SAVE THE DATES – AUGUST 20th through AUGUST 25th – I return for a full week engagement at FEINSTEINS when I’ll be releasing one of my two brand new CD’s!

I’ve been in the recording studio the last 2 weeks pretty much non stop, with the likes of David Caldwell (my MD and arranger), Ron Abel, (my Artistic Producer), Robert Smith of Defy Recordings (Engineer Extraordinare), and Robin Batteau, who is playing some kick butt violin tracks for my CD. Since we are wrapping it all up tonight, we are all going to run over to THE SALON and do an impromptu SPOTLIGHT set of 3 songs from the CD, with David, Robin and Ron playing! Even if you can’t make it tonight, THE SALON should be on your calendar as a must see and do – almost every Sunday night at 7 pm at ETC ETC., 352 west 44th Street near 9th Avenue. The Salon is an ongoing open entertainment event in which singers, writers and musicians share their talent with each other and audience members. You may sign up to perform starting at 6:30 and there is a modest $10 cash cover and $15 food/bev minimum – the food and service at ETC ETC are absolutely wonderful, too!

Join me for one more show on 4/11 at the Beechman! One of my closest and most talent friends, TOM VAUGHN, is making his cabaret debut this year and I serve as his director, along with being his special guest (for a sizeable portion of his show).I am very proud of Tom and the work we have created in this life affirming show and I hope you will be able to join us for one of the 3 nights. Here’s his press release:

TomVaughn in TRAIL OF CHEERS, at LAURIE BEECHMAN THEATRE (407 West 42nd Street, NYC – 212-695-6909 – ) on Tuesday, March 20th; Friday, March 30th; and Wednesday, April 11th, all shows at 7:00 pm. after debuting “Trail of Cheers” at the Metropolitan Room in January 2012. The evening features arrangements of standards and Broadway classics, folk-pop ballads and Tom’s original music. Joining Tom is special guest, Broadway actress and MAC and Bistro Award winner, Raissa Katona Bennett. Musical Direction is by Jeff Cubeta. The band also features guitarist Chris Conly, Jacob Silver on bass and Mary Rodriguez on drums. Tom’s background vocals can also be heard on the Lucie Arnaz CD “Latin Roots” musically produced by Ron Abel and Lucie Arnaz. There is a $25 cover plus a $15 food/drink minimum.

Saturday April 28, 2012 7:30 PM – I’ll be appearing in the second annual benefit concert, HEAR OUR SONG along with Garrett, and many other talented friends and stars of stage and screen including:  Lucie Arnaz, Tom Vaughn, Christina Connors, Scott Coulter, David Friedman, Kenneth Gartman, Laurence Luckinbill, Roger Mapes, Nancy Timpanaro-Hogan, Tonja Walker Davidson and Lennie Watts, just to name a few. Norwalk Concert Hall 125 East Avenue Norwalk CT – 50% of all proceeds will go to the BJ Ryans Foundation. Concert to benefit Norwalk Education Foundation and other local charities.  Click here for more info.

The CONCERTS FOR CITY GREENS series that I produce and host has been nominated for a 2012 MAC Award in the “Benefit” category!  Formerly known as THE CONCERTS AT TUDOR CITY GREENS, we shortened the name to expand our mission, which is to support the “greening” of New York, by linking with a range of community groups, organizations and individuals to increase and diversify the audiences for live music in New York, while encouraging public and private stewardship of green spaces across the City.  The MAC Awards show is March 29th and I’ll post the results on my website and Facebook Fan Pages.

I am regularly performing “Platform” duties at our UNITY CENTER FOR PRACTICAL SPIRITUALITY - I’ll be there 3/18, 3/25 and Easter Sunday, 4/8 I will also be singing with Christina Connors, Scott Couter and Kenneth Gartman!  I will have all future dates listed here on my website . 10:30 a.m., 3 West Main Street, Norwalk, CT.  For those of you wondering what “Platform” is, another term for it is “Pulpit Assistants” – our roles compliment the role of the Minister.  We act as Scripture or inspirational readers, meditation leaders and prayer partners. I hope you’ll join me some Sunday morning – Unity Center, where all are welcome, is a spiritually community founded and based on a concept of always pointing the way toward a more positive way of living – a philosopy that helps people discover and live their highest potential and purpose.

Feb 24, 2011: 

As February comes to a close, I look forward to the 3 benefit shows I have coming up in March and April. The first is an All Star Celebration to benefit the Art of Warr Productions. 

On March 7th. The show takes place at the D-Lounge in the Daryl Roth Theater (101 East 15th Street), and there is a $25 cash donation at the door.  See below for more info:

The show features performances by Titus Burgess, Natalie Joy Johnson, Trent Armand Kendall, Rosemary Loar, Mel & El, Molly Pope, Sarah Rice, Mary Testa, Joshua Warr, and Me! It is directed by my good friend and talented singer,  Miles Philips; Musical Direction by Tracy Stark

 My friend, and phenomenal singer Father John Sheehan, runs a very worthy organization called Xavier Society for the Blind and he asked me to take part in their benefit, which I am honored to do for such a wonderful cause.  So,on March 28, at Playwrights Horizons Theatre on 42nd Street in Manhattan, I will be performing in an evening of song and theatre to benefit the Veterans Outreach Program of the Xavier Society for the Blind.

Here’s their press release:

Elaine Stritch is the Chair of our Celebrity Committee, a group that includes Abe Vigoda, Joyce Randolph, Michael Badalucco, and Hawthorne James. Those who have agreed to perform include Raissa Katona Bennett from the Broadway stage, Julie Diniz from the world of opera and a couple of surprises we have promised not to leak out. A special feature will be a performance by the Liberty Belles, from the USO of Metropolitan New York. There will be celebrities in the audience, members of the Armed Forces Wounded Warriors as our guests, and delicious light food and exotic drink in addition to the wonderful entertainment.

Tickets for the event are $150 general admission, $250 for Patrons. Reservations are currently being accepted, and there are still a few spaces for advertising in the event program, and for sponsorship of elements of the evening. 

For more information, call Christine or Rick at (212) 473-7800 

Finally, the show coming up in April is called Hear Our Song, on Friday, April 8th, 2011 at the Norwalk Concert Hall at City Hall; 125 East Ave Norwalk, CT.  I was born in Norwalk, and my folks both went to High School in the Concert Hall, which was Norwalk High School, back then!  And just look at the line up of talent involved!  It includes many of my closest and most talented friends, including my husband, so this whole evening will be special for me on so many levels and I hope to see lots of old friends and new ones there!

Hear our Song features (along with myself) Lucie Arnaz, Dr. Garrett Bennett, Christina Connors, Scott Coulter, David Friedman, Kenneth Gartman, Bobbie Horowitz, Lina Koutrakos, Rosemary Loar, Laurence Luckinbill, Roger Mapes, Don Martocchio, Valeria Roncoli, Nancy Timpanaro-Hogan, and Wayne Timpanero-Hogan.

This show is being presented by our spiritual center, Unity Center for Practical Spirituality, and portions of the proceeds will benefit the Norwalk Hospital’s Whittingham Cancer Center, and the Norwalk Domestice Violence Crisis Center. 

Hope to see lots of you in the coming months – we are also gearing up for THE CONCERTS AT TUDOR CITY GREENS, and in fact, are having our first production meeting tonight, so keep checking back here for updates!

Love and Light,

Raissa

While joining me for my sold-out show this summer, the Darien Arts Center asked Miles to return to Darien with a special two-act concert created to celebrate Valentine’s Day!  The evening will be filled with Miles in at his romantic best and that’s saying a lot, belive me.  Click on the the graphic below to go to the website for tickets or call:  203-655-5414.  I hope to see you there, because not only do I get to sing some great numbers with Miles, but also with my good and incredibly talented friends, Julie, Sue and Jason.  See more info below:

  Miles Phillips at Darien Arts Center 

Multiple Award Winner Miles Phillips brings an evening of music and romance to the Darien Arts Center just in time for Valentine’s Day!

Joining Miles for some beautiful duets will be three of New York’s most acclaimed and award-winning leading ladies, fellow Feinstein’s headliners: Raissa Katona Bennett, Sue Matsuki and Julie Reyburn!  Miles’ longtime musical collaborator, multiple award-winning composer Jason Wynn, will serve as Music Director.

Beautiful Darien, CT is easily accessible by car and train.  Given his busy schedule as an actor and director, this is the first time Miles has presented a full show for far too long.  If you have the opportunity to make it to Darien, don’t miss this rare opportunity!