Bay Area Cabaret Presents Actor/Singer Peter Gallagher 10/22

Bay Area Cabaret continues its 2011-2012 season on October 22, 2011 with renowned veteran of stage, screen and film, Tony-nominated actor/singer Peter Gallagher in the West Coast premiere of his critically acclaimed cabaret show SONGS AND STORIES. Although well-known for his acting roles in nearly fifty films such as American Beauty, sex, lies and videotapes, and The Player, as well as his roles on TV including The O.C., and Covert Affair, Gallagher also boasts an extensive background in musical theatre, receiving rave reviews for starring roles in Guys And Dolls and Pal Joey (opposite Patti LuPone). In SONGS AND STORIES, Gallagher reaches into the Great American Songbook as well as Broadway to relay stories of his colorful life and dynamic career. This special one-night-only engagement will take place at the historic Venetian Room at The Fairmont San Francisco (950 Mason Street). Tickets ($45 general / $40 subscribers) are available at www.bayareacabaret.org or by phone at City Box Office (415) 392-4400.

After Broadway roles in Hair and Grease, Gallagher made his movie debut as a 50's teen idol in the cult classic, The Idolmaker. While his film success seemed to overshadow his musical roots, he has returned to Broadway many times, receiving rave reviews for his singing. After surprising fans and critics alike while singing a cover of Solomon Burke's "Don't Give Up On Me" on a pivotal episode of The O.C., he was quickly signed by Sony Music to record his highly-praised and best-selling album, the soulful 7 Days In Memphis. Regarding SONGS AND ST0RIES, the The New York Times said, "What makes Mr. Gallagher's gift of gab so special is how naturally it extends to singing. He inhabits a song so comfortably that it flows directly out, a fusion of his own personality and the character he is playing." The review went on to describe his voice as "warm, flexible and unaffected...powerful and expressive."

Peter Gallagher has delivered critically acclaimed performances in film, television and theatre for over thirty years. He has starred in nearly fifty films, including Sex, Lies and Videotape, American Beauty (SAG Award), The Player, Short Cuts (Golden Globe), The Idolmaker, While You Were Sleeping, Underneath, To Gillian on her 37th Birthday, Center Stage, Mr. Deeds, Dreamchild, Adam, Conviction, Burlesque, and the upcoming Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You, co-starring Ellen Burstyn, Marcia Gay Harden, Lucy Liu, Toby Regbo, and Deborah Ann Woll.

On television, Gallagher currently portrays "Arthur Campell" in USA's hit series Covert Affairs. Of his many other credits, some favorites include "Father Phil" on Rescue Me, "Dean Stacy Koons" on Californication and "SAndy Cohen" on The OC. Gallagher has worked with some of the industry's most respected directors including Mike Nichols, Robert Altman, Steven Soderbergh, Sam Mendes, Nicholas Hytner, Jonathan Miller and Hal Prince.

His theatre credits include musicals and plays, having starred in award winning Broadway productions of Guys and Dolls (Drama Desk nomination), Long Day's Journey Into Night (with Jack Lemmon, receiving a Tony Award Nomination), The Real Thing (Clarence Derwent Award), The Corn Is Green (Theatre World Award), Noises Off, and The Country Girl.

As a singer, Gallagher recorded 7 Days in Memphis for Epic Records, and appears on the soundtracks for Pal Joey, Guys and Dolls, A Doll's Life and others. He continues to perform live all over the country with his solo show, SONGS and STORIES. Gallagher was honored with a Light on the Hill Award and a Jumbo Award from Tufts. He received an Inspire Award from AARP, serves on the National Advisory Council of the Alzheimer's Association, and is presently co-chair of the National Board of Advisors for the Actor's Fund.

After several seasons of presenting shows in diverse elegant showrooms, Bay Area Cabaret found a permanent home last year when it was invited to reopen the Fairmont Hotel's historic Venetian Room, which had been dark as an entertainment venue for over 21 years. Following a gala opening, the company presented its most successful season to date, featuring such musical legends as Oscar, Grammy, Tony, and Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Marvin Hamlisch, Tony-winners Chita Rivera, Anika Noni Rose, and Lillias White, and its first ever Bay Area Teen Idol competition, with judges from American Idol and Wicked, and host Manoel Felciano. Having been awarded exclusive music booking rights to the Venetian Room, Bay Area Cabaret now presents its eighth season in the city's legendary showroom.

Said Marilyn Levinson, Founding Executive Producer of Bay Area Cabaret, "The city's music patrons have given an enthusiastic reception to Bay Area Cabaret's first musical season in the Venetian Room. With performances by top caliber artists, and a classic renovation of both the Laurel Court restaurant and its menu, San Franciscans are flocking to Nob Hill to enjoy the glamour reminiscent of the city's golden age." From 1947 to 1989, the Venetian Room reigned supreme as the city's premier showroom. It was here that Tony Bennett introduced his signature song, ‘I Left My Heart in San Francisco' and show business legends like Ella Fitzgerald, Marlene Dietrich, Tina Turner, Peggy Lee, Nat ‘King' Cole, and many others held forth for more than four decades.

Bay Area Cabaret was founded by Levinson, a fifth generation San Francisco native, and niece of James Schwabacher, Jr., founder of San Francisco Opera's 27-year-old Schwabacher Debut Recital Series. Bay Area Cabaret (BAC) is a not-for profit, all-volunteer organization, which presents extraordinary performances at the Fairmont San Francisco's legendary Venetian Room. Through its concert series and wide-ranging outreach activities, BAC aims to expand the definition of cabaret and broaden the audience for intimate entertainment, offering Great American Songbook entries from Harold Arlen and Stephen Sondheim to Jonathan Larson and Stevie Wonder. Past seasons have also featured Sutton Foster, Barbara Cook, jazz vocalists Nnenna Freelon and Jane Monheit, Broadway stars Anthony Rapp and Adam Pascal, sopranos Patricia Racette and Karen Slack, and multi-platinum singer/songwriters Melissa Manchester and Ann Hampton Callaway.

Bay Area Cabaret's 2011 fall line-up kicks off with Broadway icon Lea Salonga on September 16, continues with Gallagher on October 22, followed by Grammy-nominated jazz vocalist Stacey Kent on December 11. The series continues in 2012 with two-time Tony winner Christine Ebersole on January 15, jazz guitarist/singer John Pizzarelli on February 26, and Tony winner and star of NBC's new series The Playboy Club, Laura Benanti on May 12. Subscribers to the six-show series receive substantial ticket discounts and reserved seats. For all patrons of Bay Area Cabaret, The Fairmont offers a three-course dinner in the Laurel Court for $40 (plus tax and tip), plus free parking for all who dine in the Laurel Court. For Bay Area Cabaret 2011-2012 season subscriptions, or for more information including audio and video samples, visit www.bayareacabaret.org.

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