Highmount, NY * Legendary song and dance man Tommy Tune will cap off a Broadway Benefit Weekend at the Belleayre Music Festival on Saturday, July 9 at 8 p.m.

Tommy will bring his “Steps in Time: A Broadway Biography” in Song and Dance show to the mountain. His performance will be backed by the powerful sounds of the Manhattan Rhythm Kings.

One of Broadway’s undisputed superstars, Tommy has been honored numerous times as a performer, choreographer and director. He has won nine Tony Awards, eight Drama Desk Awards, three Astaire Awards and the Society of Directors and Choreographers George Abbott Award for Lifetime Achievement.

His award recognition includes Best Actor in a Musical for “My One and Only,” Best Featured Actor in a Musical for “Seesaw,” Best Choreography for “A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine,” “My One and Only,” “Grand Hotel” and “The Will Rogers Follies” and Best Direction of a Musical for “Nine,” “Grand Hotel” and “The Will Rogers Follies.”

He is the recipient of The National Medal of Arts, the highest honor for artistic achievement given by the President of the United States. Tommy also has a star on the legendary Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Tommy was designated as a Living Landmark by the New York Landmarks Conservancy in 2009. This year, Tommy is marking his 50th year in show business.

Friday fun
The Broadway Benefit Weekend, in which the Belleayre Music Festival joins forces with The Roxbury Arts Group, gets underway on Friday, July 8 at 8 p.m. with Jim Caruso’s Cast Party.

A wildly popular weekly soiree, Jim Caruso’s Cast Party brings a sprinkling of Broadway glitz and urbane wit to the legendary Birdland in New York City every Monday night. It’s a cool cabaret night-out enlivened by a hilariously impromptu variety show. Showbiz superstars hit the stage alongside up-and-comers, serving up jaw-dropping music and general razzle-dazzle.

Host Jim Caruso collects names of audience members who would like to sing an perform. Participants are asked to pick material that is fun, upbeat, swingy, zesty and bursting with verve and pluck.

Cast Party performers will include Broadway luminaries Donna McKechnie, Christine Pedi, Nancy Timpanaro and Sally Mayes.
Local favorites joining the cast will be Peg Ellsworth, Kent Brown, Patricia Dell, Karen Neblung, Andy Cahill, Wendy Neiff, Mackenzie Wright, Timothy LaFontaine, Jefferson Piasek.

Belleayre calendar
– Saturday, July 16: Classic Rockers Creedence Clearwater Revisited
– Saturday, July 23: Belleayre Festival Opera Verdi’s “La Traviata”
– Friday, July 29: Belleayre Jazz Club * KJ Denhert offering Urban Folk & Jazz
– Saturday, July 30: Belleayre Jazz Club * Global Noize playing Jazz, World Music& Electronica
– Friday, Aug. 5 at 8 p.m.: Belleayre Jazz Club * Young Lion of the Saxophone
Ravi Coltrane Quartet
– Saturday, Aug. 6 at 8 p.m.: The Music of Miles Davis – Celebrating 50 Years of ?’Kind of Blue’ with Jimmy Cobb’s “So What Band” featuring: Larry Willis, Buster Williams,
Javon Jackson, Vince Herring & Eddie Henderson
– Saturday, Aug. 13 at 8 p.m.: Country Music Superstar Clint Black
– Saturday, Aug. 20 at 8 p.m.: Five-Time Grammy Winner Mary Chapin Carpenter
– Saturday, Aug. 27 at 8 p.m. An Evening of Breakout Stars ??? The Punch Brothers
with special guest Jessica Lea Mayfield
Saturday, Sept. 3 at 8 p.m.: Genre-busting banjo sensation Bela Fleck & The Flecktones * Original Lineup

Tickets & contact
All shows begin at 8 p.m. For tickets or additional information, please call 800 942-6904, ext. 1344 or visit: www.belleayremusic.org or e-mail: [email]festival@catskill.net[/email].

For information on where to stay, dine, shop or to simply enjoy the great outdoors when you’re in town for the Belleayre Music Festival, please visit: www.catskillhighpeaks.com , www.ulstertourism.info or www.greatwesterncatskills.com.

Media sponsors for the 2011 season include: WDST Radio, WKZE Radio and Albany.com

Belleayre Music Festival concerts are held on the grounds of Belleayre Mountain in Highmount.

Belleayre Mountain is located in the heart of New York’s Catskill Mountain region. The area is located just off Route 28 and is 37 miles west of Thruway Exit 19 at Kingston; 55 miles southeast of Oneonta on Route 28; 40 miles from the Route 17 exit at Roscoe; and 95 miles southwest of Albany and just two hours north of NYC.