RITA WILSON AND FRIENDS RETURN FOR ALL NEW … · Jeff Barry is a pop music songwriter ... Aloe...

MediaContact: KatySweet&Associates katy@katysweetpr.com/310.479.2333

UPDATE!!!ADDITIONALGUESTARTISTSSET

RITAWILSONANDFRIENDSRETURNFORALLNEWPRODUCTIONOF

LINERNOTES:SONGWRITERS,STORIESANDMUSIC

JEFFBARRY,DARRELLBROWN,KARADIOGUARDI,HOLLYKNIGHT,RICHARDMARX,MOZELLA,ANDBILLYSTEINBERGJOINWILSONFOR

ANEXCLUSIVETWO-WEEKENDENGAGEMENTINTHEINTIMATEAUDREYSKIRBALLKENISTHEATERRUNNINGSEPTEMBER15-24,2016

LOSANGELES (September8,2016)–RitaWilsononceagainbringshervocalandsongwritingtalentstotheAudreySkirballKenisTheaterattheGeffenPlayhouseforsixall-newshowsinSeptember,thisfollowingsell-outperformancesatlastfall’spremiereofLinerNotes.Foreachperformance,Wilsonwillbejoinedbyspecialguestsforaneveningofsongwritersperformingandsharingthestoriesbehindtheirsongs.Theshowswillbeperformed in the round with the audience surrounding the artists, providing an up-close and personalexperience. Featured artists include: Jeff Barry, Darrell Brown, Kara DioGuardi, Billy Steinberg and newlyaddedHollyKnight,RichardMarxandMoZella.

WilsonhasalonghistorywiththeGeffen.Inadditiontolastyear’sLinerNotes,shehasappearedinnumerousproductionsoverthetheater’s20-yearhistory,includingDinnerwithFriendsandLove,LossandWhatIWore.In2009,shewaspresentedtheDistinctioninTheaterAwardattheannualBackstageattheGeffenevent.

Well-knownasanactress(It’sComplicated,SleeplessinSeattle,arecurringroleinCBS’sTheGoodWife,HBO’saward-winningseries,Girlsand,mostrecentlyonBroadwayinLarryDavid’ssmashhit,FishintheDark),andasafilmproducer(MammaMia!,MyBigFatGreekWeddinganditssequel,MyBigFatGreekWedding2,forwhichsheco-wroteandperformedEvenMoreMine)her first love ismusic. InMay2012,WilsonrealizedalifelongdreamwiththedebutofhersoloalbumAM/FM.Thealbum,releasedbyDecca/VerveRecords,isanintimate,elegantandbeautifullysungcollectionofcoversofherfavoritesongsfromthe‘60sand‘70s.Since

thereleaseofAM/FM,Wilsonhasbeenfocusingonanewcomponentofhermusicalcareerasasongwriter.InMarch2016,shereleasedherself-titledsecondalbum,showcasingherskillforcreatinginsightful,eloquentsinger-songwriterpopmusicthatisetchedwithstunninghonesty.Fortwoyearspriortotherelease,Wilsonworked with a host of the finest award-winning and best-selling songwriters and producers in both LosAngelesandNashville.Thisnewmaterialwasprominentlyfeaturedinhersold-outtwo-weekresidencyatthefamedCaféCarlyleinNewYorkCity.“Ms.Wilsonhasacatchinhervoicethatconveysyearningandpotentialheartbreak behind a façade of cheer. As a stage performer, she is gregarious and forthright; a naturalentertainer,” said The New York Times.Connie Britton performed Wilson’s song “Strong Tonight” on anepisodeofABC’sNashvillethisspring.InJune2016,WilsontouredwithRockandRollHall-of-FamersChicago,oneofthebestsellingbandsofalltime,withover100millionalbumssold.

Guestsongwriterssettoperformtheirsongsandtellthestoriesbehindthemwillinclude:

JeffBarryisapopmusicsongwriter,singerandrecordproducerwhostartedhisillustriouscareerinNewYork,makingfamousTheDixieCups,TheCrystals,RonnieSpector,AndyKim,RayPetersonandRonDanteoftheArchies.HepartneredwithEllieGreenwichinthe1960stoformoneofthedecade’smostprolificsongwritingandproducingteams.TogetherwithPhilSpector,theyhelpeddefinethe“GirlGroup”soundwiththehits“DaDooRonRon”and“ThenHeKissedMe”byTheCrystalsand“BeMyBaby”and“Baby,IloveYou”byTheRonettes.Theyalsopennedtheclassic“RiverDeep,MountainHigh”byIkeandTinaTurnerand“ICanHearMusic”byTheRonettesandTheBeachBoys.In1964,BarryandGreenwichjoinedthenewlabel,RedBirdRecords,towriteandproduce15hitsoutofitsfirst20releasesincluding“ChapelofLove,”“PeopleSay,”and“IkoIko”bytheDixieCupsand“Remember(Walkin’intheSand)”and“LeaderofthePack”byTheShangri-Las.Theduowentontodiscoversinger-songwriterNeilDiamond,producinghisfirsthitsincluding“SolitaryMan,”“Cherry,Cherry,”“KentuckyWoman”and“GirlYou’llBeAWomanSoon.”AfterhemovedfromNewYorktoCaliforniain1971,BarrywrotethetelevisionthemesongsforOneDayatATime,TheJeffersons,Where’sWaldo?andFamilyTies.Hecontinuedtowritechart-toppinghitsincluding#1hitsingle“IHonestlyLoveYou”forOliviaNewton-John;JeffreyOsborneandJoyceKennedy’s“TheLastTimeIMadeLove”andGaryStewart’s“OutOfHand,”amongmanyothers.In1991,BarrywasinductedintotheSongwritersHallofFameandin2010,intotheRock&RollHallofFame.

DarrellBrownisacelebratedsongwriter,arrangerandrecordproducerwhohasbeencreditedwithworldwidemusicsalesofover72millionunits.Brownhaspennedfour#1hitsinglesincludingtheGrammy-winningsong"You’llThinkofMe”byKeithUrban,thelongestrunning#1singleofJoshTurner’scareer,“WhyDon’tWeJustDance”,the#1popsingle“SimpleThings”byJimBrickmanandRebeccaLynHowardand“WhatICannotChange”byLeAnnRimes.Brownco-wrotethecareerchartingmulti-formathitsingle“Nothin’BettertoDo”byLeAnnRimes,thefirstinhistorytomakeitswayontotheCountrySingleschart,theA/CchartandtheClubplayDanceChart,allatthesametime.Brownistheproducer,arrangerandmainco-writerforLeAnnRimes’criticallyacclaimed2013albumSpitfire.HealsowroteandproduceddozensofcompositionsusedinthepopularSims3videogameandothervideogamesbyEAGames.Hehascreatedsongsformovies(Gambit,CruelIntentions,PrettyWoman,)andforTelevision(TodayShow,ColdCase,OneTreeHill,LasVegas,RookieBlue).BrowncurrentlyservesontheBoardoftheGrammyFoundationandismusicaldirectorandco-creativeproducerfortheGrammyPreservationandLegacyconcertsworkingwithnumerousartistsincludingEdSheeran,NatashaBedingfield,JasonMraz,LupeFiasco,TheFray,MusiqSoulchild,ColbyCaillat,SarahBareilles,TheFray,TromboneShorty,GarthBrooks,KidRock,JeffBarry,SkylarGrey,GavinDegraw,AloeBlacc,PlainWhiteT's,WalkTheMoonandEricaMcDonal,amongmanyothers.

KaraDioGuardiisaGrammyandEmmynominatedsongwriter,producer,musicexecutiveandHerbAlbertVisitingScholaratBerkleeCollegeofMusic.Asoneofthemostsuccessfulcontemporarysongwritersintheworld,Kara’ssongshaveappearedonmorethan160millionalbums.Shehaswon20BMIawardsformostperformedsongs,includingSongwriteroftheyear.She’shadover320songsreleasedbymajorlabels,150songsonplatinumsellingalbums,andover50chartingsingles.HercreditsincludesuccessesandcollaborationswithartistssuchasPink,KatyPerry,CelineDion,KellyClarkson,BritneySpears,ChristinaAguilera,MileyCyrus,JasonDerulo,DemiLovato,GwenStefani,CarrieUnderwood,EnriqueIglesias,RascalFlatts,TheBandPerry,DariusRucker,FaithHill,Santanaandmanymore.Karaisalsoanestablishedrecordproducer,recordexecutive,musicpublisherandauthor.WhenshewasExecutiveVicePresidentatWarnerBrothersRecords,KarasignedartistssuchasJasonDeruloandIyaz.Herpublishingcompany,ArthouseEntertainment,boastshitsfromBrunoMars,CarrieUnderwood,Cee-LoGreen,Eminem,B.O.B.,TravieMcCoy,FloRida,WhitneyHoustonandSeanKingston.SherecentlysignedArtistJonBellion(Capitol)andClairity(Lava/Republic).Additionally,Karawasajudgeonseasons8and9ofthehitFOXshow,AmericanIdolandfeaturedastheheadjudgeonBravo’ssongwritingrealityshowcompetition,PlatinumHit.Inthefallof2011,KaramadeherBroadwaystagedebutasmerrymurderess,RoxieHart,intheTonyAward-winninghitmusicalCHICAGO.Karaisanactivesupporterof,andbuildsrecordingstudiosatPhoenixHouse,oneofthenation’sleadingnon-profitsdedicatedtoleadingindividuals,familiesandcommunitiesaffectedbyaddictionfromdisruptedtoproductivelives.Shealsohasaneducationalscholarshipinherfamily’snameattheColumbusCitizensFoundationthatprovidesfinancialsupporttostudentsofItaliandescent.

SongwritersHallofFameinducteeHollyKnighthasenjoyedanillustrious30-yearcareerinthemusicbusiness,earningherthreeGrammysandthirteenASCAPsongwriterawards.Knightstartedstudyingclassicalpianoatagefour,continuingherstudiesfortenyearsatTheMannesSchoolofMusicbeforestartingherbandsSpiderandDevice.Hersongshaveappearedonrecordstotalingover530millioninrecordsales.Sheisknownforhavingwrittenhitsforsomeofthemostsuccessfulartistsinmusic,including“LoveIsABattlefield”and“Invincible”forPatBenatar,“TheWarrior”forPattySmyth,“Change”forJohnWaite,“BabyMe”forChakaKhan,“Never”forHeart,“LoveTouch”forRodStewart,“HideYourHeart”forKISS,“RagDoll”withAerosmith,“Space”forCheapTrickand“PleasureAndPain”forDivinyls.ShehasalsowrittentensongsforTinaTurner,including“TheBest”,“WildestDreams”and“BetterBeGoodToMe”whichwonaGrammyforRecordoftheYear.HersongshaveappearedinmoviesasvariedasThelmaandLouise,StewartLittle,ThirteenGoingOnThirty,Anchormanll,DallasBuyersClub,andonTVshowssuchasAmericanIdol,TheVoice,30Rock,FamilyGuy,TheSimpsons,OprahWinfrey,SouthPark,andmostrecently,Glee,TheMysteriesOfLaura,NecessaryRoughness,andTheFollowing.KnightalsowroteandproducedthetitlethemesongforTVshowsAngelandStillStanding.SherecentlyfinishedproducingthedebutpoprecordforAntoniaBennett,daughteroflegendarysinger,TonyBennett,aswellasAntonia’sfirstjazzEP,Naturalandtheeagerlyawaitedfollow-upjazzrecordofsongsfromTheGreatAmericanSongbook,EmbraceMe.Knightiscurrentlydevelopingtwomusicalsandalsohasaphotographysite.

Asaperformer,songwriterandproducer,RichardMarx’snearlythree-decade-longcareerhashadinnumerablehighlights.TheChicagonativehassoldmorethan30millionalbumsworldwide,startingwithhisself-titleddebutwhichwentto#8andspawnedfourTop5singles,includingthechart-topping“HoldontotheNights,”with“Don’tMeanNothing”earninghimaGrammynominationforBestMaleRockVocalPerformance.Thefollow-up,1989’sRepeatOffender,wasevenmoresuccessful,hitting#1andgoing

quadruple-platinumwithtwo#1singlesin“Satisfied”and“RightHereWaiting.”WhenbothRushStreet(withtwo#1AChitsin“KeepComingBack”and“Hazard”)andPaidVacation(withits#1AChit,“NowandForever”)wentplatinum,Marxachievedaseven-yearstringoftriumphsthatrivaledanyinpop-rockmusichistory.Tothisday,heistheonlymaleartistinhistorytohavehisfirstsevensinglesreachtheTop5ontheBillboardcharts.Hewentontoearna2004SongoftheYearGrammyforco-authoringLutherVandross’“DancewithMyFather.”Acrossallformats,Marxhasscoredanamazingtotalof14#1singles(includingKeithUrban’s#1smash“LongHotSummer”)bothasaperformerandsongwriter/producer,makinghimatruemulti-talentedthreatwhocontinuestochallengehimselfandhisfans.Heholdsthehonorofbeingoneofahandfulofartistswhohavehadanumberonehitineachofthepastfourdecades.

MoZella,whosegivennameisMaureenAnneMcDonaldisanacclaimedsongwriterandrecordingartist.ThroughouthermusiccareerMoZellahasreleasedthreefull-lengthalbums,IWillin2006,BelleIslein2009andTheBrianHollandSessionsonBelleIslein2012withlegendaryMotownsongwriterBrianHolland,aswellasthreeEps,MoZella,TheStraitsEP,andTheLoveEP.ShehastouredwithTylerHilton,DaveMatthewsBand,Lifehouse,FiveforFighting,DanielPowter,MichelleBranchandColbieCaillat.Alongwithherownartistsuccess,MoZellaco-wrotetheMileyCyrus/Dr.LukeBillboard#1“WreckingBall”alongwith“FU”and“SomeoneElse”onMiley’sacclaimedalbumBangers.ShehaspennedsongswithandforMirandaCosgrove,Shontelle,andco-wrote“Undone”and“OhMy”feat.B.o.BwithAmericanIdolfinalistHaleyReinhart,Fergie’s“ALittlePartyNeverKilledNobody”forTheGreatGatsby(2013),OneDirection’s“FoolsGold”and“Perfect”,EllieGoulding’s“Don’tPanic”,“HoldingForLife”,and“WeCan’tMovetoThis”,RachelPlatten’s“Speechless”,Rihanna’s“DancingintheDark”,Echosmith’s“Bright”,Tinashe’s“FeelsLikeVegas”,CharliePuth’s“OneCallAway”,andKellyClarkson’s“TakeYouHigh”.MadonnaandMozellaco-wrote11ofthe19tracksonthealbumRebelHeart,includingthesingle"LivingForLove"withDiplo,ArielRechtshaid,andTobyGad.Hersongshaveappearedinnumerouscommercials,including“LoveIsEndless”forMcDonaldsand“Can’tGetEnough”forChase.OtherbrandsthathaveusedMoZella’smusicincludeChrysler,Verizon,Microsoft,Jeep,Amazon,MercedesBenz,JCPenney,AquaFreshandmanymore.

BillySteinberghasbeenamongthemostsuccessfulsongwritersofthepast30years,co-writing(withTomKelly)five#1singlesonBillboard's"Hot100"chart,including"LikeAVirgin"(Madonna),"TrueColors"(CyndiLauper),"SoEmotional"(WhitneyHouston),"EternalFlame"(TheBangles)and“Alone”(Heart).Additionally,Billyco-wroteotherwell-knownTop10U.S.pophits,including"I'llStandbyYou"(Pretenders,CarrieUnderwood),"ITouchMyself"(theDivinyls),"HowDoIMakeYou"(LindaRonstadt),"IDroveAllNight"(RoyOrbison,CyndiLauper,CelineDion),"InYourRoom"(TheBangles),“TooLittleTooLate”(JoJo)and“GiveYourHeartABreak”(DemiLovato).SteinbergandKellywereinductedintotheSongwritersHallofFamein2011.GrowingupinPalmSprings,California,hepursuedacareerasarecordingartistandsongwriterwhilealsoworkinginhisfamily'stablegrapebusiness.Hisband,BillyThermal(Thermalwasthetownwherethevineyardbusinesswaslocated),wassignedtolegendaryproducerRichardPerry'sPlanetRecords.Inthemid-1990’s,SteinbergteamedupwithRickNowels,ahighlyregardedwriter/producer.TheduowonGrammyAwardsforproducingtheirsongandtitlecut,"FallingIntoYou,"fromCelineDion'smulti-platinum,1996album.Steinberg&NowelsalsowrotehitsinglesforMelanieC.("ITurnToYou")andRobertMiles("OneAndOne").

Ticketspricedfrom$59to$89;VIPcabaret-styleseating(includingtwocomplimentarydrinksservedtable-side)availablefrom$129to$149.Feesmayapply.PurchaseinpersonattheGeffenPlayhouseboxoffice,byphoneat310.208.5454oronlineatwww.geffenplayhouse.org.

PERFORMANCESCHEDULE

Thursday,Sept.15,2016 8:00pm(RitaWilson,KaraDioGuardi,HollyKnightandJeffBarry)Friday,Sept.16,2016 8:00pm(RitaWilson,KaraDioGuardi,HollyKnightandJeffBarry)Saturday,Sept.17,2016 8:00pm(RitaWilson,RichardMarx,HollyKnightandJeffBarry)Thursday,Sept.22,2016 8:00pm(RitaWilson,DarrellBrown,BillySteinbergandMoZella)Friday,Sept.23,2016 8:00pm(RitaWilson,DarrellBrown,BillySteinbergandMoZella)Saturday,Sept.24,2016 8:00pm(RitaWilson,DarrellBrown,BillySteinbergandMoZella)TICKETS Ticketspricedfrom$59to$89;VIPcabaret-styleseating(includingtwocomplimentarydrinksservedtable-side)availablefrom$129to$149.Feesmayapply.PurchaseinpersonattheGeffenPlayhouseboxoffice,byphoneat310.208.5454oronlineatwww.geffenplayhouse.org.

LOCATION AudreySkirballKenisTheaterattheGeffenPlayhouse10886LeConteAvenueLosAngeles,CA90024ABOUTGEFFENPLAYHOUSEGeffenPlayhousehasbeenahuboftheLosAngelestheaterscenesinceopeningitsdoorsin1995.Notedforitsintimacyandcelebratedforitsmixofclassicandcontemporaryplays,provocativenewworksandsecondproductions, thenot-for-profitorganizationcontinuestopresentabodyofworkthathasgarnerednationalrecognition.NamedinhonorofentertainmentmogulandphilanthropistDavidGeffen,whomadetheinitialdonation to the theater, the company was founded by Gilbert Cates and is currently helmed by ArtisticDirectorRandall Arney, ExecutiveDirectorGil Cates, Jr. andCo-Chairs of theBoardMarthaHendersonandPamelaRobinson. Proudly associatedwithUCLA, theGeffenwelcomesan audienceofmore than130,000eachyearandmaintainsanextensiveeducationandoutreachprogramdesignedtoengageyoungpeopleinthecommunityatlargeinthearts.www.geffenplayhouse.org

MEDIACONTACT:KatySweet&Associates310.479.2333katy@katysweetpr.com