About SONGSHOP

Claudia Hommel’s hands-on workshop is an opportunity for theatre and music students, amateurs and professionals, to strengthen and deepen how they approach, interpret, and communicate meaning in a song. SongShop is open to all singers and takes place most Tuesday evenings at DePaul School of Music and Saturday afternoons at various home sites.

Learn more and sign our list www.songshoplive.com 773.509.9360

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SPECAL THANKS TO Videographer Stephen Wright House manager Carmen Bodino Our reception committee of Carol Weston, Leona Zions, and Carrie Hedges Susanne Baker and the staff of DePaul School of Music Community Music Division And to all our donors—See you at the Afterglow! at Cyrano’s, the Jazz Showcase, Buddy Di Tito, Menotti’s The Old Woman calls him, “A special, eclectic piano Guy’s Legends, the Beat Kitchen, and and The Thief to name a few. She also About the Performers player.” The Chicago Tribune’s Howard the Abbey and added Café Universel in sings in church choirs and choral groups ARLENE ARMSTRONG. Actor- Reich describes him as “the complete Paris when she joined the Singers Jazz preforming oratorios like Handel’s Director-Musician. “When I stepped entertainer…the quintessential cabaret Workshop last June. She is currently Messiah, Brahms’ German Requiem on my grade school stage as the goose singer-pianist.” His one-man shows I studying voice with David Edelfelt. and solos in Vivaldi’s Gloria. Spirituals who laid the golden egg in Jack and the Won’t Dance—the Songs of Fred Astaire, are very much a part of her repertoire. VIVIAN BECKFORD is a native Beanstalk, my musician life began.” She An Evening with Tom Lehrer, and It’s Vivian studies voice with Bruce Tammen of Queens, NY. After graduating from recruited friends to do variety shows, D’Lovely—the Many Loves of Cole and sings with the University of Chicago Hunter College with an RN and BS wrote the scripts, built the sets, sang in Porter have sold out wherever they were chorus. degree, she began her professional life the church choir and local gospel groups, presented. Bob is a founding member of as a nurse. Later, she transitioned into WYDETTA CARTER, acting coach, listened to blues and jazz every Sunday Chicago Cabaret Professionals, a 2007 elementary school teaching in the Public has been giving SongShop participants with her family. Her two solo shows are recipient of the After Dark “Outstanding School System of for 35 the benefit of her many years of musical Just a Girl & a Piano (Harold Washington Cabaret Artist” award, and 2009 recipient years. In 1999 Vivian began her formal theatre experience, coaching our sessions Library) with Bobby Schiff and Jazz Bird of Chicago Cabaret Professionals’ music training at Singers Forum, then when Claudia is on the road. Actress and (Davenport’s Cabaret in 2014). With Ruth Lifetime Achievement Award. Fuerst and Carol Weston she performed Mannes, The New School of Music. singer, member and Regional officer of CARRIE HEDGES joined SongShop Life is…Snapshots in Song and Thank You She has performed arias in opera scenes, Actors’ Equity, she has performed on the week she retired as a Staff Attorney with for the Music. She has appeared in many such as Handel’s Orlando, Mozart’s The stages across the country and abroad. the U.S. District Court. She made her début SongShop Live concerts; as a member Marriage of Figaro and La Clemenza at Davenport’s Cabaret in the Chicago in Chicago Cabaret Professionals Cabaret Professionals 2011 Holiday Holiday Cabaret and Strut Your Stuff, Cabaret, appeared in CCP’s Strut Your in Opportunity Knocks and the Midwest Stuff in 2014. Shows include: SongShop Cabaret Conference showcases. at Cyrano’s Bistrot, the Jazz Showcase, BETH HALEVY. After working as Daystar Center, and PianoForte. Rotary an attorney for many years, Beth has Near South’s benefits Broadway on the RUTH FUERST in WAKE UP AND DREAM returned to her first love—performing. Cusp! and Broadway for the Hoi Polloi. She enjoys doing cabaret because it lets She brought her one-woman show Songs with pianist & music director Bob Moreen singers personalize their songs and its in the Key of Oz to Daystar Center. She Fridays, April 10 and 17 at 8 PM intimacy lets singers connect with their also sings in the University of Chicago audience. Beth appreciates the nurturing Chorus, is President of the International Davenport’s Cabaret atmosphere of SongShop Live and the Wizard of Oz Club and serves on the 1383 Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago interpretive insights and encouragement Board of the Chicago Children’s Choir. provided by Claudia Hommel and the CAROL WESTON sang and learned $12 cover & 2 drink minimum other group members. When she isn’t to play the piano and violin at a very singing, Beth teaches English as a Foreign Reserve at davenportspianobar.com young age. For many years, she’s been Language, spends time with friends and a troubadour with guitar in hand, playing or call 773-278-1830 family, and travels to foreign places. in schools and libraries. She’s also been BOB MOREEN, pianist and singer, heard at Davenport’s, Cyrano’s, The Jazz has appeared in virtually every type Showcase, or playing the piano bar at the of entertainment venue as soloist, Drake Hotel or the Carlton Club at the accompanist and ensemble member. He Ritz. A founding member of the Chicago has worked with name entertainers such Cabaret Professionals, she has been able as Dorothy Collins, Peter Palmer, Greta to live her dream of becoming a cabaret Keller, the Incomparable Hildegarde, singer. She performs Life Is…Snapshots All proceeds will go to the Albany Park Theater Project: and with many of Chicago’s favorite in Song and Thank You for the Music with Helping Immigrant Youth Achieve Their Dreams through Theater Arts cabaret singers. The Chicago Sun-Times Arlene Armstrong and Ruth Fuerst. CLAUDIA HOMMEL. Born in Paris, JIM COX, bassist, grew up in returned to her first love—The Stage! For RON ANDERSON. After spending raised in Detroit, and seasoned in New Champaign, Illinois, and attended many years her featured performances 25 years as a folk singer in the haunts York, Claudia moved to Chicago to “do the University of Illinois in Urbana were as parent, independent travel of Princeton, Greenwich Village and the work.” She is proud to have founded where he received a BA in double consultant, and fundraiser for the Liverpool, Ron slung his guitar on his the Chicago Cabaret Professionals and bass performance. Between 1979–­82 Children’s Research Foundation. She back and headed to his native Minnesota. SongShop with so many like-minded he toured with Earl “Fatha” Hines. has appeared in SongShop Live concerts: Along the way he took a turn and ended performers. A member of the actors’ He moved to Chicago in 1980 and has Flying, Something to Talk About, Life at up in the Cabaret world of Chicago. Ron unions (SAG-AFTRA and Actors’ Equity) worked full time as a freelance musician Home,Take the Ride of Your Life and her also sang barbershop for several years, and on faculty at the DePaul School of playing live music of all types, teaching solo set Love Notes---a Musical Memoir. earning a gold medal in international Music Community Music Division, and recording. He played regularly Other appearances include Broadway on chorus competition in Nashville in 2001 she tours concerts and masterclasses with Marian McPartland for 20 years, the Cusp and Broadway for the Hoi Polloi with the Northbrook New Tradition nationally and to France. She has five and has performed many times with for the Rotary Club at the Polo Café and at chorus. Since meeting “cabaret”, he recordings and one film produced by her Rosemary Clooney, Michael Feinstein, Davenport’s for CCP Strut Your Stuff and has brought rousing tributes to Johnny Maison Clobert label. Come to Paris in Debbie Boone, the Maxwell Street the 2014 CCP Merry Measures Holiday Cash and John Denver to the audience at June 2015 when Claudia, Paris-based Klezmer Band, and jazz mandolinist show. She is on the Board of the Chicago Davenport’s Cabaret. Keri Chryst, and Maja Savic of Croatia Don Stiernberg. Jim has recorded over Cabaret Professionals and stars in her RUTH FUERST. Our very own lead a multi-national Jazz Tour & Singers 150 CDs in various styles of music role as Gramma Lynda singing with her Dr Ruth, a psychotherapist by day, is Workshop. Visit cabaret-paree.com. including jazz, folk, bluegrass, klezmer grandchildren Louisa and James! the keeper of a trove of very witty and and cabaret. He currently teaches at Lake DANIEL JOHNSON is a bi-coastal MIKE REFKY is a financial services sometimes wicked lyrics by her late Forest College, North Central College in regional theatre actor recently relocated marketing executive who is finally father Jim Fuerst. By night, she’s taken to Naperville, and North Park University. to Chicago. Trained professionally at the “finding his voice” at the age of 40. dispensing her wisdom on the stage with American Conservatory Theatre in San LEONA ZIONS. LeeZee’s first gig at After singing with the Des Moines Gay Carol Weston and Arlene Armstrong. Francisco, he performed on the West 3½ years of age was singing on Horn & Men’s Chorus in Iowa and Allegrezza Their first show Life is… played to large Coast and on tour before a stint of nearly Hardart’s radio show! Six years of Glee in Chicago, he is exploring a path as a and enthusiastic audiences, and their two decades based in New York City. His Club led by Yip Harburg’s pal Charlotte solo vocalist starting with this concert. second, Thank You for the Music was musical roles include Franklin in 1776, Hochman. Marriage, children and leads His musical tastes range from opera to even more successful, and has been Mooney in Anything Goes, and Charles in regional Pajama Game and Girl hip hop, but when he opens his mouth brought to several senior centers around in Pippin. He toured nationally with John Crazy. Directed/choreographed Bye, Bye to sing, what mostly comes out are pop Chicagoland. Ruth has been seen in Davidson in The Music Man and debuted Birdie in the Catskills, shades of “Dirty standards and showtunes. He dedicates several Rotary International Fundraiser off-Broadway as the comic lead in the 1988 Dancing”. Many years with Marjorie this and all his performances to his Annual Cabarets and many Songshop revival of Cole Porter’s Leave It to Me. He Eliot’s Parlor Entertainment in Harlem. beloved husband,Ahmad. shows at Cyrano’s, the Jazz Showcase just completed his fourth season singing Transplanted to Chicago and found CCP etc. She is excited to announce her first PHILIP SEWARD, pianist and his own Christmas Cabaret: Santa Songs. and SongShop. Venues: Davenport’s for solo show Wake Up and Dream, under the singer, has been playing the piano since songsfortheseason.wordpress.com/ Opportunity Knocks, CCP’s Holiday and music direction of Bob Moreen, will début a small child, joining the cabaret, music Strut Your Stuff showcases; Cyrano’s at Davenport’s on April 10 and 17, 2015. DON HOFFMAN is a practicing oral theatre, and opera stages as he got older. Bistrot, DePaul, the Jazz Showcase, surgeon who has always found solace in He has been known to sing a mix of SUE SUSMAN started singing and Pianoforte, the Venue at Daystar, plus singing. Don has participated in various standards and original works in thte most playing the ukelele at eight years old. Café Universal as a highlight of the singing groups since childhood, and intimate of settings. His short opera, She performed at camp and had fun. At Singers Jazz Workshop in Paris, June studies voice with Mary Ann Beatty. How to Date a Coloratura was named a ten, she learned to play the guitar and 2014. She told all in her first solo show When not sculpting in clay, he gets great finalist in the National Opera Association sang and performed folk songs whenever Life in a Nutshell. satisfaction interpreting the rhythms and chamber opera competition. Light Opera she had the chance. In high school, she lyrics of the American Songbook. He has LYNDA GORDON. Northwestern Works Second Stage recently premiered continued to sing, play guitar and sing sung in SongShop productions Take the University theater major, alumna of his one-act opera Eve. Dr. Seward folk music. In the high school chorus, she Ride of Your Life and Life at Home, and at the University of Michigan School of is on faculty at Columbia College. performed the Messiah and other classical Davenport’s for CCP’s Strut Your Stuff. Education and graduate of the Loyola philipseward.com. and non-classical pieces. She has studied University MBA program, Lynda has voice with Louise Cloutier. She has sung

Friends & Lovers InTOURludes to the musical heart of Paris! Saturday, January 24, 2015 Directed by singer Claudia Hommel, additional coaching by Wydetta Carter TWO TOURS are offered back-to-back: and singer-pianists Bob Moreen and Philip Seward. Jim Cox on bass June 9 to 17, 2015: Claudia’s 8-day Cabaret Intourlude Claudia is your escort to Paris, Giverny and Dordogne, France. With about Arlene Armstrong, Beth Halevy, Carol Weston, Carrie Hedges, Daniel Johnson, Don Hoffman, Leona Zions, Lynda Gordon, Mike Refky, Ron Anderson, Ruth Fuerst, & Vivian Beckford a dozen delightful people along for the trip, we are sure to have an incredible time filled with magical moments. From the Lapin Agile to Monet’s garden, come ACT I experience the richness of French culture! Beth & Philip Happy to Make Your Acquaintance — Frank Loesser, Most Happy Fella - Our voyage includes a day trip to Giverny’s Sue Nearness of You — Hoagy Carmichael & Museum of Impressionism, Monet’s gardens, and Don Time After Time — Sammy Cahn & Jule Styne a picnic by the Seine Ruth Mr. Right — Kurt Weill & , Love Life - Two nights in Dordogne to visit Josephine Carrie Somebody Loves Me — George Gershwin, Ballard Macdonald & Baker’s chateau and falconry, and the cliff- BG DeSylva, George White’s Scandals 1924 dwellers’ village of La Roque St. Christophe Lynda Whoever You Are — Tom Snow & Amanda McBroom - A raucous evening of song at the famous Michael You Belong to Me — Pee Wee King, Redd Stewart & Chilton Price Montmartre cabaret Lapin Agile Daniel I Really Like Him — Mitch Leigh & Joe Darion, Man of La Mancha - A neighborhood sing-along at the foot of Bob We Can’t Go On Meeting This Way —Fred Silver rue Mouffetard Vivian Porgi Amor —Wolfgang A. Mozart & Lorenzo Da Ponte, Le Nozze di Figaro - And an exclusive dinner-concert cruise on the Lynda Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend — Jule Styne & Leo Robin, houseboat of our friend and world troubadour Gentlemen Prefer Blondes Eric Vincent. Claudia I Like You, You’re Nice — Blossom Dearie & Linda Albert Leona Don’t Blame Me — Jimmy McHugh & , Clowns in Clover cabaret-paree.com/travel or 773.509.9360 Carol, Arlene, & Ruth Bosom Buddies — Jerry Herman, Mame Ron Put a Little Love in Your Heart —Jimmy Holiday, Randy Myers, Jackie De Shannon

ACT II Beth, Michael & Philip Old Friends — Stephen Sondheim, Merrily We Roll Along Bob Old Friend — Nancy Ford & Gretchen Cryer, I’m Getting My Act Together and Taking It on the Road Leona You Needed Me — Randy Goodrum Beth Vanilla Ice Cream — Jerry Bock & Sheldon Harnick, She Loves Me Michael Famous Blue Raincoat — Leonard Cohen Ron Beauty and The Beast — & , from the musical Don My Favorite Year — Michele Brourman & Karen Gottlieb Arlene Nobody Else But Me — Jerome Kern & Oscar Hammerstein II, Showboat Sue To Make You Feel My Love — Vivian Till There Was You — Meredith Willson, Music Man Ruth Holiday Dinner Party — Johnny Marks, parody by Sandy Riccardi Dan & Philip Better with a Man — Steven Lutvak & Robert L. Freedman Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder Carrie If We Only Have Love — Jacques Brel, Mort Shuman & Eric Blau Company Friendship —Cole Porter singersjazzworkshop.com or 773.509.9360 Ask Sue, Leona and Carmen about last year’s experience!