Russ Lorenson comes home for the holidays with his fifth annual “Christmas in San Francisco with Russ Lorenson & Friends," for one performance only, 8:00pm on December 22nd at The Rrazz Room, 222 Mason Street, San Francisco, CA, 94102. . Guest artists for this year's show include San Francisco favorites Carly Ozard, Veronica Klaus, and Katya Smirnoff-Skyy.
Skip the Christmas caroling this year and spend a cozy winter's evening with Russ Lorenson (http://www.russlorenson.com) and his special guests Carly Ozard, Veronica Klaus, and Katya Smirnoff-Skyy, as they celebrate five years of jazzy Christmases, San Francisco style! With songs by such great composers and lyricists as Irving Berlin, Johnny Mercer, Jule Styne, Sammy Cahn, and Frank Loesser, there's something for everyone in this swinging evening of jingle jazz. This year's lineup of guests is a trio of divas, all well-known to San Francisco audiences, and all who have made their Rrazz Room debuts in 2010.
About Russ Lorenson
Heard each year on “The Bay Area's Official Christmas Station㭜.5 KOIT-FM" with his recording of “Christmas in San Francisco," Russ Lorenson has established a reputation as one of the San Francisco Bay Area's leading interpreters of jazz standards, with a sound and approach that place him at the intersection of Broadway, jazz, and pop—the very essence of the Great American Songbook. Jazz Review says that “Lorenson is not just a crooner covering the traditional Sinatra style or trying to be the next Connick; he is his own man."
Nominated for a MAC Award by the Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs, Russ Lorenson's passion for the stage started as a youngster, with a performing career that began at age seven. As an actor he has appeared in award-winning musical productions with theatre companies throughout the US, including San Diego's own Starlight Musical Theatre, Diversionary Theatre, and Lyric Opera San Diego. As a vocalist he has toured the US, UK and Europe, appearing in concert with such luminaries as Broadway stars Teri Ralston ("Company," “A Little Night Music," “The Baker's Wife"), Karen Mason ("Hairspray," “Mamma Mia," “Sunset Boulevard") and Dale Kristien ("Phantom of the Opera"), “Queen of Cabaret" Andrea Marcovicci, jazz diva Wesla Whitfield, and as the opening act for the legendary Eartha Kitt.
Lorenson is best known for his critically-acclaimed one-man, Benedetto/Blessed: Celebrating the Life and Music of Tony Bennett. Lorenson's salute to the man whom Frank Sinatra called “the best singer in the business" premiered in 2006 as the opening act for the legendary Eartha Kitt. Since then, the show has enjoyed sold-out runs across the country, including San Francisco's Empire Plush Room, Sterling's Upstairs in Los Angeles, Milwaukee's Wilson Center for the Arts, and New York's famed Iridium Jazz Club. Lorenson's other shows, A Little Travelin' Music and Standard Time, have played to sold-out audiences throughout the US. His debut CD, A Little Travelin' Music, features songs from the show and includes duets with special guests Shawn Ryan and Klea Blackhurst. His second CD, the jazzy holiday collection, What I Want For Christmas, has received extensive radio airplay in major markets across the US.
About Russ' guest stars
Carly Ozard, a classically-trained mezzo-soprano, and no stranger to Bay Area musical theatre audiences, was named San Francisco's Best New Cabaret Performer of 2009, for her critically-acclaimed cabaret debut, “Bitter and Be Gay!" Dubbed “The Kathy Griffin of Cabaret" by Chad Jones of the San Francisco Examiner, Carly followed up her debut with a new show, “Bewitched, Bothered and Bipolar!," making her Rrazz Room debut earlier this year. She followed that triumph with another Rrazz Room show, “Somebody to Love: My Musical Tribute to Freddie Mercury," garnering more critical acclaim and sold-out performances along the way. Carly has appeared with theatre companies across the Bay Area, most notably in The Golden Apple at 42nd Street Moon, Carousel at The Lamplighters, and as Sally in Follies in Concert, opposite her stage husband Russ Lorenson as Buddy.
Veronica Klaus is a critically-acclaimed chanteuse who evokes the glamour and mystique of studio-era leading ladies with a bit of cool June Christy style, a glimmer of fiery blues inflections, and a voice that is purely her own. She is a San Francisco cabaret icon well known for her soulful renditions of jazz, blues and cabaret classics, which she showcases beautifully on her latest CD, “Veronica Klaus—Live at the Lodge!" She garnered lavish praise with her critically-acclaimed autobiographical show “Family Jewels-The Making of Veronica Klaus" at Theatre Rhinoceros. Voted Best Chanteuse by the San Francisco Bay Guardian, the San Francisco Chronicle lauds her as “A beautifully expressive and tuneful song stylist..who is brassy and confident onstage." She has performed at Slims, Cafe Du Nord, The Great American Music Hall, The Empire Plush Room, Jazz at Pearl's, The Venetian Room, and earlier this year made her Rrazz Room debut with her latest show, “Something Cool."
Katya Smirnoff-Skyy, San Francisco's favorite Russian red-head, has been enthralling San Francisco audiences with her own unique blend of Opera, Popera, and Broadway standards. Eastern Europe's Greatest Mezzo-Soprano (understudy) turned Countess, turned Macy's cosmetic counter lady, recently made her Rrazz Room debut with her cabaret spectacular, “Katya...A One Night Stand." She quickly followed that show with another Rrazz Room appearance in her latest show, “Katya...Back In The USSR," a voyage into the Beatles song book. She is well-known for her own annual Christmas Spectaculars at New Conservatory Theatre Center, and won a Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award for her 2009 extravaganza, “Katya's Holiday Spectacular!" Katya is the creation of countertenor and San Francisco native J. Conrad Frank, who received his vocal training at The University of Oregon, has since performed leading roles in various Operatic and theatrical productions across the Bay Area, Aspen and Oregon. Conrad appeared as Sylvia Fowler in “Jungle Red" (Artful Circle Theater) and recently starred as Blanche in the feature film “Baby Jane?," which premiered at the Castro Theater for Frameline this past summer. As Katya, Conrad has shown his wit and vocal stylings in countless nightclubs, bars and events across San Francisco, and was named Best Drag act 2008 by the San Francisco Bay Guardian. Katya hosts the monthly show “Katya Presents..." at Martuni's Bar every third Sunday of the month, and co-hosts the monthly Cabaret Showcase Showdown competition.
Skip the Christmas caroling this year and spend a cozy winter's evening with Russ Lorenson (http://www.russlorenson.com) and his special guests Carly Ozard, Veronica Klaus, and Katya Smirnoff-Skyy, as they celebrate five years of jazzy Christmases, San Francisco style! With songs by such great composers and lyricists as Irving Berlin, Johnny Mercer, Jule Styne, Sammy Cahn, and Frank Loesser, there's something for everyone in this swinging evening of jingle jazz. This year's lineup of guests is a trio of divas, all well-known to San Francisco audiences, and all who have made their Rrazz Room debuts in 2010.
About Russ Lorenson
Heard each year on “The Bay Area's Official Christmas Station㭜.5 KOIT-FM" with his recording of “Christmas in San Francisco," Russ Lorenson has established a reputation as one of the San Francisco Bay Area's leading interpreters of jazz standards, with a sound and approach that place him at the intersection of Broadway, jazz, and pop—the very essence of the Great American Songbook. Jazz Review says that “Lorenson is not just a crooner covering the traditional Sinatra style or trying to be the next Connick; he is his own man."
Nominated for a MAC Award by the Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs, Russ Lorenson's passion for the stage started as a youngster, with a performing career that began at age seven. As an actor he has appeared in award-winning musical productions with theatre companies throughout the US, including San Diego's own Starlight Musical Theatre, Diversionary Theatre, and Lyric Opera San Diego. As a vocalist he has toured the US, UK and Europe, appearing in concert with such luminaries as Broadway stars Teri Ralston ("Company," “A Little Night Music," “The Baker's Wife"), Karen Mason ("Hairspray," “Mamma Mia," “Sunset Boulevard") and Dale Kristien ("Phantom of the Opera"), “Queen of Cabaret" Andrea Marcovicci, jazz diva Wesla Whitfield, and as the opening act for the legendary Eartha Kitt.
Lorenson is best known for his critically-acclaimed one-man, Benedetto/Blessed: Celebrating the Life and Music of Tony Bennett. Lorenson's salute to the man whom Frank Sinatra called “the best singer in the business" premiered in 2006 as the opening act for the legendary Eartha Kitt. Since then, the show has enjoyed sold-out runs across the country, including San Francisco's Empire Plush Room, Sterling's Upstairs in Los Angeles, Milwaukee's Wilson Center for the Arts, and New York's famed Iridium Jazz Club. Lorenson's other shows, A Little Travelin' Music and Standard Time, have played to sold-out audiences throughout the US. His debut CD, A Little Travelin' Music, features songs from the show and includes duets with special guests Shawn Ryan and Klea Blackhurst. His second CD, the jazzy holiday collection, What I Want For Christmas, has received extensive radio airplay in major markets across the US.
About Russ' guest stars
Carly Ozard, a classically-trained mezzo-soprano, and no stranger to Bay Area musical theatre audiences, was named San Francisco's Best New Cabaret Performer of 2009, for her critically-acclaimed cabaret debut, “Bitter and Be Gay!" Dubbed “The Kathy Griffin of Cabaret" by Chad Jones of the San Francisco Examiner, Carly followed up her debut with a new show, “Bewitched, Bothered and Bipolar!," making her Rrazz Room debut earlier this year. She followed that triumph with another Rrazz Room show, “Somebody to Love: My Musical Tribute to Freddie Mercury," garnering more critical acclaim and sold-out performances along the way. Carly has appeared with theatre companies across the Bay Area, most notably in The Golden Apple at 42nd Street Moon, Carousel at The Lamplighters, and as Sally in Follies in Concert, opposite her stage husband Russ Lorenson as Buddy.
Veronica Klaus is a critically-acclaimed chanteuse who evokes the glamour and mystique of studio-era leading ladies with a bit of cool June Christy style, a glimmer of fiery blues inflections, and a voice that is purely her own. She is a San Francisco cabaret icon well known for her soulful renditions of jazz, blues and cabaret classics, which she showcases beautifully on her latest CD, “Veronica Klaus—Live at the Lodge!" She garnered lavish praise with her critically-acclaimed autobiographical show “Family Jewels-The Making of Veronica Klaus" at Theatre Rhinoceros. Voted Best Chanteuse by the San Francisco Bay Guardian, the San Francisco Chronicle lauds her as “A beautifully expressive and tuneful song stylist..who is brassy and confident onstage." She has performed at Slims, Cafe Du Nord, The Great American Music Hall, The Empire Plush Room, Jazz at Pearl's, The Venetian Room, and earlier this year made her Rrazz Room debut with her latest show, “Something Cool."
Katya Smirnoff-Skyy, San Francisco's favorite Russian red-head, has been enthralling San Francisco audiences with her own unique blend of Opera, Popera, and Broadway standards. Eastern Europe's Greatest Mezzo-Soprano (understudy) turned Countess, turned Macy's cosmetic counter lady, recently made her Rrazz Room debut with her cabaret spectacular, “Katya...A One Night Stand." She quickly followed that show with another Rrazz Room appearance in her latest show, “Katya...Back In The USSR," a voyage into the Beatles song book. She is well-known for her own annual Christmas Spectaculars at New Conservatory Theatre Center, and won a Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award for her 2009 extravaganza, “Katya's Holiday Spectacular!" Katya is the creation of countertenor and San Francisco native J. Conrad Frank, who received his vocal training at The University of Oregon, has since performed leading roles in various Operatic and theatrical productions across the Bay Area, Aspen and Oregon. Conrad appeared as Sylvia Fowler in “Jungle Red" (Artful Circle Theater) and recently starred as Blanche in the feature film “Baby Jane?," which premiered at the Castro Theater for Frameline this past summer. As Katya, Conrad has shown his wit and vocal stylings in countless nightclubs, bars and events across San Francisco, and was named Best Drag act 2008 by the San Francisco Bay Guardian. Katya hosts the monthly show “Katya Presents..." at Martuni's Bar every third Sunday of the month, and co-hosts the monthly Cabaret Showcase Showdown competition.
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