The Swingaroos: Hollywood Serenade
July 23, 2019 - August 30, 2019 | John C. Court Cabaret
Back by popular demand, The Swingaroos return to FST with a brand new show. Inspired by the Golden Age of Hollywood, this jazzy music revue pays tribute to such icons as Frank Sinatra, Cab Calloway, and Fred Astaire. Travel back in time this summer to the ‘30s and ‘40s when big bands and swing dancing were all the rage. Featuring songs like “At Last,” “The Joint is Really Jumpin’ Down at Carnegie Hall,” and “Hooray for Hollywood.”
Run Time: 1 hour and 10 minutes with a 15-minute intermission
The Swingaroos: Hollywood Serenade, created by Kimberly Hawkey for The Swingaroos with arrangements by Assaf Gleizner.
To view a large print version of our playbill, click here.
CAST
Vocals/ Creator | Kimberly Hawkey
Piano/ Music Director | Assaf Gleizner
Reeds/ Vocals | Marty Peters
Trumpet | Steve Morley
Upright Bass | Philip Ambuel
Drums | Uri Zelig
PHILIP AMBUEL (Upright Bass) is a Thai/American bassist from Falls Church, VA. After getting his start playing bass guitar in rock bands and bass trombone in orchestra, Philip chose to learn upright bass at George Mason University. He studied with professor Glenn Dewey from 2009 to 2012, and then relocated to Paris where he played in local jazz clubs and learned to speak French. Philip moved to NYC in 2016, where he studied with legendary bassist Ron Carter. Philip lives in Brooklyn and performs in jazz clubs all over the world.
ASSAF GLEIZNER (Musical Director & Pianist) Born and raised in Israel, Assaf Gleizner works as a composer, MD, orchestrator, and arranger in NYC and around the world. Some of Assaf’s favorite projects are: Stephen Schwartz’s 70th Birthday Concert (Hudson Theatre); Arts For Autism (featuring Kelli O’Hara); The Office!
A Musical Parody (Composer, Orchestrator); Friends! The Musical Parody (Composer, Orchestrator); 90210! The Musical (Composer, Orchestrator); Move On: A Sondheim Adventure (Arranger and Co-Producer with jazz vocalist Cyrille Aimee). Assaf is also a member of the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop.
KIMBERLY HAWKEY (Creator & Vocals) is a multi-genre vocalist, instrumentalist and bandleader based in the Catskill mountains of NY. Kimberly sings with the top traditional jazz and swing bands in NYC and has performed in well-known venues as both a soloist and collaborator. She is the recipient of the Johnny Mercer Award, the American Traditions Gold Medal and is a 2x winner of NYC’s Cabaret Showdown. She is the bandleader of The Swingaroos and the Elvanelle Music collective, and has appeared with the NY AllStar Big Band, Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra, the Battle of the Big Bands on the Intrepid. Kimberly has been teaching music for over 10 years and conducts vocal workshops in schools across the country. kimberlyhawkey.com @elvanellemusic 
STEVE MORLEY (Trumpet) has been playing piano since age 8 and trumpet since age 10. He graduated with a B.M. in Jazz Trumpet Performance from the University of Colorado and an M.M. in Jazz and Commercial Music from the University of Miami. He has studied with Greg Gisbert, Brad Goode, Jason Carder, and Brian Lynch.
MARTY PETERS (Reeds & Vocals) is a saxophonist and woodwinds player currently residing in New Orleans, LA. He received his degree from SUNY Purchase Conservatory of music in 2011, studying with Eric Alexander, Jimmy Greene, Ralph Lalama, Jon Faddis, Steve Wilson and others. Peters played on cruise ships for a few years before deciding to settle down in New Orleans, where he is involved in multiple projects ranging from early R&B and traditional jazz to brass band funk and 50s hard bop. 
URI ZELIG (Drums) was born in Tel Aviv, to a musical family and a rich musical community. He started playing drums and piano at the age of 10, and only a few years later, started working professionally with some of the country’s greatest artists. Zelig moved to New York City in 2012 to pursue his musical education at The New School, where he graduated with honors. While in NYC, Zelig worked with Jazz legends George Cables, Bill Crow, Marion Cowings, and more. He is currently playing all over town and holds the lead drum chair in several Off-Broadway productions, while recording and composing original music.
Find Out More About This Swing-Era Territory Band on Their Website | READ
ARTICLES BY FST
Behind the Glamour: 1940s Hollywood by Irene Martinko | READ
Swingin' and Singin in Style by Becca Jennings | READ
ADDITIONAL ARTICLES
Learn More About Three Pivotal Bandleaders Featured in This Cabaret | LEARN
Learn about Johnny Mercer, a legendary songwriter for Broadway and Hollywood. | LEARN
