Auditorium Theatre 2019-2020 Celebrate Sondheim

NOVEMBER 16, 2019 | CHICAGO CELEBRATES SONDHEIM! | 5 BIOGRAPHIES Susan Werner has written 12 albums in a range of styles, from folk and rock to gospel, country, and chamber music. She is renowned as a charismatic performer and has appeared on NPR’s World Café and Mountain Stage. Her songs have been recorded by Tom Jones, Michael Feinstein, Betty Buckley, and Christine Ebersole, among others. Rodrick Dixon is a powerful tenor who stars in the Auditorium Theatre’s annual production of Too Hot to Handel . He has performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, among others. He recently performed at the inauguration of Mayor Lori Lightfoot with his wife Alfreda Burke. David Edelfelt is a voice teacher, vocal coach, composer, arranger, and accompanist, as well as a talented choral conductor. He has performed at the Mabel Mercer Cabaret Convention, Park West, and others. Recently, he presented his solo show Broadway Baritones at Davenport’s. Laura Freeman has toured the United States and Europe extensively in productions including Into the Woods and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. As a cabaret performer, she has created tributes to Doris Day, Julie Andrews, and others, and performed as a soloist at the Auditorium Theatre, Park West, and the Acorn Theatre. Sophie Grimm is a lifelong vocalist and actor who has appeared as Paulette in Paramount Theater’s Legally Blonde , Mom in Trevor atWriters Theatre, and Desdemona in Chicago Shakespeare Theater’s Othello: The Remix. Tom Michael has performed on stages including Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, the Auditorium Theatre, and the Empire Room. He regularly performs in cabaret, symphony, and orchestra concerts with his musical partner Beckie Menzie. Jaymes Osborne is a local Chicago performer who has appeared in Hairspray and Jesus Christ Superstar at the Paramount Theatre, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at Porchlight Music Theatre, and Avenue Q at the Mercury Theater. Marianne Murphy Orland is a big band singer, a cabaret artist, and a voice actor who has performed at Victory Gardens, Park West, and countless other venues. She is known for her tributes to Karen Carpenter, Petula Clark, and Dolly Parton. Bob Ojeda (Orchestrator) started his career in his teens. He studied harmony and composition with prominent Chicago composer William Russo and was discovered by band leaderStanKenton.Ojeda’s experience varies widely, from movie and symphonic work to staff arranger for Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show in the 1980s. He was the chief arranger and composer for the Count Basie Orchestra throughout the 1990s. Ojeda’s credits include orchestrating and arranging for Sarah Vaughan, Peggy Lee, Rita Moreno, Lena Horne, Diane Schuur, Carmen McRae, and George Benson. He is currently busy with composing and arranging, and his compositions have been published worldwide.