New York City’s popular Upper West Side institution – SING! SING! SING! – tips the hat to the fabulous musicals of MGM at its next sing-in, I Like New York in June – How About You? on Wednesday, June 23 at 7 p.m. at The Triad, 158 West 72nd Street.
The title theme is inspired by the month and the wonderful song “How About You?,” written by Ralph Freed and Burton Lane for 1941’s “Babes on Broadway,” starring Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney, directed by the legendary Busby Berkeley.
As chronicled in the three popular “That’s Entertainment!” compilations of musical excerpts – showcasing MGM’s amazing studio output from 1929’s “Broadway Melody” to 1958’s “Gigi” – MGM is noted for its lavish original musicals as well as its screen adaptations of some of Broadway’s biggest hits.
In a list of over 20 songs to be sung together are such gems as The Trolley Song, Singin’ in the Rain, Too Late Now, I’ll Build A Stairway to Paradise, Taking A Chance on Love, Steppin’ Out With My Baby, I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan, A Shine on Your Shoes and many others.
At SING! SING! SING! events, co-hosts Anne Phillips and Michael Shepley provide piano and anecdotal accompaniment, respectively, and the audience takes over. Lyric sheets are provided to keep everyone happily in sync.
The previous SING! event, held in April, was a tribute to Oscar Hammerstein II, and had the audience “singing” the praises of the songs and the SING! SING! SING! concept.
“We just want everyone to put their troubles in perspective by leaving them behind for a couple of hours, and walking out feeling better than when they walked in,” said the co-hosts. “That’s the power of wonderful songs, and the communal experience of singing and sharing them together.”
$10 cover; 2-drink minimum (cash only, please). The Triad is located at 158 West 72nd Street between Broadway and Columbus Avenue. Subway: 1, 2, 3 to 72nd Street. Info at www.singsingsing-east.blogspot.com. Questions: Call 212-786-9064.
