Upright Cabaret::Motor City

Upright Cabaret AMERICAN ICON SERIES

MOTOR CITY

Music of Aretha Franklin,
Stevie Wonder & Michael Jackson

STARRING
Jake Simpson
Leslie Odom, Jr.

Special Appearance by
Grammy nominated/multiplatinum artist
Taylor Dayne

Artists subject to change.

April 18, 2010 at 8pm

Upright Cabaret is the pre-eminent Los Angeles hot spot for the next generation of world-class entertainers. 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 Alumni include Adam Lambert ("American Idol"), Alan Cumming (Tony Award winner), Neil Patrick Harris ("How I Met Your Mother"), Paula Cole (Grammy Award winner), Hunter Parish ("Weeds") and Lea Salonga (Tony Award winner).

Upright is taking their brand of new generation cabaret to La Mirada with the 'American Icon Series.' Four rising stars of stage and screen will pay homage to musical idols like Stevie Wonder, Dolly Parton, Joni Mitchell and Johnny Cash 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.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

TAYLOR DAYNE Taylor Dayne on Myspace Music! Taylor Dayne's YouTube channel!	TAYLOR DAYNE has been one of the most recognizable and beloved personalities in pop music for the past 20 years. With 17 Top-10 Hits including “Tell It to My Heart,” “I’ll Be Your Shelter,” and “Love Will Lead You Back,” Taylor Dayne stands out as one of music’s most dynamic artists. Her versatile and powerful voice has gained recognition in multiple genres from pop and dance, to rock and adult contemporary; earning her three Grammy Nominations, and numerous multi-platinum and gold selling albums. She has sold out two world tours and successfully appeared in numerous film, television, and stage roles. In 2001, Taylor made her Broadway debut in the Elton John/Tim Rice, Tony award-winning musical Aida, portraying Princess Amneris for which performance she drew rave reviews and remained in the role for nine months. For two seasons beginning in 2000 Taylor guest starred in the Showtime series “Rude Awakenings.” In 2001 she recorded the song “How Many” for the “Circuit” soundtrack which was produced by Tony Moran. The song hit the top of the dance charts. Taylor tours constantly and continues to write and record music. She recently she recorded songs for the feature film soundtracks “Lizzy McGuire” and “Win a Date with Tad Hamilton”. The soundtrack for “Lizzy McGuire” went multi-platinum with her song “Supermodel.” Most recently Taylor has guest starred on the hit show “Rescue Me” and “Cold Case” and currently is appearing in “Gone Country” on CMT. She also is featured in the independent feature film “I Am Bad”, currently in post-production.
JAKE SIMPSON Video of Jake Performing with Stevie Wonder on the Oprah Winfrey Show Video of Jake Simpson at 2006 Upright Cabaret	JAKE SIMPSON twice (2003 & 2004) won the top honors in the Adult Singer category on CBS-TV's "Star Search" with his powerful high tenor voice and three-octave range. Growing up in Crocker, Missouri, making music has been one of the most important driving forces in Jake's life. His sound has been influenced by Stevie Wonder, Steve Perry, Donny Hathaway, and the classic style of Sam Cooke. One of the highlights of Jake's life was when he was invited to perform on"The Oprah Winfrey Show." The show, which first aired on June 8, 2004, was one of Oprah's favorites, as she surprised Jake by bringing out his idol, the legendary Stevie Wonder, to duet with Jake on Wonder's "Isn't She Lovely." The surprise thrilled Oprah so much that she included it on her 20th anniversary DVD box-set. In 2006, Jake produced and recorded an all new CD, the holiday themed "Star of Wonder." To bring his holiday music to the masses, Jake then went on to a holiday tour with pianist, Jim Brickman. The concert tour received rave reviews, and Jake specifically being singled out for his "blue-eyed soul" and his "Amen"-inducing rendition of "O Come All Ye Faithful." Since then, Jake has gone on to write, produce, and record a brand new album of his very own! The CD prophetically entitled "My Song" has garnered positive reviews and is gaining radio airplay throughout the U.S. and Europe. In 2008, Jake recorded vocals with American Idol Finalist, David Archuletta on Archuletta's new album due to released in November 2008. Recently in 2009, Jake has recorded various tracks with Desmond Child for Adam Lambert, another American Idol. Check out all of Jake's new music at www.cdbaby.com and www.itunes.com.
LESLIE ODOM, JR Broadway star of RENT and star of "CSI: Miami."	LESLIE ODOM, JR. spent three seasons as fingerprint specialist Joseph Kayle on the hit CBS drama "CSI: Miami" and was one of the stars of the Fox pilot "Supreme Courtships." Other television credits include guest and recurring roles on "Grey's Anatomy", "Vanished", "Gilmore Girls", "Big Day", "Threshold", "The Big House", and "The Bill Engvall Show". Leslie recently wrapped production in Europe on the George Lucas film Red Tails. The film recounts the story behind the perfect record of legendary WWII heroes, The Tuskegee Airmen. Odom stars alongside Terrance Howard, Cuba Gooding, Jr., Nate Parker, and R&B singer Ne-Yo to name a few. On Broadway Leslie is still the youngest to ever appear in the record breaking Rent. He was a 17 year old high school senior when he went into the show. West Coast Theater credits include the world premiere of Jersey Boys at the La Jolla Playhouse, Once On This Island with Reprise, The Soul of Rogers at Ebony Repertory Theater, Sondheim's 75th at the Hollywood Bowl, and a reading of David Mamet's Keep Your Pantheon directed by Mr. Mamet. Back east Odom starred in the world premiere Sondheim review Being Alive at Westport Country Playhouse and The Philadelphia Theater Company. The historical show featured an all African-American cast with arrangements by Michael McElroy, James Sampliner, and the incomparableBilly Porter. Leslie graduated from Carnegie Mellon University's prestigious School of Drama with honors and is a Princess Grace Award winner for Acting.
MICHAEL FARRELL (Music Director) has performed and recorded throughout the world as a keyboardist, musical director, and multi-instrumentalist. He is in his third season as Associate Musical Director for NBC’s top rated show "America’s Got Talent." He has also worked as Associate Musical Director for Fox’s "American Idol" and Supervising Music Producer for ABC’s "Dance War, Bruno v. Carrie Ann." From 2004 to 2007, Michael worked with legendary recording artist Morrissey and has written and recorded on a number of his albums, including the platinum You Are the Quarry, Live at Earls Court, Ringleader of the Tormentors, and most recently his Decca Greatest Hits album. Prior to that, Michael was musical director/keyboardist for Grammy winning Epic artist Macy Gray. He contributed original songs to Macy’s 2007 release, Big, produced by Will.I.Am of the Black Eyed Peas. Michael has also produced tracks for Macy Gray, Ben Lee and Angie Hart of Frente. and has performed with Mariah Carey, 311, Craig Wedren (Shuuder to Think), Daniel Powter, Tift Merritt, Vanessa Carlton, Melissa Etheridge, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Ruben Studdard, Clay Aiken, Christy Lee Cook, Dave Navarro, Ben Lee, and Kimberly Locke. TV appearances include "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," "Late Night With David Letterman," the "NFL on FOX," "Top of the Pops-UK," "Later with Jools Holland," "Late Night with Conan O’Brien," "The Late, Late Show with Craig Kilborn," "Live with Regis and Kelly," "Entertainment Tonight," "Live with Jimmy Kimmel", and "Good Morning America."	MICHAEL FARRELL Associate Musical Director for "America's Got Talent" &"American Idol."