Betty Buckley's award-winning career spans television, film, stage, and concert work around the world. She earned acclaim for her iconic performances in "1776," "Pippin," "The Mystery of Edwin Drood," "Carrie," and "Cats," which earned her a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. She later received a Tony nomination for her performance as Hesione in "Triumph of Love" and an Olivier Award nomination for her lauded portrayal of Norma Desmond in the London production of "Sunset Boulevard," a role she reprised to further critical acclaim on Broadway. She has captivated audiences on screen in films like "Carrie," "Tender Mercies," "Split," "Imaginary," "By Design," and "Eternity," as well as on TV in "Law & Order: SVU," "The Cleaning Lady," "Preacher," and "Eight is Enough." Buckley is also a celebrated recording artist, with 19 solo albums to her credit, including "Enough," recorded live during her 2025 Joe's Pub residency and set for release July 17 on Palmetto Records. In June 2023, she was named artist-in-residence at Mercyhurst University and returns to campus annually to teach and concertize.
French pianist and multi-GRAMMY-nominated arranger Christian Jacob began playing classical music at age four and discovered jazz at age nine. After graduating with "First Prize" from the Paris Conservatory, Jacob moved to America, where he was honored with the Oscar Peterson Jazz Masters Award and won the Great American Jazz Piano Competition. His credits include scoring two major motion pictures for director Clint Eastwood—"Sully" and "The 15:17 to Paris." He leads his own trio, co-founded the Tierney Sutton Band, and enjoys a long and heralded association as musical director for Broadway legend Betty Buckley. Currently, Jacob is performing music from his latest recordings: "The Originals," a collection of 13 original compositions for jazz trio and strings, and his solo piano album, "Beautiful Jazz."
