LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Golden Globe winner Amanda McBroom at Orinda Theatre, March 1


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The next "Live at the Orinda Theatre Concert Series" will be March 1 with Golden Globe winner Amanda McBroom and musical director Michele Brourman. Described by the New York Times as "...the greatest cabaret performer of her generation, an urban poet who writes like an angel and has a voice to match" and "... one of the greatest night club performers of all time" by Broadway World, noting McBroom's lyrics are "profound and express human emotions in glorious poetry. Her humor is so smart and she sings and acts it all brilliantly."

McBroom came to the attention of music lovers in 1979 when Bette Midler's version of McBroom's song, "The Rose," became the No. 1 hit all over the world. In addition to Midler, her songs have been recorded by a wide variety of artists including Amy Poehler and Jack Black, Barry Manilow, Judy Collins, Barbara Cook, LeAnn Rimes, Anne Murray, Harry Belafonte, Betty Buckley, Stephanie Mills, The Manhattan Transfer, Donny Osmond, Kurt Cobain, Nana Mouskouri, Conway Twitty, the Chipmunks and the Baby Dinosaurs in "The Land Before Time" (she wrote all the songs for 16 Universal Cartoon videos with longtime collaborator Michele Brourman).

McBroom's performance of "The Rose" on the Golden Globes convinced audiences worldwide that the best interpretations of McBroom songs are by McBroom herself and they applaud her in concert halls around the world from Carnegie Hall to Angel Place Recital Hall in Sydney, Australia.

Her love of musical theater (she starred in the New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and European productions of "Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris," on Broadway in "Seesaw," and in productions of "Sweeney Todd," "A Little Night Music" and "Mame") compelled her to create a musical based on her songs. "Heartbeats" made its debut in 1989 in Los Angeles, and the play has enjoyed more than 15 regional theater productions around the U.S. The original cast recording was released in 1994 on Varese Sarabande Records and is represented by the Rogers and Hammerstein Music Library. Amanda's musical, "A Woman of Will," made its off-Broadway debut in 2005.

McBroom recently celebrated the release of "Voices," her sixth recording on Gecko, the label she established in 1985. Other Gecko recordings include "Dreaming," "Midnight Matinee," "A Waiting Heart," "Portraits," and "Chanson." In addition, she has recorded "Live from Rainbow and Stars" (DRG), and "A Woman of Will" (LML Music). Her first two groundbreaking vinyl recordings, "Growing Up in Hollywood Town" and "West of OZ," were recorded direct to disc for Sheffield Labs and made McBroom an audiophile darling.

"Amanda McBroom is a legend in the cabaret world. The definition of a true artist - her own compositions are like mini-movies, the kind that become your favorite films. And when she sings, it's as if she's painting a beautiful picture, you can see the colors in your mind and you feel the passion and the nuance in the many layers that she unfolds," stated Producer Michael Williams.

McBroom follows the inaugural sold-out "Live at the Orinda Theatre Concert" that featured Tony Award winner John Lloyd Young in the 190-seat auditorium in the Orinda Theatre on Feb. 1. On the evening of the March 1 concert, Cine Cuvee Wine Bar will be having food and drink specials before the show. Tickets, which range from $45 to $100 (VIP), are available online at www.lamorindatheatres.com or at the Orinda Theatre box office.

In addition to McBroom's March 1 performance, "Live at the Orinda Theatre Concert Series" remaining shows include: Amanda King ("A Salute to Ella Fitzgerald: The Early Years") on April 5; and Tony-nominated Broadway star Andrea McArdle ("Annie" and "Les Mis�rables") on May 3. Subscriber and sponsorship packages are available.

"Live at the Orinda Theatre Concert Series" is produced by Zemrak Pirkle Productions, LLC and Michael Williams.