadway debut in the multiple Tony Award-winning musical Spring Awakening as the lead role of "Melchior Gabor" in addition to taking the show out on its first national tour on a very successful run through Los Angeles, Toronto, San Francisco, and Boston. Kyle also starred in the ABC pilot "Limelight" and will next be seen in the independent film "Rising Stars."

David Burnham recently returned from New York where he played Fiyero in the Broadway production of Wicked having created the role in the original Los Angeles workshop productions. He was an original Broadway cast member of the musical The Light In The Piazza, performing both on the 2005 Tony Awards and the PBS telecast "Live From Lincoln Center". David is the 2007 recipient of the Helen Hayes Award for best actor as well as the 2007 best actor Garland Award for his portrayal of Fabrizio in the national tour of The Light In The Piazza. In N.Y.C. he was in the Actor's Fund benefit of "On The 20th Century" and performed his solo concert at Birdland and The Metropolitan Room, as well as around the country. National tours include Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Dramalogue Award), and Peter in Jesus Christ Superstar. He was the voice of the Prince in the Warner Bros. animated feature "The King & I", and can be heard on the soundtracks to "Ghepetto", and "Home on the Range". David is proud to announce the release of his solo debut CD "David Burnham" on LML Music.
Jennifer Leigh Warren is a chosen favorite of songwriters from Roger Miller, who personally wrote her a show-stopping gospel song for the Broadway musical Big River, to Bolshoi Ballet composer, Rodion Schredrin, who, after seeing her in Japan, where she performed a gospel song in Japanese, wrote her a song for the first Russian-Japanese-American collaboration of a new musical.

Jennifer was the original Crystal in the Alan Menken/Howard Ashman hit, Little Shop of Horrors and was featured on the Grammy-nominated cast albums of Little Shop, Big River as well as Lincoln Center's, Marie Christine. Jennifer also sang, "Stranger to the Rain" on the Stephen Schwartz Album. She is an Ovation Award winner and Garland Award winner as Best Featured Actress in a Musical and has a NAACP Theater Award nomination. She garnered rave reviews for her performance as Shelia in the REPRISE! production of Hair, with a special arrangement for her by the great Peter Matz and also for Kismet and The Most Happy Fella. Most recently, Jennifer played the title role in Venus, written by Chan Poling, the Minneapolis music legend from the seminal punk rock group, The Suburbs, performed in the Stephen Schwartz concert "Making Good" at the Ford Amphitheatre in Los Angeles, sang at the NAACP Theater Awards and sang a voice over for "The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien."

Jennifer recently performed at Jazz at Lincoln Center (Rose Hall) honoring Ron Howard, Brian Grazer, Marcia Gaye Harden, Kristen Johnston (host) with Tony Kushner, Spike Lee, Richard Plepler, & Sir Howard Stringer. Directed by Stafford Arima. She also performed at the inauguration concert for Jim Yong Kim the new President of Dartmouth.

Jennifer performed in THE MAGIC OF MOTOWN, a tribute to Motown founder, Berry Gordy, with Stevie Wonder and Smokey Robinson. In Denmark, Jennifer sang with Al Jarreau on a LIVE TV Special of "Princess & the Black-Eyed Pea", which was broadcast throughout Europe. She performed in Sir Peter Hall's Shakespeare repertory at the Ahmanson Theater. She is currently creating a one-woman show celebrating the amazing talent of Sammy Davis, Jr. Her feature film work includes, "Grace of My Heart," produced by Martin Scorsese and directed by Allison Anders, Sean Penn's "The Crossing Guard," Garry Marshall's "The Other Sister" and "Sour Grapes," written and directed by Larry David (Curb Your Enthusiasm, Seinfeld). Television appearances include "Lipstick Jungle," "Dirt," "ER," "Scrubs," "The Game" and "All My Children."

Jennifer is a proud graduate of Dartmouth College where she received the Heiman Award for Excellence in the Arts and served for two terms on the Board of Overseers for the Hopkins Center for the Arts and Hood Museum. 

Christopher Lloyd BRATTEN (Musical Director) is a graduate of the Musicians Institute of Hollywood . Originally from California (via the Midwest ...), he started playing at the age of 12. His first experiences as a performer were on stage in numerous musicals and plays. After moving (back) to California in 2001, he began working more off stage as an accompanist and music director. He has been the resident MD at the Ventura Court Theatre for six years (productions include Cabaret, Little Shop Of Horrors, and an original adaptation of the movie Sideways with music by Christopher and lyrics by his sister, Melessa). Since joining Upright in 2007, he's had the pleasure of working with countless Broadway/film/TV stars (Neil Patrick Harris, Tracie Thoms, Michael Urie, Jai Rodriguez, Alan Thicke, Shoshana Bean). In addition to music directing, Chris also teaches piano and voice, and he is a singer-songwriter. His music can be heard at www.myspace.com/stealingfire.
ABOUT THE "UPRIGHT CABARET" SERIES

This brand new series performs the first Sunday night of each of La Mirada Theatre's mainstage productions as UPRIGHT CABARET, the pre-eminent Los Angeles hot spot for the next generation of world-class entertainers, brings its unique brand of cabaret entertainment to La Mirada! With celebrities in attendance, Upright Cabaret has become a hip and contemporary social swirl of young Broadway and Hollywood, performing with a level of excellence, authenticity and intimacy that brings the crowds back time after time. Upright Cabaret boasts one of the most extensive and diverse rosters of talent in the country. Broadway divas, talented troubadours, cabaret legends, Hollywood notables, pop sensations and many future sensations have all found their way to the Upright stage.

Upright is taking their brand of new generation cabaret to La Mirada with the 'American Icons Series'. Four rising stars of stage and screen will pay homage to musical idols like Stevie Wonder, Dolly Parton and Joni Mitchell in a Cabaret Lounge created in the La Mirada Theatre lobby. Their soulful interpretations of American classics will change the way you think about cabaret.

THE FIRST SEASON'S UPCOMING SHOWS INCLUDE:

NEW YORK STATE OF MIND February 7, 2010 • 8PM

Music of Robert Goulet, Billie Holiday and Bob Dylan

MOTOR CITY • April 18, 2010 • 8PM

Music of Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson

THE MIGHTY MISSISSIPPI • June 6, 2010 • 8PM

Music of Louis Armstrong, Elvis Presley and Prince

COUNTRY ROADS • July 11, 2010 • 8PM

Music of Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash

Ticket prices for UPRIGHT CABARET Single Shows $45 / $30; Series Price $38 / $25 per show.

Tickets to these extraordinary shows are now available by calling the Box Office at 562-944-9801 or 714-994-6310 or online at www.lamiradatheatre.com.
LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS is located at 14900 La Mirada Boulevard in La Mirada, Parking is free.

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS, now in its fourth decade, has been hailed by the Los Angeles Times as "one of the best Broadway-style houses in Southern California." This beautiful state-of-the-Art Theatre has been producing quality productions for its Southern California audiences since 1977. The theatre has produced several national tours and is the recipient of many accolades including Ovation and Emmy Awards and Tony Award nominations. Brian Kite is the theatre's Producing Artistic Director. The theatre is located at 14900 La Mirada Boulevard in La Mirada, California, near the intersection of Rosecrans Avenue. Parking is theatre-adjacent and free. For further information call 562-944-9801 or visit www.lamiradatheatre.com.