International Drag Sensation returns to UK for first time in 10 years, joined by popular new singing string quartet

London, UK -- (SBWIRE) -- 09/20/2013 -- Jeffery Roberson, better known on stage and screen as his drag icon alter-ego Varla Jean Merman, will appear at London's Leicester Square Theatre in her hit comedy show "The Book of Merman" September 19 - 21. She is joined on a double-bill by fast-rising Well-Strung, the Singing String Quartet who've just had two recent hit Off-Broadway productions in New York and their first album released this year. Like Varla, they are just off of summer-long runs at Provincetown's prestigious Art House Theatre. The evening is directed by Donna Drake (original cast member of A Chorus Line!) For information, please visit http://www.leicestersquaretheatre.com/.

After a typically busy year starring to critical acclaim as the title roles in the original musical comedy farces Mildred Fierce in Boston, Scrooge in Rouge in New Orleans, Menotti's opera The Medium in New York, and her new show Twice Upon A Mattress…Will My Prince Ever Come? at The Art House in Provincetown, Varla returns to London for the first time in a decade with her popular hit The Book of Merman. The daffy diva-turned-author's hit show is described as "equal parts pop-up book, scratch 'n sniff, and Braille as Varla invites you to see, smell and finger her life story. The Book of Merman is filled cover-to-cover with sizzling songs, raunchy revelations and page-turning costumes. Varla Jean promises once you pick her up, you won't be able to put her down (without a restraining order)."

Jeffery Roberson aka Varla Jean Merman starred recently Off-Broadway in the musical Lucky Guy opposite Leslie Jordan at the Little Schubert, prompting The New York Times to say "If Carol Burnett and Harvey Korman had stood in front of the right pair of funhouse mirrors, they might have resembled Ms. Merman and Mr. Jordan in stature as well as comedic talent." He played the role of Mary Sunshine in the revival of Chicago on Broadway and in 2010 won Boston's Elliot Norton Award for Best Musical Performance in The Phantom of the OPRAH. He returned to Boston last fall to star as Mother Superior in SpeakEasy Stage's The Divine Sister by Charles Busch. Jeffery as Varla Jean has filled concert halls and cabarets across the world including the Sydney Opera House, Carnegie Hall, the Public Theater, London's Soho Theatre, LA's Renberg Theatre, and San Francisco's Victoria Theatre. Jeffery recently completed shooting the feature films Girls Will Be Girls 2012 and Varla Jean and the Mushroomheads, which played the 2012 festival circuit and is currently available exclusively via Seth TV. He made his network television debut on All My Children, guest starred as Varla Jean in Ugly Betty's final season and on Bravo's Project Runway Season 5 as the winning model for the show's drag challenge.

Well-Strung also make the leap to London after a successful summer run at Provincetown's Art House. Described as a 'mash-up of string quartet and boy band,' the all-male string quartet Well-Strung features classical musicians who sing, putting their own spin on the music of Mozart, Vivaldi, Pink, Lady Gaga, Adele, Britney Spears, and more. The group is comprised of first Violinist Edmund Bagnell, second violinist Christopher Marchant, cellist Daniel Shevlin, and violist Trevor Wadleigh. Music arrangements are by David Levinson with additional arrangements by Daniel Shevlin. The show was directed by Donna Drake, conceived by Christopher Marchant & Mark Cortale and written by Ms. Drake & Mr. Cortale, with additional material contributed by Jeffery Roberson.

The foursome enjoyed a sold-out debut at New York's Joe's Pub in NYC in May of 2012, prompting Time Out NY to note that "this hunky string quartet finds the common ground between Mozart and Rihanna." After their extended 3-month run at Provincetown's Art House last summer, the group has been on a roll - with two recent hit productions Off-Broadway in New York, and a return summer-long run in Provincetown. Called the "hottest thing with a bow since Jennifer Lawrence in The Hunger Games" by the New York Daily News, the foursome released their debut album on Twist Records on in February, which was produced by Matt Farber (Founder of LOGO Network) and Mark Cortale. The music video for their "mash-up" of Mozart meets Kelly Clarkson debuted this past summer and has been featured in the Huffington Post, ABC Television, and many other media outlets.

For photo and interview requests contact: tomfervoy@gmail.com

LISTING INFO:
Varla Jean in
THE BOOK OF MERMAN
written by Jeffery Roberson & Jacques Lamarre

with

Well-Strung
The Singing String Quartet
conceived by Christopher Marchant & Mark Cortale
written by Donna Drake and Mark Cortale
arrangements by David Levinson
additional arrangements by Daniel Shevlin, Yair Evnine and Christopher Marchant

September 19 at 6:30 PM BST
September 20 at 9:15 PM BST
September 21 at 9:15 PM BST

Leicester Square Theatre
6 Leicester Pl London,
Greater London WC2H 7BX, United Kingdom
+44 20 7534 1740
www.leicestersquaretheatre.com

About LST
LST is a magnificently restored theatre located in the heart of the West End with two exceptional spaces running a healthy programme of comedy, cabaret, dance, music and theatre. The 400 seat theatre boasts 2 bars perfectly positioned in the auditorium with newly-installed cinema style seating and a second intimate Lounge Theatre with a capacity of up to 70 with its own bar and cabaret-style seating.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

West End London production Presented by Mark Cortale, in association with Martin Witts for London International Arts Theatres Limited

London, UK -- (SBWIRE) -- 06/17/2013 -- Two-time Tony and Olivier Award-winning Broadway legend, Patti LuPone is back in the West End for just seven performances at Leicester Square Theatre from Sunday June 16 - Sunday June 23. Press Night is Sunday June 16 at 7.00pm. Click here for more information and tickets.

Patti LuPone is best known for her Tony Award-winning performance as Eva Peron in Evita on Broadway and creating the role of Fantine in the original London cast of Les Miserables, for which she was named Best Actress in a Musical at the Oliviers. She created the role of Norma Desmond in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Sunset Boulevard in the West End and won a second Best?Actress Tony Award as Mama Rose in the 2008 Broadway revival of Gypsy. ­

The evening is hosted by the Grammy and Emmy nominated Seth Rudetsky, who is the popular daily Broadway host of Sirius/XM Radio in the United States and founder of his own web-tv network SethTV. Rudetsky accompanies LuPone on the piano and interviews the star about the ups and downs of her distinguished career. The result is an unmissable 75-minute combination of intimate cabaret and revealing conversation in the presence of one of the true greats of musical theatre. Songs performed will be many of the signature tunes from her hit shows and a few surprise choices. These will include music from Evita that she hasn't performed live in 30 years - and also songs from musicals like Gypsy, Company and Anything Goes. Hilarious and riveting anecdotes will also be shared by LuPone throughout the night. Seth Rudetsky will also premiere his critically acclaimed solo show Deconstructing Broadway on Saturday, June 22 at 9:30pm.

About Patti LuPone
Patti LuPone's illustrious Broadway career has also included Tony Award nominations for Anything Goes, Sweeney Todd and Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. She also appeared in concert with her Evita co-star Mandy Patinkin in An Evening with Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin. The role of Lucia in the new musical Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown also saw her nominated for Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards; and Mrs Lovett in Sweeney Todd (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle nominations). She starred in Michael Frayn's Noises Off, David Mamet's The Old Neighborhood, Terrence McNally's Master Class, and her own concert Patti LuPone on Broadway. Back in the West End, she recreated her Broadway performance as Maria Callas in Master Class. In addition to her acclaimed stage career, Patti LuPone's film work includes Union Square, Parker, City By The Sea, Heist, State and Main, Summer of Sam, Driving Miss Daisy, and Witness. Her TV guest appearances include Glee, 30 Rock, Ugly Betty, Will & Grace, OZ, Frasier, Law & Order and Life Goes On. She joins the cast of FX TV's American Horror Story this coming season.

LISTINGS INFO

Patti LuPone
featuring Seth
Rudetsky as pianist/host

Leicester Square Theatre
6 Leicester Place
LONDON WC2H 7BX
presented by Mark Cortale

Sunday June 16 at 7.00pm
No performance Monday June 17
Tuesday June 18 at 7.00pm
Wednesday June 19 at 7.00pm
Thursday June 20 at 7.00pm
No performance Friday June 21
Saturday June 22 at 6.30pm
Sunday June 22 at 4.30pm
& 7.00pm

Press Night
Sunday June 16 at 7.00pm

Tickets: £40.00 - £65.00
Box office: 08448 733433
http://www.leicestersquaretheatre.com

About Leicester Square Theatre
LST is a magnificently restored theatre located in the heart of the West End with two exceptional spaces running a healthy programme of comedy, cabaret, dance, music and theatre. The 400 seat theatre boasts 2 bars perfectly positioned in the auditorium with newly-installed cinema style seating and a second intimate Lounge Theatre with a capacity of up to 70 with its own bar and cabaret-style seating.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm