Photo Flash: David Engel, Tami Tappan Damiano, Emily Clark, And Daniel Tatar Come To Sterling's Upstairs At Vitello's

Sterling’s Upstairs at Vitello’s in Studio City, CA, has once again been named one of the top five Best Dinner Theatres in Los Angeles by MyFoxLA TV’s Hot List.   “We are deeply grateful to each and every one of the almost 200,000 voters who took time to cast their ballots which kept us in the top five for two consecutive years,” said producer Michael Sterling.  “The citation is a wonderful acknowledgement of our passion for producing the best of Broadway stars and Nightclub artists in a formal, supper club setting,” he went on to say.  “Thus, as we near our three year anniversary on June 9, we’re particularly pleased to announce a stellar roster of headliners for June, 2009. 

Tami Tappan Damiano & David Engel officiate Sterling’s three-year celebration on Sunday, June 7. Known as Southern California’s premier, award-winning musical theatre team, Damiano & Engel have starred (romantically) opposite one another in such blockbuster shows as Crazy For You, Singin' in the Rain, Swing!, The Full Monty, Never Gona Dance, Hello Again, Moving On, Falsettos, and the Wild Party to name a few.  Both are dynamic performers in the own right, but when paired opposite each other, they’re explosive!  At Sterling’s, the two stars will take the spotlight in A Fine Romance, based on a treasure trove of material from their work together. “The show is somewhat of a mini-musical,” said Sterling.  “It tracks a couple’s meeting, courting, dating, and mating; and is full of romantic standards and comedic turns.” 

Tami Tappan Damiano has been performing since the age of 13, from Broadway to the La Fenice Opera House in Venice. She has been seen on Broadway in Cyrano: The Musical, and as Ellen in Miss Saigon, a role she also performed in Los Angeles. Internationally, she was a soloist with The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber starring Michael Crawford, and performed in England, Australia, and in Japan (with Sarah Brightman). On the west coast, she has starred in Tick…Tick…Boom! at the Coronet, The Full Monty and Crazy for You at Musical Theatre West (Ovation Award Nods), On the Town and City of Angels at Reprise!, and The Wild Party for Musical Theatre Guild. Recordings include her solo debut CD Hot Notes, (LML Music,) The Stephen Sondheim Album, and Broadway Sings Paul Simon, both for Fynsworth Alley Records. Ms. Damiano can be heard on Winnie the Pooh Shapes and Sizes, and as the singing voice of Cinderella in Disney’s DVD Cinderella III.  Her television career is highlighted by such hit shows as Numb3rs, The Drew Cary Show and Third Rock From the Sun.

David Engel is a six-time winner of the LA Stage Alliance Ovation Award.  He has appeared on Broadway opposite Carol Burnett in Putting It Together, and as the Bass Wickersham in Seussical: The Musical.  Also on Broadway, Mr. Engel created the role of Hanna from Hamburg in the original production of La Cage Aux Folles and played an Aggie in both the stage and the film versions of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.  He created the role of Smudge in the original New York production of Forever Plaid and subsequent productions in London, and Los Angeles, the latter for which he received LA Drama Critics, Drama-Logue, and Ovation Awards.  He then recreated the role of Smudge in Plaid Tidings originating at the Pasadena Playhouse.  He recently completed filming on Forever Plaid: The Movie which will have its national theatrical release this summer.  Other stage credits include starring roles in Crazy for You, The Full Monty, La Cage, Kiss Me Kate, Singin' in the Rain, Children of Eden, Swing!, Dames at Sea, Little Shop of Horrors, White Christms, and The Producers.  He can be heard on the Original Cast Recordings of all his Broadway and off-Broadway shows.

The Month-long Celebration at Sterling's Continues with:

Emily Clark – Sunday, June 14. Emily Clark is a proud company member of the distinguished, award-winning Chance Theater in Anaheim Hills, CA.  Her credits there include The Eight: Reindeer Monologues (Vixen); The Brain from Planet X (Yoni) - part of the 2008 Festival of New American Musicals; - Assassins (Squeaky Fromme), and The Rover (Angellica), the latter featured on KOCE TV’s Storefront Theatre Live.  Ms. Clark made her New York, Off-Broadway debut in the original musical, It's About Time (Ashley), which she also co-directed.  She was also in the L.A. premiere of Out of My Head (The Alto) her voice can be heard on the Original Cast Recording.  Other favorites include Merrily We Roll Along (Mary Flynn), The Taming of the Shrew (Biondello), and A Chorus Line (Cassie).  Film and television credits include  Five Minutes, Home Came Running, and Fuel TV's The Daily Habit. For more information, visit www.emilyclarkonline.com.

Daniel Tatar – Sunday, June 28. One of the most distinguished and memorable actor/singers in Los Angeles, Mr. Tatar’s has starred in the Los Angeles Ovation Award-winning Kiss of the Spider Woman (Havok Theatre), Ahmet Ertegun in the NAACP Award-winning Ray Charles Live (Pasadena Playhouse), Fervio in the Ovations Award-winning Paradise Lost: Shadows and Wings (Theatre at Boston Court), Jamie in The Last Five Years (Pasadena Playhouse), the Reprise! concerts of Elegies and Baby (as Danny, opposite Kerry Butler), Nick in Over the River and Through the Woods (McCoy-Rigby),and Mohammed in The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife (Laguna Beach Playhouse).  Mr. Tatar originated the role of Man 1 in the Chicago and San Francisco companies of I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, which he also performed on the national tour.  Regional credits include: Steppenwolf Theatre Company’s The Ballad of Little Jo (with Judy Kuhn), Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Miss Saigon, and Gary Griffin’s direction of Pacific Overtures.  Television credits: the 2009 season finale of 90210, CSI:NY, Grey's Anatomy and Real Time with Bill Maher. For more information, visit www.danieltatar.com.

Current pricing at Sterling’s Upstairs at Vitello’s is a $50 VIP Premium, Preferred Seating Package which includes a four-course, prix-fixe dinner with a choice from four entrees, plus a one hour performance.  A $25 General Admission package is also available on select shows. 

Dinner seating for Tami Tappan Damiano and David Engel on Sunday, June 7 is at 5:00 pm, followed by a 6:00 pm performance.  

Dinner seating for both Emily Clark (Sunday, June 14) and Daniel Tatar (Sunday, June 28) is from 5:30 to 6:00 pm, followed by a 7:00 pm performance.

Attendance is by reservation only.  For reservations, please call Sterling’s Upstairs at Vitello’s at (818) 754-8700.  Vitello's is located at 4349 Tujunga Ave. Studio City, CA 91604.  Valet Parking is available.  

For additional information on Sterling’s Upstairs, please visit the club’s web site at: www.myspace.com/sterlingsupstairs. 

Sterling's Upstairs at Vitello’s is produced by Michael Sterling of Michael Sterling & Associates (MSA), the Studio City-based entertainment public relations and production company.  Tony Monsour and John Peters serve as Associate Talent Producers. During his career, Michael Sterling has represented such stellar clients as Elizabeth Taylor, Lance Armstrong, Scott Hamilton, David Copperfield, Joan Collins, Alan Thicke, Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager, David Brenner, Lance Burton, Andy Gibb, the Bee Gees, George Harrison, Donny and Marie Osmond and the Osmond Brothers, the Carpenters, Robert Goulet, Debbie Reynolds, Donald O’Connor and Rip Taylor - to name but a few.  Aside from his celebrity clientele, Mr. Sterling has represented various national theatre and arena tours, Los Angeles theatre productions, Emmy Award-winning television specials, celebrity books, albums and CD’s. He is also a critically-acclaimed director of musical theatre in Los Angeles, and has produced various theatrical events and productions throughout southern California.  For more information, visit www.msapr.net.

In addition to Sterling’s Upstairs, Vitello’s also offers outdoor dining and a unique variety of carefully selected wines. Widescreen plasma televisions are located throughout the restaurant.  Live opera (a long-time feature at Vitello’s) is still performed in the restaurant’s downstairs Green Room four nights a week.  Jazz nights are also offered.  For more information, visit www.vitellosrestaurant.com.

One of the most famous restaurants in the United States, Vitello's has been known for its outstanding Italian cuisine, romantic atmosphere and superior service for over 35 years.

David Engel

Emily Clark

Tami Tappan Damiano

Daniel Tatar