Alicia Renee Brings Her Passion for Judy Garland to Camp’s Cabaret Theater

Judy Garland: Born in a Trunk

A celebration of the movies and music of an American icon
Featuring Alicia Renee
October 23 – November 14, 2009
Book by Greta Grosch
Collaboration and Direction by Kevin Barnard

Saint Paul, MN October 9, 2009 — Alicia Renee has assembled some of Judy Garland’s best-loved songs and will bring them to the Cabaret Theater at Camp Bar beginning Friday, October 23. Accompanied by pianist Paul Kovacovic, songs like “The Trolley Song,” “You Made Me Love You” and, of course, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” will come to life with Alicia Renee’s rich, warm, engaging and energized voice. What is so unique about this talented young singer is that she manages to effortlessly capture the phrasing and nuance of Miss Garland’s performances while still making them seem her own.

“The most impressive thing about Alicia’s voice is that is appears to come so easily. I remember the first time I heard her sing — I was hooked the MINUTE she opened her mouth. It was fun to watch Kevin [Barnard] hear her for the first time - he had no idea. Alicia was singing and he learned over to me and said, ‘She has a great voice.’ “says Greta Grosch, creator of the book.
Director Kevin Barnard notes “It very exciting to hear a young Judy Garland sound with no damage in her voice. She can fill up the room with no microphone just like Judy could. Alicia’s musical instincts are dead on with how Judy sang. She’s a very polished and artistic performer.”
Alicia Renee recently returned to the Twin Cities after finishing her undergraduate studies at the University of Minnesota – Duluth. She’s performed lead roles in several musicals including Seussical the Musical, Something Funny Happened on the Way to the Forum, and Typed Out: An Unconventional Cabaret and has emerged as a talented, entertaining and commanding singer on the Twin Cities music scene. Performances venues include: Concrete and Grass Lowertown Music Festival, Orchestra Hall, the Dakota, Artists’ Quarter, and the Twin Cities Jazz Festival.

Alicia’s debut CD, Wait For Me was released on Summit Records in 2002. The disc features her interpretations of jazz and pop standards and classics, along with one original composition and a jazzy treatment of “Prince Ali” from the soundtrack of Disney’s Aladdin. “It’s impossible not to be impressed by Minneapolis wunderkind Alicia Renee,” according to a review of Wait For Me in the prestigious JazzTimes magazine. The reviewer Christopher Loudon goes on to observe “Favoring grand, Garlandesque gestures, [Alicia Renee] tries with considerable success to emulate that big, bold Garland sound….”

Judy Garland: Born in a Trunk runs Friday and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. beginning October 23th and continues through Saturday, November 14th. Tickets are $19 for cabaret seating and $10 for bar-side stools. A full service bar is available throughout the show.

The Cabaret Theater at Camp Bar
490 N Robert, Saint Paul
October 23 – November 14, 2009
Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m.
Special matinee Saturday, Nov 7 at 4 p.m.; No performance on October 31
Tickets $19 & $10 www.ActorsMN.org 651-290-2290 and at Ticketmaster

Paul Rayburn

(St. Paul, MN) Actors Theater of Minnesota, resident company of the Lowry Theater, will present the professional premier of DEER CAMP, September 26 – November 30, 2008.

DEER CAMP hilariously follows four fearless deer hunters from Elmwood, MN on their annual trek to deer camp. But things are looking bleak this season, after decades of hunting trips, the guys have yet to bring home a single deer and the wives are getting suspicious. This season they need to show their wives that they are the mighty hunters they claim to be, which is not so easy when the thought of drinking beer and hanging out in the deer shack is more appealing than freezing in a deer stand. Luckily for our guys, what happens at deer camp stays at deer camp. Laugh and sing a long as they try and hatch a plan to save their northern paradise without firing a shot.

DEER CAMP was written by Gene Jurek and features music by Doug Spartz. This production is directed by Shanan Wexler and features Greg Eiden, Paul Reyburn, EJ Subkoviack and Eric Webster.

Cast of DEER CAMP L to R: Greg Eiden EJ Subkoviack, Paul Reyburn and, Eric Webster

The Production is being staged in the Lowry Theater in Downtown Saint Paul’s Theater District., located at 16 West Fifth Street, Saint Paul, MN 55102.

Deer Camp’s Production Schedule: Friday September 26 through Sunday, November 30, 2008 performance times:

Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.
Fridays at 7:30 p.m.
Saturdays at 5:00 & 8:30 p.m.
Sundays at 5:00 p.m.

Tickets: $29 – 39 and are available through Ticketmaster at 612-673-0404 or Ticketmaster.com .

Cast of DEER CAMP L to R: Greg Eiden, Eric Webster, Paul Reyburn and EJ Subkoviack