Pinehurst Forum

October 8, 2009

admin — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:53:43 +0000

Lauren Kennedy and Alan Campbell

A totally delightful, fresh evening of music performed with panache by the “couple next door” who just happen to be critically acclaimed Broadway, film and television stars. This husband and wife team prove themselves equally adept with showstoppers from Broadway, great American standards, swing, country classics and old fashioned rock ‘n’ roll. The chemistry between them as husband, wife and parents of daughter Riley Rose, and their musical talents spread a comforting warmth throughout any venue where they perform.

Lauren, a Raleigh native, headed to Cincinnati Conservatory after high school. There, on a whim, she decided to try her first professional audition. As it turned out, she was auditioning for none other that Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, who immediately cast her in a principal role in his upcoming broadway mega-hit Sunset Boulevard with Glen Close, where she met her husband-to-be Alan Campbell.

She has also starred in Monty Python’s Spamalot on Broadway as a replacement for the Lady of the Lake. Additionally, she has been seen on Broadway in Les Misérables, Side Show, and Cinderella with New York City Opera. She originated the role of Cathy in Jason Robert Brown’s The Last Five Years in its Chicago premiere, but opted to do South Pacific at the National Theatre in London instead of following the show Off-Broadway.

Alan grew up in Homestead, Florida and attended Tulane University and the University of Miami, graduating with a BA in business.

On Broadway: he received a 1995 Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical for his performance as Joe Gillis in Sunset Boulevard opposite Glenn Close, Betty Buckley and Elaine Paige. He also received the Drama-Logue Award for his performance in Sunset Boulevard’s American Premiere in Los Angeles. Alan starred in Susan Stroman’s 2000 Tony Award winning musical, Contact at Lincoln Center.

Off-Broadway: Chris Durang’s Adrift In Macao, Lanford Wilson’s Book Of Days at the Signature Theater and in the regional premiere of Book Of Days at the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis and the Hartford Stage. He also starred Off-Broadway in AVOW, by Bill C. Davis.

Lauren Kennedy’s Website

Alan Campbell’s Website

November 5, 2009

admin — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:51:20 +0000

Dan Kamin – Comedy in Motion

Dan Kamin performs worldwide for theatres, colleges and symphony orchestras. On film, he created the physical comedy sequences for Chaplin and Benny and Joon, and trained Robert Downey, Jr. and Johnny Depp for their acclaimed starring performances. He also created Martian movement for Tim Burton’s Mars Attacks! and played the wooden Indian come to life in the cult classic Creepshow 2.

Dan returned to his comedy roots to write Charlie Chaplin’s One-Man Show, revealing the secrets of Chaplin’s comic art. Hailed as a breakthrough work, the book boasts a preface by another Chaplin fan, Marcel Marceau. Dan’s new book, The Comedy of Charlie Chaplin: Artistry in Motion, updates his earlier book and features an account of how he trained Downey for his Oscar-nominated performance.

During recent seasons Dan has toured his solo show, Comedy in Motion, throughout America and performed Comedy Concertos with many symphonies, including Atlanta, Philadelphia, Malaysia, Singapore, Syracuse, Shanghai, and Dallas.

Undeterred by the fact that vaudeville was long dead, he cobbled a new vaudeville circuit out of colleges, theatres, and corporations, for whom Kamin often appears as a keynote speaker who falls apart. His Comedy Concertos, blending comedy with classical music, have become popular with symphonies worldwide. And as Mr. Slomo he strolls through arts festival crowds in eerie slow motion, terrifying the very children who tormented him as a youth.

Dan Kamin’s Website

December 10, 2009

torri — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:49:24 +0000

Robert Michaels

To see where Robert came from is to look at a fourteen year-old boy growing up in Toronto wanting, more than anything in the world, to learn how to play guitar. Initially his parents doubted his dedication and refused to buy him one. Undaunted, he picked up a piece of wood, drew on some frets and nailed six pieces of plain string on to it. He then sat in his room for hours on end practicing silent chords. Eventually his parents relented and bought him his first guitar and from that day he soared.

Robert Michaels released his debut CD Paradiso in 1996, and from that time has released 4 more albums. Following on from the success of 2003’s JUNO award-winning Allegro, the new self-titled album from ROBERT MICHAELS is now available. This 2-CD set includes both a vocal disc of beautiful new songs and an instrumental disc highlighting Robert’s unique acoustic guitar style.

Robert’s new album (self titled, “Robert Michaels”) displays amazing growth and introduces a number of musical elements. In addition to his own vocals tracks it also includes renowned vocalist Jennifer Warnes (Famous Blue Raincoat) who makes a rare guest appearance on “So Sad”, and “Emporte-Nous” features acclaimed musical stage actress Louise Pitre (Mamma Mia!). Respected Canadian singers Luba and Coral Egan are also special guest vocalists.

This collection of 18 unique songs ranges in style from pop to flamenco. Much of Robert’s earlier recordings were described as “flamenco-jazz” but these new songs have a much broader musical palette. Robert explains, “From the beginning I didn’t play flamenco or Latin jazz in any traditional way. I had experience playing so many other styles that I merely incorporated all of the influences. My style was never planned. I arrived at it spontaneously while playing in front of the audiences.”

“Flamenco’s version of Led Zeppelin axe-god Jimmy Page.” — Ottawa Sun

“Every inch a dazzling guitarist.” — Ottawa Sun

“Just playing his six-string with dazzling flourishes of macho colour and, on occasion, with alarming speed.” — Ottawa Sun

“The people in the crowd are spellbound.” “…they watch him, they listen, they are caught as Michaels music travels past the neck of the guitar and creates his signature sound. A sound so intense the listeners must hold their breath.” — Toronto Star

Robert Michaels’ Website

January 7, 2010

torri — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:47:50 +0000

Billy D. Washington

If you’re thinking you don’t know Billy D. Washington, don’t be too hasty, ladies and gentleman. For one thing, if you happened to be spending some time in Houston several years ago, and happened to stray outside the lines of legal behavior–we’re not saying criminal behavior, necessarily, but something that would typically involve a response by a cop–you might well have encountered Billy, back in the days when he was a Houston policeman. But with any luck, you’ve crossed paths with him at some point after he was one of Houston’s Finest, and had embarked on a multi-faceted showbiz career. Of course, first and foremost, he’s a top-notch stand-up comedian. But he’s also an enormously talented musician, who often incorporates some deft keyboard playing into his comedy act. In fact, he’s so gifted and dazzling on stage–and this also brings us to another possible place where you might’ve brushed up against Billy. After opening a concert in 2003 for Aretha Franklin, she was so was blown away by Billy she hired him on the spot to open all her shows nationwide for the next 3 years. Billy has recently completed writing and producing the film, “Bob- The Urban Legend of Comedy” and secured his first international distribution deal with BCD Distribution, the largest independent distribution company in the country.

Billy’s original songs, parodies, poems and comedy routine has been featured on The Bob and Tom show (nationally syndicated), HBO’s Aspen Comedy Festival and Def Comedy Jam, The Montreal Comedy Festival, Comedy Central’s Premium Blend, BET’s ComicView, the HBO Def Comedy Jam, and most recently the Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson and Last Comic Standing (2007-08).

Billy has performed in hundreds of comedy clubs, colleges and corporate events over his career, and his “low-key intensity, and dead on humor (The Denver Post)” will make wonder you why you haven’t heard more this dynamic performer.

Billy D. Washington’s Website

February 11, 2010

admin — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 12:05:38 +0000

Kelleylee Evans

“When I started writing my own stuff, I was always thinking that it wasn’t jazz, but everybody thought it was, and when I looked for musicians to make Fight or Flight, everybody that I knew was in the jazz world, so it sounded like jazz,” Kellylee explains. She even took second place in the prestigious Thelonius Monk International Jazz Vocals Competition, whose judges included Quincy Jones and Al Jarreau.

As for her trademark bald pate, she says, “I’m pretty sure that’s going to stay for a while, but I have no plans. I just look at simple things, like a month ago I didn’t wear make up and now I do everyday. A few years ago I was told I was allergic to fragrances and so I didn’t use anything that was scented and now, everywhere I go, I’m looking for a perfect scent to wear,” she chuckles.

QUOTES from Promoters/Presenters

“Kellylee is totally a star. She is going to touch many hearts with her voice and her lyrics for a very, very long time. I look forward to watching her become a force.”

Christian McBride
Bassist (Sting, Diana Krall, Pat Metheny)
Artistic Director, Jazz Aspen Snowmass Academy

“Kellylee Evans is one of the most unique vocalists I have heard. She has it all together: an exceptional singer, excellent composer, great stage presence, good looks and the ability to move her audience. Outstanding!”

Jacques Emond, Programming Director
Ottawa International Jazz Festival

“Sade meets Erykah Badu meets Norah Jones.” …Groove based vocal jazz. One of the ‘5 Must See Concerts of the Summer’” – Avril Benoit, CBC Radio (July 2006)

Kellylee Evans’ Website

March 11, 2010

admin — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 19:47:57 +0000

Jason Graae

Jason Graae has starred on and off-Broadway in “A Grand Night For Singing”, “Falsettos”, “Stardust”, “Snoopy!”, “Do Black Patent Leather Shows Really Reflect Up?”, “Forever Plaid”, “Olympus on My Mind”, “All in the Timing”, “Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh (Drama Desk Nomination- Best Actor in a Musical)” and many more.box”

Jason made his Metropolitan Opera House debut as featured vocalist in Twyla Tharp’s “Everlast” with American Ballet Theatre. Jason has performed his one-man show all over the country, including Rainbow and Stars and Birdland in NYC, Caramoor Music Festival, Wolf Trap, Feinstein’s in L.A., and The Plush Room in San Francisco, to name a few. He has received the New York Nightlife Award, 4 Bistros and was listed in TimeOut NY’s Top 10 Cabaret shows of 2006.

In Los Angeles, he just won his second L.A. Drama Critics Circle Award – the 2008 Joel Hirschorn Award for Oustanding Achievement in Musical Theatre. He won an Ovation Award for “Forbidden Broadway Y2KLA!”, an Artistic Director’s Achievement Award for “Fully Committed” and a Santa Barbara Indie Award for “High Button Shoes”. Jason originated the role of “Houdini” in the L.A. production of “Ragtime” at the Shubert Theatre. Other L.A. credits include “Marcellus” in “The Music Man ” at the Hollywood Bowl, many shows at Reprise!, and “Grand Hotel” and “The Grand Tour” at The Colony.

On television, Jason has appeared on many shows including “Six Feet Under”, “Rude Awakening”, “Friends”, “Frasier”, “Sabrina the Teenage Witch”, “Living Single”, “Caroline in the City”, “Providence”, etc. On PBS, he was a guest soloist twice with the Boston Pops and once with Marvin Hamlisch and the National Symphony on “Holiday for the Troops at The Kennedy Center” and recently in “Words and Music by Jerry Herman”.

Movie appearances include the title role in “Sunshine Barry and the Disco Worms” (2008 Toronto and London Film Festivals), Disney’s “Home on the Range”, “On Edge”, “Gepetto”, “The Dukes of Hazzard in Hollywood”, and the upcoming “Awakening of Spring” (produced by HERE). He has been heard on many cartoons and for five years he was the voice of “Lucky, the Leprechaun” for Lucky Charms Cereal, a balanced part of your complete breakfast.

He made his Los Angeles Opera debut as “Njegus” in “The Merry Widow”, repeating the role with Dallas Opera, Houston Grand Opera and Ne w Orleans Opera. Also with L.A. Opera he was featured as “Offenbach” in “The Grand Duchess” , directed by Garry Marshall. He played “Frosch” in “Die Fledermaus” with Washington National and San Francisco Operas.

Jason has recorded over forty CDs, including original cast albums, concerts, compilations, and his two solo CDs, “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile – Jason Graae Sings Charles Strouse”, and “Jason Graae LIVE at The Cinegrill” (Fynsworth Alley).
He has been touring at major International Festivals, Corporate Functions, and in Theatres, Schools, and Universities on six continents since 1983.

Jason Graae’s Website

Pinehurst Forum

October 8, 2009

Lauren Kennedy and Alan Campbell

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November 5, 2009

Dan Kamin – Comedy in Motion

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December 10, 2009

Robert Michaels

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January 7, 2010

Billy D. Washington

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February 11, 2010

Kelleylee Evans

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March 11, 2010

Jason Graae

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