First You Dream: The Songs Of Kander And Ebb - Karen Akers in cabaret

Karen Akers returns to the Oak Room at the Algonquin Hotel with her new show First You Dream: The Songs Of Kander And Ebb for an exclusive six-week engagement, from the 4 Apr - 13 May 2006

First You Dream: The Songs Of Kander And Ebb is directed by Richard Niles and features musical direction by Don Rebic, who plays on piano and Brian Glassman on bass.

This new show focuses on one of the foremost Broadway songwriting teams, John Kander and Fred Ebb, who wrote the scores for such Broadway hits as Cabaret, Chicago, Woman of the Year and Kiss of the Spider Woman, among others.

Ms. Akers will sing some of their well-known songs such as 'Maybe This Time' and 'Married' (Cabaret), 'The Happy Time' and 'I Don�t Remember You' (The Happy Time), 'Yes' and 'Coffee in a Cardboard Cup' (70 Girls 70), as well as lesser known titles. These include: 'There When I Need Him,' 'My Own Space,' 'Arthur in the Afternoon' and 'City Lights' (The Act), 'We Can Make It,' 'Not Enough Magic,' 'Familiar Things,' and 'Colored Lights' (The Rink), as well as the title tune of this new collection, 'First You Dream' (Steel Pier).

Karen Akers was honored at the 2005 NY Nightlife Awards as 'Outstanding Female Cabaret Vocalist in a Major Engagement' for her critically acclaimed show 'Time After Time,' which premiered at the Oak Room in 2004.

Ms. Akers has appeared in many venues worldwide such as Carnegie Hall, New York's premier nightspots (Caf� Carlyle, Le Jazz Au Bar, Rainbow & Stars) and the 'Hollywood Bowl', where she performed for 18,000 people with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra under the direction of John Mauceri. Internationally she has performed in concert in the south of France, in Russia, at London's Pizza-on-the-Park and will appear next year at Barcelona's Opera House.

Karen Akers appeared at the Martin Beck Theatre on Broadway as one of the original stars of the Tony Award-winning musical 'Grand Hotel' directed by Tommy Tune and made her debut on the Great White Way in the original production of 'Nine' (also directed by Mr. Tune) for which she won a Theatre World Award, as well as a Tony Award nomination.

Ms. Akers's CD's include: 'If We Only Have Love,' 'Feels Like Home' 'Karen Akers Live From Rainbow & Stars,' and 'Under Paris Skies.