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 RICHARD LEIBELL

VOCALIST / ENTERTAINER

RICHARD LEIBELL is a native New Yorker, born and raised in Brooklyn. At 15, under the recommendation of his mother Abigail (a gifted pianist), he auditioned and was accepted into the pre-college division of The Juilliard School of Music, studying with renowned voice teacher Elizabeth Bishop. He graduated 4 years later from the program, and then went on to The Manhattan School of Music, in the Vocal/Opera department - studying with former international opera star - Uta Graf, and later at Sarah Lawrence College in the Theater and Music departments. He continued studying privately in NYC with Daniel Ferro (Chairman of the Juilliard Voice Department), and was coached by acclaimed accompianist, friend and mentor - Stanley Sonntag.

He performs in concert with orchestras, big bands, jazz trios, and in cabaret venues.

Richard has had leading and supporting roles in numerous Off-Broadway, Regional, and Summer Stock musical productions including: "Carousel", "Flower Drum Song", "West Side Story", "Mack and Mabel", "The Fantasticks", "The Pajama Game", "Godspell", "Kiss Me Kate", "Fiddler on the Roof", and the Off-Broadway 2 year run production of "Live From Altoona...a 20's,30's,and 40's musical review". He has twice been a featured soloist at Carnegie Recital Hall, and at C.Paul Hall (The Juilliard School of Music); baritone soloist for The Faure' Requiem; and the featured singer in Cardinal Cook's televised Christmas Mass from NYC. He was the featured soloist on a European classical music concert tour, with performances in: Salzburg, Florence, Venice, Vienna, Zurich, and at The St. Moritz Music Festival, Switzerland - performing The Bach B Minor Mass (Sir Neville Marriner, Conductor).

Richard was the former resident soloist at St.Michael Church (Greenwich,Ct.), and at The Religious Science Church (Seal Beach,Ca.).

After moving to Los Angeles, he continued vocal studies / coaching with Metropolitan Opera / N.Y.City Opera star / and Broadway leading baritone, William Chapman. While living in L.A. Richard co-starred in "Swanson on Sunset..a Musical Memoir", by Dickson Hughes - at The Cinegrill at The Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. The show was based upon the original treatment and score of the very first 'undiscovered' musical attempt of the film noir classic, "Sunset Boulevard", involving star Gloria Swanson, and songwriters Dickson Hughes and Richard Stapley - which took place in the mid 1950's. Yes.. before Andrew Lloyd Webber. The New York Post covered a two page feature on "Swanson on Sunset", and Gloria Swansons' dream of bringing the musical version of her star vehicle to Broadway. The show included the original songs from the 1950's project. Richard is featured in the new documentary "Boulevard, A Hollywood Story" set to debut at The Directors Guild Theater in Los Angeles on August 17, 2021, followed by a film festival tour. Produced and directed by Emmy award winning filmmaker, Jeffrey Schwarz ("Tab Hunter Confidential", "The Fabulous Allan Carr").

While in Los Angeles, Richard also performed as a featured singer at The Ritz Carlton in Pasadena, Chasen's of Beverly Hills, The Bel Air Hotel, and co-starred in numerous musical and composer reviews at the famed "Maldonado's" in Pasadena. In 1992, he was one of 20 singers nationwide who auditioned, and were selected to be "fellows" at The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Cabaret Symposium 10 day intensive workshop in Waterford CT. There, he met acclaimed LA / NY musical directors Shelly Markham and Wayne Abravanel, and producer / jazz pianist Derrik Lewis. Richard and Shelly Markham would later perform at numerous venues throughout Southern CA. Richard, Wayne Abravanel, and Derrik Lewis, would reunite 8 years later for the ASCAP "Musical Chairs" concert series in Palm Springs,CA. While at the O'Neill Cabaret, Richard was coached by stars Julie Wilson ("The Queen of Cabaret"), Margaret Whiting (Moonlight in Vermont), Ann Francine (Vera Charles - Original Broadway Mame), as well as NY/LA musical directors : Shelly Markham,Tex Arnold, Wayne Abravanel, and Derrik Lewis.

At the Santa Fe Playhouse,NM, he co-starred in "Double Threats", featuring the music and lyrics of Stephen Sondheim, Noel Coward, Cole Porter, and Jerry Herman. While briefly living in Minneapolis, MN. he performed with jazz trio at The Fine Line Music Club.

After relocating to Palm Springs,CA, Richard starred, or was featured in, 20 "Musical Chairs" ASCAP composer / lyricist tribute concerts over 6 seasons - conceived and produced by jazz pianist / singer / actor / local empressario, Derrik Lewis. Together, with rotating casts and guest stars, they performed at : The Annenberg Theater, The Palm Canyon Theater, Sun City Palm Desert, Old Town Temecula Theater, Indian Wells Theater, and at select venues throughout The Desert. Guest stars included: legendary recording artist Margaret Whiting; "The Queen of Cabaret" Julie Wilson; Broadway,TV, and Las Vegas star Donna Theodore; jazz legends The Page Cavanaugh Trio; Las Vegas singer / jazz pianist Frankie Randall; and "Your Hit Parade" singers and recording artists Russell Arms and Bea Wain. These twenty concerts presented : "Kander and Ebb", "Rodgers and Hart", "Harry Warren", "George and Ira Gershwin", "A Tribute to Your Hit Parade", "Frank Loesser"; "The Joy of Operetta"; "Harold Arlen"; "Kurt Weill"; "Lerner and Loewe"; "Jimmy Van Heusen"; "The Best of Broadway"; "Jerome Kern"; "Cy Coleman"; "Sammy Cahn" ; "A Tribute to Duke Ellington"; and "A Big Band Tribute". The concert series featured Los Angeles and NYC musical directors: Johnny Morris, Robert York, Dickson Hughes, Shelly Markham, Derrik Lewis, and Wayne Abravanel.

Richard also performs as a guest star at venues throughout Southern Ca. He has appeared at The Cerritos Center for the Performing Arts with "Star Search", Broadway, and Las Vegas singing star, Mara Getz in: "The Music of Harry Warren and Burt Bacharach" (Wayne Abravanel,conductor); "Duets" with Mara Getz at "Peters" Supper Club in Rancho Mirage,Ca. (Wayne Abravanel,music director); and " An Evening with Mara Getz and Richard Leibell" with The Coachella Valley Symphony (Christian Chalifour,conductor).

Other concerts have included: "Rodgers and Hammerstein Meet Gershwin and Porter" with Debbie Prutsman at The Annenberg Theater (Palm Springs,Ca), and Riverside Performing Arts Center with the All Star Pops Orchestra (Richard Stover,conductor); "The All Star Big Band Swings Gershwin" with Cassie Miller, and "Broadway Show Stoppers" at Old Town Temecula Theater (Jeff Stover / Wayne Abravanel,conductors).

He performed his one man show "Standards and Broadway", to a sold-out audience at The Tolerance Center (Rancho Mirage,Ca.). Recent concerts have included the sold- out "Frank Sinatra's Big Band 100th Birthday Party" in Temecula,Ca., "Swinging Down Old Broadway" with Mara Getz and The All Star Big Band (Jeff Stover,conductor), and "A Tribute to the Lawrence Welk Show" - with "The Champagne Lady", TV and Las Vegas star Roberta Linn, in Oct.2018.

Richard has donated his services for numerous charity events in the Palm Springs area, including featured entertainer for three years with singer Mara Getz at "The Men of the Desert Fashion Show", held at Hyatt Grand Champions, Indian Wells, Ca., to benefit Animal Samaritans.

Richard most gratefully thanks his parents for their belief and support .

He has recently returned to Stamford,CT, where he is performing for private events and parties, as well as entertaining the wonderful seniors at residences in Westchester, NY, and CT. He brings with him, an extensive catalog of "The Great American Songbook", and classic Broadway!