I will be making my debut at the Empire Plush Room as part of "Shawn Ryan and Friends: A Fundraiser for The Young Actors' Theatre Camp Scholarship Fund" on October 2nd at 8:00pm!

Shawn and his partner John are the program directors for the The Young Actors' Theatre Camp, and are producing this fundraising show to benefit the camp's scholarship fund. Shawn has invited me to perform as part of this fundraiser for a really great cause!

The show will be held at The Empire Plush Room, located at the York Hotel, at 940 Sutter Street (between Hyde and Leavenworth) in San Francisco. The Empire Plush Room is one of the top cabaret venues in the US, and the performers (scheduled to include The Kelly Park Trio, Kim Nalley, Linda Kosut, Lua Hadar, Barry Lloyd, Terese Genecco and others) will be top notch!

Tickets are $25, and there is a two drink minimum, with all proceeds going to the scholarship fund. There will also be a Live Auction so bring your check books! Reservations are HIGHLY recommended! Call the Plush Room box office at (415) 885-2800 for tickets.

Voted one of the Best Cabarets in the Country by USA TODAY, this former 1920's speakeasy in the York Hotel is truly a part of San Francisco history.

During the late 1920's at the height of Prohibition, the hotel quietly and illegally opened its now renowned Empire Plush Room Cabaret theatre. Merry-makers found their way through a maze of underground passageways, which still exist, to reach the secret nightclub. San Francisco socialites, world famous singers, gangsters and movie stars gathered nightly to enjoy illegal spirits and to hear the top entertainers of the era perform.

As prohibition faded into history, the Empire Plush Room, once shrouded in secrecy, became one of the city’s most popular live music venues. Young torch singers, comedians, dancers, and pianists flocked to the Empire Plush Room hoping to be discovered.

In 1956, the York Hotel entered into film history when Alfred Hitchcock chose it as a major location in his classic thriller "Vertigo". Hitchcock fans flock to the York Hotel to witness the place where the charlatan Kirn Novak lived during the second half of the film. You can still recognize the view from the rooms and the exterior of the building from the film.

Today the York Hotel and the Empire Plush Room continue to keep the tradition of cabaret alive by hosting entertainers like Rita Moreno, Andrea Marcovicci, Sam Harris, Maureen McGovern, Wesla Whitfield, and Paula West.

This 6-day, 5-night intensive theatre training congress is specially designed for young actors between the ages of 10-18 years old who are interested in the performing arts. An accomplished group of Instructors and Counselors, remarkable Master Class Teachers, and the brightest, most talented Bay Area students come together for an unforgettable theatre experience!

Students attend daily workshops taught by Industry Professionals on Scene Study, On-Camera Technique, Hip Hop/Jazz Dance, Vocal Technique, Musical Theatre, Core Flow Movement, Monologue Workshop, and Improvisation.

Held at Camp Jones Gulch, the Young Actors' Theatre Camp is located in the Santa Cruz Mountains about 1-1/2 hours south of San Francisco and boasts wonderful accomodations and a roster full of activities.

Shawn Ryan is quickly becoming one of the brightest stars in the jazz/cabaret world, having what the Beverly Hills Outlook calls “that charm that is rare!”. After winning the “2000 Bay Area Cabaret Competition” hosted by Piaf's Restaurant and Cabaret, San Francisco embraced Shawn Ryan as “the hottest young cabaret singer to hit the scene!”. This dazzling performer combines classic standards and insightful comedy for an unforgettable evening of jazz, cabaret, and comedy.

Shawn has just released his second CD, "Blue Skies", which is garnering rave reviews and selling like hotcakes!

Shawn has also been invited by the Mabel Mercer Foundation to perform at their 16th Annual New York Cabaret Convention as one of the stars of "Cabaret Today", to be held at Lincoln Center next month.