Euan Morton (photo provided by Coyle Entertainment).
Following a sold-out 2013 debut at 54 Below, Tony Award nominee Euan Morton returns to the acclaimed Manhattan nightspot to launch his newest project, I ❤ THE CARPENTERS. Backed by the Downey CA Collective, Morton will perform songs made famous by the all-American jazz/pop duo Richard and Karen Carpenter. With songs from composers such as Burt Bacharach and Hal David, Paul Williams, Roger Nichols, Leon Russell, John Bettis and Richard Carpenter himself, I ❤ THE CARPENTERS is fresh take on mid-20th century American pop genius, designed to be an emotional trip down memory lane for some and an exciting, memory-making first meeting for others.
“My youth was scored with the music of the world-famous, brother and sister duo the Carpenters. With my ear pressed to a speaker, I’d listen to the velvet beauty of Karen’s voice coupled with the genius of Richard’s arrangements and compositions. That lonely boy discovered a kindred spirit and learned how to sing through that music,” says Morton. “This series of concerts at 54 Below is the realization of a long-time dream of performing an evening of Carpenters songs. It’s a project that aims to introduce this timeless music into our lives using a fresh, modern outlook, which will prove that Richard and Karen’s musical legacy is as important and vibrant today as it was nearly 50 years ago. It couldn’t be closer to my heart.”
Euan Morton, a native of Scotland, received an Olivier Award nomination for originating the role of Boy George in the musical Taboo. He moved to New York in 2003 to reprise the role on Broadway, earning Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Drama League Award nominations, as well as the Theatre World Award for Outstanding Broadway Debut. His other New York stage appearances include Sondheim on Sondheim and the 2007 revival of Cyrano De Bergerac on Broadway; as well as the Off Broadway productions of Measure For Pleasure at The Public Theater (2006 Obie Award), Tony Kushner’s adaptation of Brundibár at the New Victory Theatre, Howard Katz (opposite Alfred Molina) at the Roundabout Theatre, the 2009 American premiere of Leaves of Glass, the Keen Company’s revival of The Film Society, and the musical Atomic.
I ❤ THE CARPENTERS
June 1, 7 p.m.
June 8, 9:30 p.m.
June 15, 7 p.m.
