I’ve seen two of Laurie Roldan’s cabaret shows, and I must say they are impressive. Full of songs that celebrate life’s joys and stories of overcoming challenges, the 90-minute performances combine the music of the late Karen Carpenter with inspiring stories.
“I think what makes Karen’s music so special is the message it delivers,” Roldan said. “Everyone has a story and can relate to the stories told by the music. Hopefully, by also sharing my story as well, it will be uplifting and empowering for the audience.”
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If you haven’t had a chance to see one of Roldan’s shows, here’s your opportunity. “Laurie Sings a Song for You,” performs March 9 at 7:15 p.m. and March 10 at 2:15 p.m. at Walnut Creek’s Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive. The concert features not only the velvety tones of Roldan but also the prodigious talents of singers Anita Colotto, Michelle Ianiro and Jordan Smith.
Ianiro, who is also producing the show, has followed the development of “Laurie Sings a Song for You” since its inception a few years ago and is happy to now be a part of it.
“When I first saw the show and heard Laurie’s voice, I thought she sounded so much like Karen Carpenter,” Ianiro said. “I grew up with this music and was a huge Carpenter’s fan. I joined the show last September and saw how the audience loved it. They were swaying to the beats and singing along. So many people don’t realize some of the songs they’ve always loved were written by Karen Carpenter.”
Ianiro, raised in a musical family singing primarily spirituals, was surprised to learn she wasn’t the only only Carpenter fan from her clan following a performance last fall.
“Her music was such a part of us in the ’70s. I just hadn’t realized that included my family,” Ianiro added.
Three Carpenter songs have been added since that September concert – “Super Star,” “Ticket to Ride” and “Mr. Postman.”
Accompanying the singers will be music director/pianist Brett Strader, bass player Pat Tingling and drummer Ken Bergmann.
“Karen’s music is really music with a message, which I hope will move audience members and leave them with a smile on their faces and joy in their hearts,” Roldan said.
For tickets to “Laurie Sings a Song for You,” call 925-943-7469 or go to lesherartscenter.org.
Also in Walnut Creek: Center Rep is full of surprises this season. Its first show “Every Brilliant Thing” featuring the charismatic talents of William Thomas Hodgson took place in the Lesher Center’s intimate Vukasin Theatre, while its second show, the fabulous “Mystic Pizza” took place in the 800-seat Hoffman Theatre.
The larger space was perfect for the exuberant production full of great sets, talented performers and iconic tunes from the ’80s and ’90s. The sad news is the show only ran for two weeks. Unfortunately, that didn’t allow enough time for me to write a review before it closed Feb. 25. I sincerely hope many of you had the opportunity to see this feel-good musical.
The company’s next production, however, runs for three weeks in the Margaret Lesher Theatre, so a review should be possible.
To learn of Center Rep’s full season, go to lesherartscenter.org.
San Ramon: There’s a new company in town – Sixth Line Studios. Founded by Katie Rubin, the company’s first full-scale production features Peter Sinn Nachtrieb’s “Totalitarians.”
Nachtrieb’s dark comedy about modern political discourse and the proliferation of truths without facts takes place in Nebraska. Here the campaign trail stretches beyond nasty as sex, money, misrepresentations and possibly a murder or two take over an election for state office.
Katie Rubin directs the four-person cast of Jennifer Erdmann, Benjamin Ismail, Emily Steelhammer and Casey Worthington.
The political satire runs Saturday through March 25 at Front Row Theater, 17011 Bollinger Canyon Road, San Ramon. For tickets, go to sixthlinestudios.org.
Clayton: Opening soon is Clayton Theatre’s “But Why Bump Off Barnaby?,” a comedic murder mystery running March 8-17. More will be revealed in next week’s column, but if you want to get your tickets to this limited run early, go to claytontheatrecompany.com.
Vallejo: There is still time to catch Bay Area Stage’s “A Life in the Theatre,” running through March 10 at 515 Broadway St. in Vallejo.
David Mamet’s play follows Robert (Michael Cawelti), a theater veteran, and John (Patrick Atkinson), a promising young actor in a series of short vignettes, as they deal with missed cues, wardrobe malfunctions, dropped lines and broken props.
Go to bayareastage.org for more information and tickets.
Pittsburg: Also, if you hurry, you can catch the final performances of Pittsburg Theatre Company’s “Streetcar Named Desire,” which closes this weekend. Performances are Friday at 8 p.m., plus on Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. at California Theatre, 351 Railroad Ave., Pittsburg. Go to pittsburgcommunitytheatre.org for tickets.
Reach Sally Hogarty at sallyhogarty@gmail.com, and read more of her reviews online at eastbaytimes.com/author/sally-hogarty.