Next SING! Salutes MGM Musicals June 23!

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.

We Return to The Triad on Tuesday, July 28!

For the next SING! SING! SING! at The Triad, we've chosen 21 songs ... "Manhattan," "These Foolish Things," "Old Black Magic," "My Foolish Heart" ... do these spark any memories?

Anne Phillips, Michael Shepley, and YOU join together at this Great American Songbook Sing-In to create a strong communal sound and bond. You get the lyrics, so you can relax into your singing without any self-consciousness. At past SING! SING! SINGs, we've been astonished by the confidence and volume heard during the very first song!

If you haven't attended before, Anne -- an accomplished songwriter, music producer, and teacher -- plays the piano and joins in the commentary. Michael tells short anecdotes about most of the songs, and will often clarify references in the lyrics to people or events that are no longer clear to people today. The whole thing moves along; there are no "performances." YOU are the performers.

The Triad is located at 158 West 72nd Street, between Broadway and Columbus. Cover is $10 with a two-drink minimum. The place is an intimate performing space with an old-fashioned theatrical feel. The theatre is on the second floor, with an approach by stairs. If you need to use the elevator, please email Michael Shepley at shepleymichael@gmail.com so that we can make arrangements for you. Additional information can be found by calling 212-786-9064 or 212-580-2349. Reservations can be made online at www.triadnyc.com. Subway: 1, 2, 3, B, C to 72nd Street. Bus: M72.

SING! SING! SING! is a perfect vehicle for private parties, benefits, birthdays, anniversaries and the like. Come see how we might be able to make a great contribution to your next event.

It's important to keep this music "out there." Young people who have come in the past say they have NEVER heard these songs before (yikes!), but they are impressed with how wonderful they are!

We hope to see you soon. We have another Triad date scheduled on Wednesday, August 26th. We can send you a beautiful alert (you may have already received one). If you're not on our e-mail list, send an email to shepleymichael@gmail.com, and we'll make sure you get upcoming announcements.

SING! SING! SING! enjoys an East Coast run after 15 years of monthly sing-a-longs at Ruth Price’s Jazz Bakery in Los Angeles, founded and produced by singer Judy Wolman.

Thanks for your interest in SING! SING! SING! - The Great American Songbook Sing-In.

- Anne and Michael