MediaContact:
KatySweet&Associates
[email protected]/310.479.2333
UPDATE!!!
ADDITIONALGUESTARTISTSSET
RITAWILSONANDFRIENDSRETURNFORALLNEWPRODUCTIONOF
LINERNOTES:SONGWRITERS,STORIESANDMUSIC
JEFFBARRY,DARRELLBROWN,KARADIOGUARDI,HOLLYKNIGHT,
RICHARDMARX,MOZELLA,ANDBILLYSTEINBERGJOINWILSONFOR
ANEXCLUSIVETWO-WEEKENDENGAGEMENTINTHEINTIMATE
AUDREYSKIRBALLKENISTHEATERRUNNINGSEPTEMBER15-24,2016
LOSANGELES(September8,2016)–RitaWilsononceagainbringshervocalandsongwritingtalentstothe
AudreySkirballKenisTheaterattheGeffenPlayhouseforsixall-newshowsinSeptember,thisfollowingselloutperformancesatlastfall’spremiereofLinerNotes.Foreachperformance,Wilsonwillbejoinedbyspecial
guestsforaneveningofsongwritersperformingandsharingthestoriesbehindtheirsongs.Theshowswillbe
performed in the round with the audience surrounding the artists, providing an up-close and personal
experience. Featured artists include: Jeff Barry, Darrell Brown, Kara DioGuardi, Billy Steinberg and newly
addedHollyKnight,RichardMarxandMoZella.
WilsonhasalonghistorywiththeGeffen.Inadditiontolastyear’sLinerNotes,shehasappearedinnumerous
productionsoverthetheater’s20-yearhistory,includingDinnerwithFriendsandLove,LossandWhatIWore.
In2009,shewaspresentedtheDistinctioninTheaterAwardattheannualBackstageattheGeffenevent.
Well-knownasanactress(It’sComplicated,SleeplessinSeattle,arecurringroleinCBS’sTheGoodWife,HBO’s
award-winningseries,Girlsand,mostrecentlyonBroadwayinLarryDavid’ssmashhit,FishintheDark),and
asafilmproducer(MammaMia!,MyBigFatGreekWeddinganditssequel,MyBigFatGreekWedding2,for
whichsheco-wroteandperformedEvenMoreMine)herfirstloveismusic.InMay2012,Wilsonrealizeda
lifelongdreamwiththedebutofhersoloalbumAM/FM.Thealbum,releasedbyDecca/VerveRecords,isan
intimate,elegantandbeautifullysungcollectionofcoversofherfavoritesongsfromthe‘60sand‘70s.Since
thereleaseofAM/FM,Wilsonhasbeenfocusingonanewcomponentofhermusicalcareerasasongwriter.
InMarch2016,shereleasedherself-titledsecondalbum,showcasingherskillforcreatinginsightful,eloquent
singer-songwriterpopmusicthatisetchedwithstunninghonesty.Fortwoyearspriortotherelease,Wilson
worked with a host of the finest award-winning and best-selling songwriters and producers in both Los
AngelesandNashville.Thisnewmaterialwasprominentlyfeaturedinhersold-outtwo-weekresidencyatthe
famedCaféCarlyleinNewYorkCity.“Ms.Wilsonhasacatchinhervoicethatconveysyearningandpotential
heartbreak behind a façade of cheer. As a stage performer, she is gregarious and forthright; a natural
entertainer,” said The New York Times.Connie Britton performed Wilson’s song “Strong Tonight” on an
episodeofABC’sNashvillethisspring.InJune2016,WilsontouredwithRockandRollHall-of-FamersChicago,
oneofthebestsellingbandsofalltime,withover100millionalbumssold.
Guestsongwriterssettoperformtheirsongsandtellthestoriesbehindthemwillinclude:
JeffBarryisapopmusicsongwriter,singerandrecordproducerwhostartedhisillustriouscareerinNewYork,
makingfamousTheDixieCups,TheCrystals,RonnieSpector,AndyKim,RayPetersonandRonDanteofthe
Archies.HepartneredwithEllieGreenwichinthe1960stoformoneofthedecade’smostprolificsongwriting
andproducingteams.TogetherwithPhilSpector,theyhelpeddefinethe“GirlGroup”soundwiththehits“Da
DooRonRon”and“ThenHeKissedMe”byTheCrystalsand“BeMyBaby”and“Baby,IloveYou”byThe
Ronettes.Theyalsopennedtheclassic“RiverDeep,MountainHigh”byIkeandTinaTurnerand“ICanHear
Music”byTheRonettesandTheBeachBoys.In1964,BarryandGreenwichjoinedthenewlabel,RedBird
Records,towriteandproduce15hitsoutofitsfirst20releasesincluding“ChapelofLove,”“PeopleSay,”and
“IkoIko”bytheDixieCupsand“Remember(Walkin’intheSand)”and“LeaderofthePack”byTheShangriLas.Theduowentontodiscoversinger-songwriterNeilDiamond,producinghisfirsthitsincluding“Solitary
Man,”“Cherry,Cherry,”“KentuckyWoman”and“GirlYou’llBeAWomanSoon.”AfterhemovedfromNew
YorktoCaliforniain1971,BarrywrotethetelevisionthemesongsforOneDayatATime,TheJeffersons,
Where’sWaldo?andFamilyTies.Hecontinuedtowritechart-toppinghitsincluding#1hitsingle“IHonestly
LoveYou”forOliviaNewton-John;JeffreyOsborneandJoyceKennedy’s“TheLastTimeIMadeLove”andGary
Stewart’s“OutOfHand,”amongmanyothers.In1991,BarrywasinductedintotheSongwritersHallofFame
andin2010,intotheRock&RollHallofFame.
DarrellBrownisacelebratedsongwriter,arrangerandrecordproducerwhohasbeencreditedwith
worldwidemusicsalesofover72millionunits.Brownhaspennedfour#1hitsinglesincludingtheGrammywinningsong"You’llThinkofMe”byKeithUrban,thelongestrunning#1singleofJoshTurner’scareer,“Why
Don’tWeJustDance”,the#1popsingle“SimpleThings”byJimBrickmanandRebeccaLynHowardand“What
ICannotChange”byLeAnnRimes.Brownco-wrotethecareerchartingmulti-formathitsingle“Nothin’Better
toDo”byLeAnnRimes,thefirstinhistorytomakeitswayontotheCountrySingleschart,theA/Cchartand
theClubplayDanceChart,allatthesametime.Brownistheproducer,arrangerandmainco-writerforLeAnn
Rimes’criticallyacclaimed2013albumSpitfire.Healsowroteandproduceddozensofcompositionsusedin
thepopularSims3videogameandothervideogamesbyEAGames.Hehascreatedsongsformovies
(Gambit,CruelIntentions,PrettyWoman,)andforTelevision(TodayShow,ColdCase,OneTreeHill,Las
Vegas,RookieBlue).BrowncurrentlyservesontheBoardoftheGrammyFoundationandismusicaldirector
andco-creativeproducerfortheGrammyPreservationandLegacyconcertsworkingwithnumerousartists
includingEdSheeran,NatashaBedingfield,JasonMraz,LupeFiasco,TheFray,MusiqSoulchild,ColbyCaillat,
SarahBareilles,TheFray,TromboneShorty,GarthBrooks,KidRock,JeffBarry,SkylarGrey,GavinDegraw,
AloeBlacc,PlainWhiteT's,WalkTheMoonandEricaMcDonal,amongmanyothers.
KaraDioGuardiisaGrammyandEmmynominatedsongwriter,producer,musicexecutiveandHerbAlbert
VisitingScholaratBerkleeCollegeofMusic.Asoneofthemostsuccessfulcontemporarysongwritersinthe
world,Kara’ssongshaveappearedonmorethan160millionalbums.Shehaswon20BMIawardsformost
performedsongs,includingSongwriteroftheyear.She’shadover320songsreleasedbymajorlabels,150
songsonplatinumsellingalbums,andover50chartingsingles.Hercreditsincludesuccessesand
collaborationswithartistssuchasPink,KatyPerry,CelineDion,KellyClarkson,BritneySpears,Christina
Aguilera,MileyCyrus,JasonDerulo,DemiLovato,GwenStefani,CarrieUnderwood,EnriqueIglesias,Rascal
Flatts,TheBandPerry,DariusRucker,FaithHill,Santanaandmanymore.Karaisalsoanestablishedrecord
producer,recordexecutive,musicpublisherandauthor.WhenshewasExecutiveVicePresidentatWarner
BrothersRecords,KarasignedartistssuchasJasonDeruloandIyaz.Herpublishingcompany,Arthouse
Entertainment,boastshitsfromBrunoMars,CarrieUnderwood,Cee-LoGreen,Eminem,B.O.B.,TravieMcCoy,
FloRida,WhitneyHoustonandSeanKingston.SherecentlysignedArtistJonBellion(Capitol)andClairity
(Lava/Republic).Additionally,Karawasajudgeonseasons8and9ofthehitFOXshow,AmericanIdoland
featuredastheheadjudgeonBravo’ssongwritingrealityshowcompetition,PlatinumHit.Inthefallof2011,
KaramadeherBroadwaystagedebutasmerrymurderess,RoxieHart,intheTonyAward-winninghitmusical
CHICAGO.Karaisanactivesupporterof,andbuildsrecordingstudiosatPhoenixHouse,oneofthenation’s
leadingnon-profitsdedicatedtoleadingindividuals,familiesandcommunitiesaffectedbyaddictionfrom
disruptedtoproductivelives.Shealsohasaneducationalscholarshipinherfamily’snameattheColumbus
CitizensFoundationthatprovidesfinancialsupporttostudentsofItaliandescent.
SongwritersHallofFameinducteeHollyKnighthasenjoyedanillustrious30-yearcareerinthemusicbusiness,
earningherthreeGrammysandthirteenASCAPsongwriterawards.Knightstartedstudyingclassicalpianoat
agefour,continuingherstudiesfortenyearsatTheMannesSchoolofMusicbeforestartingherbandsSpider
andDevice.Hersongshaveappearedonrecordstotalingover530millioninrecordsales.Sheisknownfor
havingwrittenhitsforsomeofthemostsuccessfulartistsinmusic,including“LoveIsABattlefield”and
“Invincible”forPatBenatar,“TheWarrior”forPattySmyth,“Change”forJohnWaite,“BabyMe”forChaka
Khan,“Never”forHeart,“LoveTouch”forRodStewart,“HideYourHeart”forKISS,“RagDoll”withAerosmith,
“Space”forCheapTrickand“PleasureAndPain”forDivinyls.ShehasalsowrittentensongsforTinaTurner,
including“TheBest”,“WildestDreams”and“BetterBeGoodToMe”whichwonaGrammyforRecordofthe
Year.HersongshaveappearedinmoviesasvariedasThelmaandLouise,StewartLittle,ThirteenGoingOn
Thirty,Anchormanll,DallasBuyersClub,andonTVshowssuchasAmericanIdol,TheVoice,30Rock,Family
Guy,TheSimpsons,OprahWinfrey,SouthPark,andmostrecently,Glee,TheMysteriesOfLaura,Necessary
Roughness,andTheFollowing.KnightalsowroteandproducedthetitlethemesongforTVshowsAngeland
StillStanding.SherecentlyfinishedproducingthedebutpoprecordforAntoniaBennett,daughterof
legendarysinger,TonyBennett,aswellasAntonia’sfirstjazzEP,Naturalandtheeagerlyawaitedfollow-up
jazzrecordofsongsfromTheGreatAmericanSongbook,EmbraceMe.Knightiscurrentlydevelopingtwo
musicalsandalsohasaphotographysite.
Asaperformer,songwriterandproducer,RichardMarx’snearlythree-decade-longcareerhashad
innumerablehighlights.TheChicagonativehassoldmorethan30millionalbumsworldwide,startingwithhis
self-titleddebutwhichwentto#8andspawnedfourTop5singles,includingthechart-topping“Holdontothe
Nights,”with“Don’tMeanNothing”earninghimaGrammynominationforBestMaleRockVocal
Performance.Thefollow-up,1989’sRepeatOffender,wasevenmoresuccessful,hitting#1andgoing
quadruple-platinumwithtwo#1singlesin“Satisfied”and“RightHereWaiting.”WhenbothRushStreet(with
two#1AChitsin“KeepComingBack”and“Hazard”)andPaidVacation(withits#1AChit,“NowandForever”)
wentplatinum,Marxachievedaseven-yearstringoftriumphsthatrivaledanyinpop-rockmusichistory.To
thisday,heistheonlymaleartistinhistorytohavehisfirstsevensinglesreachtheTop5ontheBillboard
charts.Hewentontoearna2004SongoftheYearGrammyforco-authoringLutherVandross’“Dancewith
MyFather.”Acrossallformats,Marxhasscoredanamazingtotalof14#1singles(includingKeithUrban’s#1
smash“LongHotSummer”)bothasaperformerandsongwriter/producer,makinghimatruemulti-talented
threatwhocontinuestochallengehimselfandhisfans.Heholdsthehonorofbeingoneofahandfulofartists
whohavehadanumberonehitineachofthepastfourdecades.
MoZella,whosegivennameisMaureenAnneMcDonaldisanacclaimedsongwriterandrecordingartist.
ThroughouthermusiccareerMoZellahasreleasedthreefull-lengthalbums,IWillin2006,BelleIslein2009
andTheBrianHollandSessionsonBelleIslein2012withlegendaryMotownsongwriterBrianHolland,aswell
asthreeEps,MoZella,TheStraitsEP,andTheLoveEP.ShehastouredwithTylerHilton,DaveMatthewsBand,
Lifehouse,FiveforFighting,DanielPowter,MichelleBranchandColbieCaillat.Alongwithherownartist
success,MoZellaco-wrotetheMileyCyrus/Dr.LukeBillboard#1“WreckingBall”alongwith“FU”and
“SomeoneElse”onMiley’sacclaimedalbumBangers.ShehaspennedsongswithandforMirandaCosgrove,
Shontelle,andco-wrote“Undone”and“OhMy”feat.B.o.BwithAmericanIdolfinalistHaleyReinhart,Fergie’s
“ALittlePartyNeverKilledNobody”forTheGreatGatsby(2013),OneDirection’s“FoolsGold”and“Perfect”,
EllieGoulding’s“Don’tPanic”,“HoldingForLife”,and“WeCan’tMovetoThis”,RachelPlatten’s“Speechless”,
Rihanna’s“DancingintheDark”,Echosmith’s“Bright”,Tinashe’s“FeelsLikeVegas”,CharliePuth’s“OneCall
Away”,andKellyClarkson’s“TakeYouHigh”.MadonnaandMozellaco-wrote11ofthe19tracksonthealbum
RebelHeart,includingthesingle"LivingForLove"withDiplo,ArielRechtshaid,andTobyGad.Hersongshave
appearedinnumerouscommercials,including“LoveIsEndless”forMcDonaldsand“Can’tGetEnough”for
Chase.OtherbrandsthathaveusedMoZella’smusicincludeChrysler,Verizon,Microsoft,Jeep,Amazon,
MercedesBenz,JCPenney,AquaFreshandmanymore.
BillySteinberghasbeenamongthemostsuccessfulsongwritersofthepast30years,co-writing(withTom
Kelly)five#1singlesonBillboard's"Hot100"chart,including"LikeAVirgin"(Madonna),"TrueColors"(Cyndi
Lauper),"SoEmotional"(WhitneyHouston),"EternalFlame"(TheBangles)and“Alone”(Heart).Additionally,
Billyco-wroteotherwell-knownTop10U.S.pophits,including"I'llStandbyYou"(Pretenders,Carrie
Underwood),"ITouchMyself"(theDivinyls),"HowDoIMakeYou"(LindaRonstadt),"IDroveAllNight"(Roy
Orbison,CyndiLauper,CelineDion),"InYourRoom"(TheBangles),“TooLittleTooLate”(JoJo)and“GiveYour
HeartABreak”(DemiLovato).SteinbergandKellywereinductedintotheSongwritersHallofFamein2011.
GrowingupinPalmSprings,California,hepursuedacareerasarecordingartistandsongwriterwhilealso
workinginhisfamily'stablegrapebusiness.Hisband,BillyThermal(Thermalwasthetownwherethe
vineyardbusinesswaslocated),wassignedtolegendaryproducerRichardPerry'sPlanetRecords.Inthemid1990’s,SteinbergteamedupwithRickNowels,ahighlyregardedwriter/producer.TheduowonGrammy
Awardsforproducingtheirsongandtitlecut,"FallingIntoYou,"fromCelineDion'smulti-platinum,1996
album.Steinberg&NowelsalsowrotehitsinglesforMelanieC.("ITurnToYou")andRobertMiles("OneAnd
One").
Ticketspricedfrom$59to$89;VIPcabaret-styleseating(includingtwocomplimentarydrinksservedtableside)availablefrom$129to$149.Feesmayapply.PurchaseinpersonattheGeffenPlayhouseboxoffice,by
phoneat310.208.5454oronlineatwww.geffenplayhouse.org.
PERFORMANCESCHEDULE
Thursday,Sept.15,2016
8:00pm(RitaWilson,KaraDioGuardi,HollyKnightandJeffBarry)
Friday,Sept.16,2016
8:00pm(RitaWilson,KaraDioGuardi,HollyKnightandJeffBarry)
Saturday,Sept.17,2016
8:00pm(RitaWilson,RichardMarx,HollyKnightandJeffBarry)
Thursday,Sept.22,2016
8:00pm(RitaWilson,DarrellBrown,BillySteinbergandMoZella)
Friday,Sept.23,2016
8:00pm(RitaWilson,DarrellBrown,BillySteinbergandMoZella)
Saturday,Sept.24,2016
8:00pm(RitaWilson,DarrellBrown,BillySteinbergandMoZella)
TICKETS
Ticketspricedfrom$59to$89;VIPcabaret-styleseating(includingtwocomplimentarydrinksservedtableside)availablefrom$129to$149.Feesmayapply.PurchaseinpersonattheGeffenPlayhouseboxoffice,by
phoneat310.208.5454oronlineatwww.geffenplayhouse.org.
LOCATION AudreySkirballKenisTheaterattheGeffenPlayhouse
10886LeConteAvenueLosAngeles,CA90024
ABOUTGEFFENPLAYHOUSE
GeffenPlayhousehasbeenahuboftheLosAngelestheaterscenesinceopeningitsdoorsin1995.Notedfor
itsintimacyandcelebratedforitsmixofclassicandcontemporaryplays,provocativenewworksandsecond
productions,thenot-for-profitorganizationcontinuestopresentabodyofworkthathasgarnerednational
recognition.NamedinhonorofentertainmentmogulandphilanthropistDavidGeffen,whomadetheinitial
donation to the theater, the company was founded by Gilbert Cates and is currently helmed by Artistic
Director Randall Arney, Executive Director Gil Cates, Jr. and Co-Chairs of the Board Martha Henderson and
Pamela Robinson. Proudly associated with UCLA, the Geffen welcomes an audience of more than 130,000
eachyearandmaintainsanextensiveeducationandoutreachprogramdesignedtoengageyoungpeoplein
thecommunityatlargeinthearts.www.geffenplayhouse.org
MEDIACONTACT:
KatySweet&Associates
310.479.2333
[email protected]