Thursday, August 26, 2021
at 7pm

Marty Thomas
It’s a Standard to Me

featuring musical direction by Yasuhiko Fukuoka

Come see a cabaret of this Broadway performer crooning songs and telling stories of their experiences on the Great White Way...

Marty Thomas is a recording artist and an actor who made his Broadway debut at age 11 as Colin in THE SECRET GARDEN. He had a very successful career as a child and teen performer in live performance, commercials and theater - a highlight being named a 1992 Ed McMahons Junior Vocalist Star Search Champion beating a then-unknown Britney Spears. Upon finishing business school he returned to New York to continue chasing the dream. He toured the world with his Billboard Magazine charting dance single “Resurrect Me (Lift Me Up)” on Westend Records. He appeared on Broadway in WICKED and XANADU, and was named Mr. Broadway 2008. He has appeared off-Broadway in MY BIG GAY ITALIAN WEDDING, PAGEANT and A LOSS OF ROSES. He was featured in the film BIG GAY MUSICAL, played Damon’ on TWO BROKE GIRLS (CBS), and Charlie on GRACE & FRANKIE (Netflix). He toured internationally with many theatrical productions as well as the famed QUEEN ESTHER MARROW & THE HARLEM GOSPEL SINGERS and the internet sensation Post Modern Jukebox. Marty is a renowned performer, backup vocalist, director and producer in the New York cabaret and concert scene. He has sung with the likes of Billy Porter, Grace Jones, Patti Labelle, Jennifer Holliday, Stephanie Mills, Debbie Gibson, Martha Wash, Barry Manilow, Glen Campbell, Johnny Cash and many more. His show MARTY THOMAS PRESENTS DIVA has toured nationally and performed weekly in New York residence for more than 8 years. Marty produces and directs the Miss New York Scholarship Competition, and trains women for the Miss America Scholarship Competition year-round. He is an outspoken feminist and human rights enthusiast who has produced events and performed in events to raise thousands of dollars for charities throughout his career. Some of his favorite charities include Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, The Actors Fund, New Alternatives, The Ali Forney Center, The African Children's Choir, and the Phyllis Newmans Women's Health Initiative. His latest album, Slow Dancing with a Boy was released to Broadway Records on December 6, 2019, hitting number 19 on the iTunes pop charts upon its release.  Follow on Instagram @martythomaslovesyou, twitter @martythomasbway and read more at www.martythomas.com.

Yasuhiko Fukuoka is a versatile pianist and in-demand composer who is recognized both onstage and off for his virtuosic talents.  His emotional, story-driven music has captivated audiences throughout the world. His works have appeared at prestigious venues from Lincoln Center to Festival de Cannes Court Métrage, spanning many genres of music from orchestral to electronica. His credits include TV, film, theater, industrial videos, and concert pieces. They have been played in North America, Central America, Europe and Asia. He has performed at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Birdland, Steinway Hall, Berklee Performance Center, Festival de Cannes, and many other venues.  Notably Yvonne Ng's film 'Cloud-Kumo', for which Fukuoka wrote original music, won the 2016 Student Academy Award. As a highly accomplished Music Director Fukuoka has worked with Broadway’s most celebrated artists.  Highly sought after in New York City’s Cabaret scene, Yasuhiko’s arrangements continue to display both his versatility as a composer as well as a performing artist. Fukuoka’s passionate, creative approach towards the art of music has brought multiple successes to his career. Not least among them is his original score for “Seagull,” a short film by Nick Sarafis that was accepted at Festival de Cannes Court Métrage. His orchestral composition “Journey of a Thousand Miles” premiered at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall. Having been hand selected to participate in BMI’s exclusive film scoring workshop with Dr. Rick Baitz, as well as being chosen to participate in the NYU/BMI Workshop for Music in Commercial Media, Yasuhiko’s disciplined approach to his studies within music have built a foundation from which his career has flourished. As a graduate of the Berklee College of Music, Fukuoka has been able to explore and excel in multiple music genres including classical, contemporary, electronic, film, and world music. As a student at Berklee, Yasuhiko garnered numerous achievements and recognition including an “Award for Excellence” at the Kyoto Piano Competition and the Yamaha PTC Concert respectively. He is the recipient of the Berklee World Scholarship, BMI Scholarship and the Roland Award to name a few. A highlight of his student career was when Fukuoka was commissioned by Berklee’s Film Scoring Department to compose an orchestral piece representative of their program at the Professional Writing Division Concert. The premier of the piece was a successful debut which awarded Fukuoka enthusiastic praise both in the US, and by Japanese media. Visit www.yahzy.com for more information.