The humor and ebullience that emanate from Klea Blackhurst in her cabaret tribute to Ethel Merman can't be faked.  And they are among the reasons Ms. Blackhurst's show...has generated such enthusiastic word-of-mouth.  There isn't an affected bone in the body of this Utah-born performer.  Peppering her show with very funny anecdotes, she does an affectionate homage, not an imitation. - Stephen Holden, The New York Times

More than an homage to a brassy Broadway legend, Everything the Traffic Will Allow - the Songs and Sass of Ethel Merman rolls out the red carpet for a bright new talent - Klea Blackhurst...a huggable performer with a positive attitude, a sunny voice and a refreshing sense of humor. - Robert L. Daniels, Variety

Caramoor's Cabaret in the Music Room to present Klea Blackhurst in Everything the Traffic Will Allow  - the Songs and Sass of Ethel Merman

Critically-acclaimed tribute to the legendary Ethel Merman to be presented Saturday, May 6, as one-night-only benefit

Katonah, NY - Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts will present a special Cabaret in the Music Room benefit event featuring the celebrated New York City cabaret singer Klea Blackhurst in her critically-acclaimed show Everything the Traffic Will Allow - the Songs and Sass of Ethel Merman on Saturday, May 6, 2006 at 8:00 pm.

Co-chaired by Adela and Lawrence Elow of Bedford, NY, the benefit will take place in the elegant 200-seat Music Room of the House Museum at Caramoor, the former home of Caramoor's founders, Lucie and Walter Rosen.

Klea Blackhurst has been receiving rave reviews throughout the country for Everything the Traffic Will Allow - the Songs and Sass of Ethel Merman since the show's New York City debut in 2001.  In his review for Variety, Robert L. Daniels described the show's success: The career of the formidable Merman provides the major appeal for theater buffs, and allows a veritable treasure chest of songs from Broadway's Golden Age - all made popular by Merman.  But Blackhurst is no mere Broadway tour guide, and she puts her own fervent mark on them.  She offers a mini-bio of her inspirational mentor that is peppered with amusing anecdotes.
 
Klea Blackhurst's theater credits include Reno Sweeney in the recent production of Anything Goes at the Shubert Theatre in New Haven; the role of Debbie, the perpetually enthusiastic drummer in the original Off Broadway production of Oil City Symphony at Circle in the Square Downtown; originating the role of Rennabelle in the world premiere production of Radio Gals at Arkansas Rep and subsequent productions at The Pasadena Playhouse, LaMirada Center for the Performing Arts and The Coconut Grove Playhouse, culminating in an Off Broadway run at the John Houseman Theatre; the role of Hippolyta in By Jupiter in the York Theatre's Musicals in Mufti series; and Piglet in Winnie the Pooh for Lincoln Center Institute.

In 2002, Klea Blackhurst made her London debut (stage, radio and television) at Royal Albert Hall. As part of the famed BBC Proms, she sang the role of Ado Annie in a special concert version of Oklahoma! celebrating composer Richard Rodgers' centenary. She returned to London the following spring to debut Everything the Traffic Will Allow at the Greenwich Theatre.

Last spring she made her Carnegie Hall debut starring with Michael Feinstein in an evening devoted to the work of composer, Jule Styne. Other recent U.S. appearances include the Fifteenth Annual Cabaret Convention at New York's Town Hall; 92nd Street Y Lyrics & Lyricist Series (Cole Porter); Guild Hall in East Hampton; The Oak Room in the fabled Algonquin Hotel; San Francisco's Plush Room; New Jersey Performing Arts Center; and the Chicago Humanities Festival. 

In the Fall of 2004, Klea turned her passion for musical-theater history towards the Broadway career of composer Vernon Duke and debuted Autumn in New York: Vernon Duke's Broadway at New York's Café Carlyle and went on to play an extended run at Opia in Manhattan. The show recently played a sold-out engagement at Joe's Pub at The Public Theater.

Tickets
Seating is limited for Everything the Traffic Will Allow - the Songs and Sass of Ethel Merman. 
Tickets are $200, $125, and $75 ? all but $25 is tax-deductible.  The evening includes the performance and a post-concert dessert and champagne with Klea Blackhurst.

For tickets, and information email events@caramoor.org or call 914.232.1492 or the Caramoor Box Office at 914.232.1252.  You can also visit us on the web at www.caramoor.org.

Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts is located at 149 Girdle Ridge Road, Katonah, New York.

About Caramoor
Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts is the legacy of Walter and Lucie Rosen, who built the great house and filled it with their treasures. Walter Rosen was the master planner for the Caramoor estate, bringing to reality his dream of creating a place to entertain friends from around the world.  Their musical evenings were the seeds of the International Music Festival of today.  Realizing the pleasure their friends took in the beauty of Caramoor - the house with its art collection; the gardens; and the musical programs on summer evenings - the Rosens established a Foundation to open Caramoor to the public in perpetuity.
 
Caramoor is easy to get to by car or mass transportation. By train, take the Harlem Division of the Metro-North Railroad to Katonah, New York. Taxi service from the station to Caramoor (5 minutes away) is available. By car: Take the Saw Mill River Parkway north to Katonah. Exit at Route 35/Cross River. Turn right, and at the first traffic light make a right turn onto Route 22 south. Travel 1.9 miles to junction of Girdle Ridge Road. Follow the signs to Caramoor. (Detailed directions: 914-232-5035, press 2 or visit www.caramoor.org).