Portland Ovations presents the incomparable star of stage and screen, Liza Minnelli, in concert at Merrill Auditorium on Wednesday, September 29th at 7:30pm. Ms. Minnelli is joined by her long-time musical collaborator, pianist Billy Stritch. Stritch leads a sextet of talented musicians who accompany Minnelli as she sings a repertoire of American standards and selections from her new album, Confessions.
Liza Minnelli in concert marks the beginning of Portland Ovations' 80th season bringing amazing artists from around the world to the people of southern Maine. "Opening with an artist the caliber of Liza Minnelli is such an exciting way to start our 2010-11 season," states Ovations' Executive Director, Aimee Petrin. "We want everyone to enjoy her amazing talents and hope people take notice of all the great concerts we have lined up over the next nine months." Ovations entire 2010-11 season extends from Minnelli's September 29th concert until May 15th with a presentation of composer Phil Kline's work, John the Revelator.
The daughter of actress/singer Judy Garland and film director Vincente Minnelli, Liza Minnelli began her career at the age of 16 in an Off-Broadway revival of the musical Best Foot Forward. By the age of 19, she became the youngest woman ever to win a leading actress Tony Award for Flora the Red Menace. Her Broadway career flourished and she portrayed leading roles in Chicago, The Rink, Victor/Victoria, and The Act. Her one-woman show in 1973 broke the box-office record at New York's famed Winter Garden Theatre. Since then, her numerous engagements on Broadway and around the world have continued to sell out and receive great acclaim.
Her film credits include New York, New York opposite Robert DeNiro, Charlie Bubbles opposite Albert Finney, The Sterile Cuckoo for which she was nominated for a Best Actress Oscar, Arthur and Arthur 2 with Dudley Moore, and her 1972 portrayal of Sally Bowles in Cabaret which earned her an Oscar, a Golden Globe, a British Film Academy Award and the covers of both Newsweek and Time Magazine in the same week. In all, Minnelli is the winner of four Tony Awards, an Oscar, a Grammy, two Golden Globes and an Emmy, making her one of the most decorated performing artists of our time.
Minnelli's recording career includes multiple studio albums, live recordings, singles, and compilations. She can also be heard on numerous soundtracks of her Broadway shows and movies. Her 2002 album entitled Liza's Back! was released after her triumphant battle with encephalitis, a disease which threatened her ability to dance and sing. Her latest album, Confessions, is due for release on September 28th, 2010, one day before her one-night engagement at Portland's Merrill Auditorium.
Recently, her appearances on the Fox Television hit Arrested Development, and in the Sex and the City 2 movie, as well as a popular Snickers commercial, have introduced Minnelli's many talents to a new generation.
Liza Minnelli in concert is sponsored by New England Coffee, The Eastland Park Hotel, and OceanView at Falmouth, and is supported by media sponsor Down East Magazine. Tickets range from $50 to $125. To purchase tickets visit PortTix, The Merrill Auditorium box office, located at 20 Myrtle Street in Portland; call 207.842.0800; or visit www.portlandovations.org.
