CONCERTS FOR CITY GREENS PRESENTS ALL-STAR CONCERT AT BEECHMAN ON APRIL 23

FINALE OF 2012 SONGWRITING CONTEST CROWNS ONE OF THREE FINALISTS -- CHARLES BLOOM, LARRY KERCHNER AND WILL REYNOLDS

RAISSA KATONA BENNETT HOSTS NEWLY FORMED NON-PROFIT’S FIRST GALA EVENT

(April 5, 2013) The Concerts for City Greens hosts a celebratory retrospective of its first five seasons in a gala concert at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 West 42nd Street, on Tuesday April 23 at 7pm. The show marks both the finale of last summer’s Songwriting Contest, and the launch of a new non-profit Music and Art for Green, which will incorporate Concerts for City Greens within its umbrella.

Hosted by the Broadway actress and cabaret headliner Raissa Katona Bennett, the show will welcome alumni of the past five seasons of Concerts for City Greens, the free outdoor series at Tudor City produced by Bennett that has featured hundreds of accomplished singers, comedians and instrumentalists from a variety of backgrounds.

From the world of Broadway, the evening features: Tony Award nominee Willy Falk; “Sweeney Todd’s” original Johanna, Sarah Rice; Eric Michael Gillett; T. Oliver Reid; Rosemary Loar, and KT Sullivan.  From the world of jazz: pianist Barry Levitt; vocalist Shaynee Rainbolt; band leader Terese Genecco, and bassist Matt Scharfglass.  From the classical realm: pianist Mark Janas; violinist Nicholas Perry, and Maureen Taylor.  From the comedy corner: Stone & Stone. And from cabaret the award-winning: Scott Coulter; Jenna Esposito; Kenneth Gartman; Marquee Five; Tanya Moberly; Julie Reyburn; Lennie Watts, and Bill Zeffiro.

Among those performing will be special guest David Friedman, the quadruple-platinum songwriter and Today Show regular. Friedman, who composes for television, film and Broadway, served on the jury for the songwriting contest and will introduce the winner.  The contest’s finalists are veteran tunesmith Charles Bloom, the two-time Grammy nominee Larry Kerchner, and the musical theatre writer and actor Will Reynolds.

Serving on the jury with Friedman were rock ‘n roll legend Neil Sedaka; the Golden Globe-winning singer-songwriter Amanda McBroom; the multi-platinum singer, songwriter and pianist Ann Hampton Callaway; the Tony-nominated composer Michael John LaChiusa, and the two-time Emmy-winning MTV Networks executive Matthew Parillo.

Tickets for the April 23 retrospective gala concert are $65 person for an evening that includes a cocktail-hors d’oeuvres reception at 7pm followed by a show at 8:15pm. The Laurie Beechman Theatre at the West Bank Café, 407 West 42nd Street.  For reservations call 212/695-6909, or to book online visit www.westbankcafe.com.

The event benefits Music and Art for Green, a new non-profit which strives to expose culturally and socio-economically diverse audiences of all ages to free, professional live music in city settings, while linking with other community groups and organizations to promote effective dedication to the “greening” of cities. Founded this year by Bennett, who won the 2010 Bistro and 2011 MAC Award for producing the Concerts for City Greens series, the organization will continue to produce at Tudor City while actively promoting creative and inclusive uses of other public green spaces. This year’s 6th annual concert series at Tudor City begins on May 29th, with subsequent dates in June, August and September.  For information visit www.raissakatonabennett.com

Concert Schedule

The Concerts for City Greens, the free outdoor concert series, brings the sounds of live music to diverse urban audiences in unique, privately maintained public green spaces across the city.

TUDOR CITY – MAY 29th
TUDOR CITY – JUNE 26th
TUDOR CITY – AUGUST 7th
TUDOR CITY – SEPTEMBER 11th

CONCERTS FOR CITY GREENS SALUTES MICHAEL JOHN LACHIUSA IN SEASON FINALE “A GIANT, WILD PARTY” OCTOBER 3

LACHIUSA MAKES SPECIAL APPEARANCE WITH GUESTS STARS D.C. ANDERSON, LEAH HOCKING, KT SULLIVAN, AND KATIE THOMPSON

HOST RAISSA KATONA BENNETT WELCOMES SERIES REGULARS TERESE GENECCO AND BILL ZEFFIRO; INSTRUMENTALISTS JEFF CUBETA, MARK JANAS AND MATT SCHARFGLASS, AND SPECIAL GUESTS INLAND TRAVELER

(September 23, 2012) The Concerts for City Greens, the free outdoor series that brings the sounds of music to the heart of Midtown, hosts “A Giant, Wild Party,” a musical tribute to the celebrated composer/lyricist/librettist Michael John LaChiusa, on Wednesday October 3 at 6:30pm at Tudor City Greens. (Rain date: Thursday October 4 at 6:30pm.)  Fêting the 2-time Emmy winner and 5-time Tony nominee, whose new musical “Giant,” opens at the Public Theater this fall, will be the Broadway veterans D.C. Anderson (“Queen of the Mist,” “Rebecca,” “Phantom”) and Leah Hocking (“Wild Party,” “Billy Elliott,” “Mama Mia,” “Hairspray”); the cabaret legend and Broadway star KT Sullivan; and the singer/songwriter and actress Katie Thompson (who is featured in LaChiusa’s “Giant”). “A Giant, Wild Party” brings to a close The Concerts for City Greens’ fifth annual season of free outdoor summer concerts.

An innovative opera and musical theater composer, lyricist and librettist, LaChiusa is best known for “Hello Again,” “Marie Christine,” “The Wild Party,” “See What I Wanna See,” and “Chronicle of a Death Foretold.” The Public’s upcoming production of “Giant” stars Brian d’Arcy James and Kate Baldwin.

A Broadway veteran (Christine in “Phantom of the Opera”) and Bistro & MAC award-winning cabaret artist, Raissa Katona Bennett is the evening’s creator host and producer.  Returning as series regulars are Bennett’s side-kicking drummer -- multiple MAC and Bistro award-winning little big band innovator  Terese Genecco, and the MAC Award-winning composer-pianist Bill Zeffiro.  The concert’s featured instrumentalists are Jeff Cubeta and Mark Janas on piano, and Matt Scharfglass on bass.

Making special guest appearances to premiere 2 of the eight semi-finalist songs competing in The Concerts For City Greens song-writing are KT Sullivan, who introduces Larry Kerchner’s “Winter in Manhattan”,  and the Brooklyn-based songwriting collective Inland Traveler (consisting of Katie Locke, Lucas Madrazo and Gerald Edward), who will debut their entry, “City Wild.”

CONCERTS FOR CITY GREENS SALUTES ANN HAMPTON CALLAWAY ON SEPTEMBER 12

CALLAWAY MAKES SPECIAL APPEARANCE WITH GUEST STARS CHRISTINA CONNORS, SCOTT COULTER, THE MAGIC GARDEN, (CAROLE DEMAS & PAULA JANIS), KENNETH GARTMAN, SHAYNEE RAINBOLT, AND T. OLIVER REID

HOST RAISSA KATONA BENNETT JOINED BY SERIE’S REGULARS TERESE GENECCO, SEAN HARKNES, BILL ZEFFIRO AND INSTRUMENTALISTS, IAN HERMAN, KENNETH GARTMAN AND MATT SCHARFGLASS

(August 30, 2012) The Concerts for City Greens, the free outdoor concert series that brings the sounds of music to the heart of Midtown, dedicates the fourth concert of this year’s summer series to the singer-songwriter and actress Ann Hampton Callaway, on Wednesday September 12 at 6:30pm at Tudor City Greens. (Rain date: Thursday September 13 at 6:30pm.)  With a special guest appearance by Callaway, “Finding Beauty” stars the singer-actress Christina Connors; the MAC, Bistro and Nightlife award-winner Scott Coulter; The Magic Garden’s Carole Demas & Paula Janis; the MAC and Bistro-winning jazz vocalist Shaynee Rainbolt, and the Julie Wilson Award-winning Broadway veteran T. Oliver Reid.

Callaway, the multi-platinum tunesmith, Tony-nominated actress, accomplished jazz pianist, singer and TV and film star, makes her 54 Below debut with a string of primetime dates from September 25 to 29.

The Broadway veteran (“Christine” PHANTOM OF THE OPERA) and Bistro & MAC Award winning cabaret artist, Raissa Katona Bennett,  is the evening’s creator,  host and producer.  Returning as series regulars are Bennett’s side-kicking drummer --  multiple MAC Bistro Award-winning little big band innovator Terese Genecco; the Windham Hill recording artist Bistro & MAC Award winner Sean Harkness on guitar and the MAC Award winning composer-pianist Bill Zeffiro.  The concert’s featured instrumentalists are Kenneth Gartman and Ian Herman on piano, and Matt Scharfglass on bass.

Making a special guest appearance to premiere one of the eight semifinalist songs competing in The Concerts for City Greens song writing contest, are Carole Demas (Original “Sandy” in Broadway’s GREASE) & Paula Janis, of the hit TV show, The Magic Garden, who will premiere “Village Green of New York City” by Lauren McCall,  a music educator and composer from Georgia.
The semifinalist tunes, all of which celebrate the different roles green spaces play in the lives of New Yorkers, are being performed by prominent guest artists from the worlds of Broadway, jazz, cabaret and classical music. The contest’s finalists, chosen after the summer, will be showcased at a special gala concert at Feinstein's at the Loews Regency, in the fall or winter of 2012. (TBA)

Conceived and developed by Raissa Katona Bennett, The Concerts for City Greens is dedicated to exposing diverse audiences of all ages to free, professional live music in city settings, while linking with other community groups and organizations to promote effective dedication to the “greening” of cities.  Bennett won the 2010 Bistro and 2011 MAC Award for hosting the concerts.

The series’ current 5th annual season concludes on Wednesday October 3, at 6:30pm.  Four of this summer’s concerts are being dedicated to the music of four of the song contest judges: Amanda McBroom (May 30), Neil Sedaka (August 1), Ann Hampton Callaway (September 12) and Michael John LaChiusa (October 3).  (The other judges are the quadruple-platinum songwriter and Today Show regular David Friedman, and the two-time Emmy Award-winning MTV executive Matthew Parillo).  For information visit www.raissakatonabennett.com

The concerts take place at the South Park of Tudor City Greens Park (between 41st & 42nd Streets, and 1st & 2nd Avenues)
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Wow – we have big news for the August 1st Concerts for City Greens - our third concert of the season is a tribute to the music of rock ‘n roll legend, Neil Sedaka, with an appearance by the man himself!!!

You’d better come early and bring your own chair on:  Wednesday August 1 at 6:30pm at Tudor City Greens. (Rain date: Thursday August 2 at 6:30pm.)  Paying tribute to the Brooklyn-born hit maker “Love Will Keep Us Together -  the Songs of Neil Sedaka” stars the ASCAP Award-winning singer-songwriter Jim Van Slyke, the MAC-winning harmony group Marquee Five, and the actress Carole Demas, co-star of TV’s Magic Garden, and the original Sandy in “Grease.”  Also appearing in this special tribute to Sedaka’s six decade-long career will be his niece, newcomer Holland Grossman, who makes her Broadway debut in “Rebecca.”

The Broadway and cabaret veteran Raissa Katona Bennett is the evening’s host and producer.  Returning as series regulars are Bennett’s side-kicking drummer -- the 4-time MAC & 2-time Bistro Award-winning big band innovator Terese Genecco; the Windham Hill recording artist Sean Harkness on guitar (2012 MAC Recording of the Year), and the composer-pianist Bill Zeffiro.  The concert’s featured instrumentalists are David Caldwell, Kenneth Gartman and Ian Herman on piano, and Skip Ward and Matt Scharfglass on bass.

One more of the eight semifinalist songs competing in the Concerts for City Greens song contest receives its concert premiere: the musical theatre writer and actor Will Reynolds performs his “If the World Looked Like You.” The semifinalist tunes, all of which celebrate the different roles green spaces play in the lives of New Yorkers, are being performed throughout the season. The contest’s finalist songs, chosen after the summer, will be showcased at a special gala concert at Feinstein's at the Loews Regency, in the fall or winter of 2012. (TBA)

Conceived and developed by Raissa Katona Bennett, Concerts for City Greens (formerly The Concerts for Tudor City Greens) is dedicated to exposing diverse audiences of all ages to free, professional live music in city settings, while linking with other community groups and organizations to promote effective dedication to the “greening” of cities.  Bennett won the 2010 Bistro and 2011 MAC Award for hosting “The Concerts at Tudor City Greens.”

The series’ current 5th annual season continues September 12 and October 3, both Wednesdays at 6:30pm.  Four of this summer’s concerts are being dedicated to the music of four of the song contest judges: Amanda McBroom (May 30), Neil Sedaka (August 1), Ann Hampton Callaway (September 12) and Michael John LaChiusa (October 3).  (The other judges are the quadruple-platinum songwriter and Today Show regular David Friedman, and the two-time Emmy Award-winning MTV executive Matthew Parillo).  For information visit www.raissakatonabennett.com

The concerts take place at the South Park of Tudor City Greens Park (between 41st & 42nd Streets, and 1st & 2nd Avenues)

Our next CONCERTS FOR CITY GREENS will be a bit of a departure when we invite several of NYC's popular commedians to join the musical mix on Wednesday June 20 at 6:30pm at Tudor City Greens. (Rain date: Thursday June 21 at 6:30pm.) "Comedy Tonight... with a Splash of Jazz" welcomes these featured guests: the jazz-jesting bandleader Joan Crowe; the MAC and Bistro Award winning story-singer Faye Lane; songwriter, singer and author Bobbie Horowitz; the singer-songwriting duo of Ritt Henn and Mary Liz McNamara; Comedy Central's Stone and Stone; beloved cabaret raconteur and dandy Sidney Myer, and the molten-voiced jazz heartthrob Gregory Generet.

 

The Windham Hill recording artist, Sean Harkness (2012 MAC Recording of the Year), and the composer-pianist Bill Zeffiro return as series regulars. The concert's featured instrumentalists are Kenneth Gartman, Tracy Stark and Mark Janas on piano (who join Zeffiro as the concert music directors), Ritt Henn on bass, and Rex Benincasa on percussion. The Broadway and cabaret veteran Raissa Katona Bennett is the evening's host and producer.

 

Two more of the eight semifinalist songs competing in the Concerts for City Greens song contest** receive their concert premieres, as the MAC and Julie Wilson Award-winning singer Julie Reyburn debuts the song "This Lake" by Charles Bloom (music and lyrics) Karl Gadjusek (lyrics), and the Houston-based singer-songwriter Kristine Mills introduces her "Patch of Green". The semifinalist tunes, all of which celebrate the different roles green spaces play in the lives of New Yorkers, are being performed throughout the season (two per concert) by prominent guest artists from the worlds of Broadway, jazz, cabaret and classical music. The contest's finalist songs, chosen after the summer, will be showcased at a special gala concert at Feinstein's at the Loews Regency, in the fall or winter of 2012. (TBA)

Congratulations to the Eight Semi-Finalists:

WILL REYNOLDS, JUDY KELLERSBERGER, BEN BONNEMA & ARIANNA ROSE, KRISTINE MILLS, CHARLES BLOOM & KARL GADJUSEK, LAUREN MCCALL, LARRY KERCHNER, and INLAND TRAVELER

Concerts for City Greens has been hosting a songwriting contest of songs celebrating the roles parks and green spaces play in the lives of New Yorkers. Numerous songs by professional and amateur songwriters, from an array of styles and points of view, were submitted. Eight semifinalist songs were performed during this season’s concert series. Through a combination of online and jury voting, three top songs will be chosen at the end of the summer. The three finalist songs will be performed at a special concert at a venue, TBA early in 2013.

Serving as judges for the contest are: Neil Sedaka, Amanda McBroom, Ann Hampton Callaway, David Friedman, Michael John LaChiusa, and MTV executive Matthew Parillo.

Supporting the greening of New York, Concerts for City Greens links with a range of community groups, organizations and individuals. Our mission is two-fold -- to increase and diversify the audience for live music in New York, while encouraging public and private stewardship of green spaces across the City.