Sunday, April 22 at 1pm & Wednesday, May 2 at 7pm
The Laurie Beechman Theatre at the West Bank Cafe
407 W. 42 Street at 9th AvenueY
Reservations: 212.695.6909
$15 cover plus $15 food/drink minimum
John Koproswki takes us on a musical journey through the days of the campus free speech movement, the anti-war movement, Haight-Ashbury, and Woodstock. You might want to think of this as a “Magical Mystery Tour.” Songs by the following artists are featured: The Beatles, Bob Dylan, Simon and Garfunkel, Jimi Hendrix, The Byrds, The Grateful Dead, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and others.
John Koprowski is a multifaceted artist who, after a successful career in finance, chose to change directions and pursue his artistic dreams. As an actor, John has appeared in many productions in and around New York City. Among John’s favorite roles were as the fundamentalist behavioral psychiatrist at the Blue Coyote Theater Company’s critically-acclaimed Busted Jesus Comix; Menenius in Coriolanus, for which he received the Jean Dalrymple Award for Best Supporting Actor; Lizzie Borden’s father in Blood Relations. Other productions in which he either directed or produced were Sam Shepard’s Simpatico, Clifford Odets’ Golden Boy, and Tennessee Williams’ Kingdom of Earth.
Recent film roles were the serial killer Laroux in Final Edition and as Pastor Johnson in the award-winning indie film The Third Testament, which was featured in four festivals including the Big Apple Film Festival. It also was awarded “Excellence in Feature Film” at the 2010 Indie Film Fest.
The production is directed by Eric Michael Gillett. Eric is a performer, a director and teacher. He made his debut in the original cast of the acclaimed revival of Kiss Me, Kate, created the role of Otis Elwell in Sweet Smell of Success, and appeared in the Lincoln Center production of The Frogs. New York City Ballet audiences have seen him most recently as Father in Seven Deadly Sins with Patti LuPone. His many off-Broadway credits include Dream a Little Dream, Big City Rhythm, and Silent Laughter. Eric Michael Gillett spent 12 years touring as ringmaster of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus. Regional appearances include Annie, La Cage aux Folles, Phantom, and Sleuth. Television audiences have seen him on Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, and Ed. Films that Eric Michael have appeared in include Maid in Manhattan, The Producers, as well as My Brother with Vanessa Williams.
Eric Michael Gillett is currently the director of the Singers Forum Actors’ Equity Scholarship Program. He is also on the faculty at NYC’s prestigious HB Studio. He has been honored by the Mabel Mercer Foundation with the 2009 Dick Gallagher Award, Help Is On the Way, the 2010 Spirit Award, the MAC Award as both Outstanding Director and Outstanding Major Artist (Male) and he has received both the MAC and Backstage Bistro award as Outstanding Male Vocalist. His directorial clients include Karen Akers, KT Sullivan, Sheera Ben-David, Lari White, Jarrod Spector, and many, many more including John Koproswki’s four cabaret endeavors. His recordings include Sing a Rainbow and Cast of Thousands. He returns to perform at the Laurie Beechman Theatre himself in I Won’t Sing a Sondheim Song…or Will I? on Fridays at 7pm in April. Eric Michael Gillett can be found online at www.ericmichaelgillett.com.
Pianist/arranger/conductor/singer/songwriter Tracy Stark is John’s musical director. She is a 6-time MAC Award winner in the categories of Song of the Year, Music Director, and Piano Bar Entertainer. She is also a Bistro Award winner for Outstanding Musical Direction, and winner of the Dottie Burman Songwriter of the Year Award.
Tracy has worked with Lesley Gore, Phoebe Snow, Karen Black, Randy Jones (Village People), Nona Hendryx, Jane Monheit, Jimmy Osmond, Tovah Feldshuh, Eric Millegan, Tonya Pinkins, Ann Crumb, Lea Michele, Marni Nixon, and hundreds of other rock, jazz, and Broadway vocalists. She has conducted, played, and sung at all the finest and the sleaziest venues all over the world. She has played/conducted on numerous television shows, including The Today Show. Her songs are included on at least 20 different compilations, and have been winning accolades in songwriting competitions for the past couple of decades.
Her last CD, Feast for the Heart is exquisitely produced by Richard Barone, and includes a duet with the inimitable Phoebe Snow. She is currently in the process of recording a new CD , with her label, Miranda Music. She can be found on the web at www.tracystark.com
The members of Ms. Stark’s band are Pete Calo, guitar; Donna Kelly, drums; Susan Mitchell, violin; and Owen Yost, bass. Backup vocals are provided by Wendy Russell and Cindy Green.
John Koprowski’s web site is www.johnkoprowski.com.
