James Barbour Plans Holiday Concert Run Upstairs at Sardi's
“I’m a holiday freak,” Barbour told Broadway.com. “There’s something that happens when I hear Christmas music because it’s my favorite holiday.” Having performed a similar concert in Los Angeles over the past few years, he began looking for a local venue once Tale came to an end. “I wanted to find a nice, warm environment for it,” he said. “Then I passed by Sardi’s and said, ‘Wait a minute!’ I called up [manager] Max [Klimavicius] and he goes, ‘Yeah, let’s do it.’ So we’re doing it!”
Barbour played unlikely romantic hero Sydney Carton in A Tale of Two Cities, which closed at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre on November 9. Previous Broadway credits include Billy Bigelow in Carousel, the Beast in Beauty and the Beast, Edward Fairfax Rochester in Jane Eyre, Officer Lockstock in Urinetown and Leon Czolgosz in Assassins.
With musical director Jeremy Roberts at the piano, James Barbour: The Holiday Concert promises a night of seasonal classics like “O Holy Night,” “Silver Bells” and “Jingle Bell Rock” as well as Broadway songs. Barbour’s friends from the Broadway community will also stop in as special guests. “[A Tale of Two Cities co-star] Brandi Burkhardt already said she’d come by and sing ‘Santa Baby,” Barbour revealed.
In the spirit of giving, Barbour will also offer a limited number of free tickets to the show to members of the military who are unable to travel home for the holidays.
Barbour promises great tunes, a friendly room, sing-a-longs and even a possible appearance by Santa Claus at the show, which will play through Sunday, January 4. “It’s gonna be a really fun time,” he said.
For tickets, which range from $25 to $60, and more info, click here.