St. Patrick’s Cabaret at Hempstead House Supper Club

The Friends of the Sands Point Preserve will present an encore Night of Cabaret in the elegant setting of the Hempstead House Supper Club on Saturday, March 17, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.  Award-winning composer, Steven Lutvak, returns with a special concert created in celebration of the Saint Patrick’s Day holiday – a unique program of his original works, combined with classic cabaret and Irish songs, performed by a stellar new cast featuring Rebecca Luker, Michael McElroy, and Kathy Voytko who, together, have 18 Broadway musicals to their credit.

The Friends are thrilled to welcome one of Broadway’s great leading ladies, the exquisite soprano Rebecca Luker.  She has starred in seven Broadway shows, including “Mary Poppins,” “Nine,” “The Music Man,” “The Sound of Music,” “Showboat,” “The Secret Garden,” and “Phantom of the Opera” – and in  “My Favorite Broadway: The Leading Ladies” at Carnegie Hall.  

Ms. Luker is joined by Michael McElroy who appeared on Broadway in “Rent,” “Next to Normal,” “The Who’s Tommy,” “Miss Saigon,” “Big River,” “Patti LuPone on Broadway” - and in the New York Philharmonic’s famed production of “Candide.”  According to Mr. Lutvak, “He is one of the most astonishing and versatile performers in the Broadway world.” Also taking the stage is Kathy Voytko who appeared in “Oklahoma!,” “Nine,” “The Pirate Queen” and “The Frogs” opposite Nathan Lane – and “Evita – the 25th Anniversary Tour” – in the title role.

Mr. Lutvak is not only a very gifted composer, performer, raconteur of theater history (and delightful gossip) and vocal coach to the stars – he now plays a very special role at the Sands Point Preserve, creating magical concerts on various themes throughout the year and assembling magnificent artists of the highest caliber.

According to Barbara and Scott Siegel of TheatreMania.com, “Today, when we think of the Great American Songbook, we revere names like Kern, Berlin, Gershwin, Porter, Bernstein, and Sondheim. But whom will future generations cherish when they look back upon our age? Prediction: one of the respected names will be Lutvak.”  His new musical “The Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder” (a comedy) is slated to have its premiere next fall.  For the Saint Patrick’s Cabaret concert, he promises, “great singing, great variety, fantastic performers and a delightful, surprising evening. Even I can't wait!”

Cocktails and a light supper with select wines will be served at 7:00 pm; the show begins at 7:45 pm; and dessert – including Irish coffee – will be served following the concert.  Seating for this special night is very limited, and preferred seating is available for cabaret sponsors.  Tickets for the dinner and concert can be purchased in person at the Preserve’s gatehouse daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 p.m. or by calling (516) 571.7901.  The invitation and reply card can also be downloaded from the web site: www.thesandspointpreserve.com.   Prices are as follows: Single Ticket - $100, Pair - $190, Four Tickets - $360; Cabaret Sponsor Tickets (incudes preferred seating and champagne) Single Ticket - $150, Pair - $285, Four Tickets - $550; First Ring Sponsors (includes front row seating and champagne) – Single Ticket: $195, Pair: $380 and Four Tickets at $740.

Upcoming events include the annual Preservers Celebration on Saturday, April 28, 2012 – the most important fundraising event of the year.  Every celebration has a unique theme – this year’s theme is Pirates of the Caribbean, so Hempstead House will be transformed into a swarthy, seaworthy vessel, complete with a gangplank entry way.  Guests are invited to dress as ladies and gentlemen or wenches and scallywags.  

A sizzling Jazz concert is scheduled for Saturday, June 2, 2012 at the Jazz Club at Castle Gould.  Under the musical direction of Wells Hanley, the evening will feature a unique collaboration of world-class Jazz and Broadway performers, including Tina Fabrique and others.  A family jazz program is planned for Sunday, June 3 – and musical community members are invited to sit in and jam…

A portion of the ticket price is a tax-deductible donation to the Friends of the Sands Point Preserve, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization; these contributions will support the Friends’ mission to protect and preserve the 216-acre waterfront grounds and historic mansions and to provide educational programs for families and schools in the new Phil Dejana Learning Center and Outdoor Classroom.  For more information about programs and events at the Sands Point Preserve, please see www.thesandspointpreserve.com

or call 516.571.7901.