Artists Lounge “LIVE”

[rating=5]I am in love with Heidi Kettenring! Her voice, I have enjoyed for many years as she has graced the stages of Chicago theaters. Her ability, I have seen in her countless Jeff Award and Nominated performances. Now, watching her take the stage at the Metropolis performing Arts Center, that intimate little space in Arlington Heights, alone, as a “cabaret” performer, I feel as if I have crept deep into her life and now know the woman as I have known the performer.

Taking the stage with some tremendous musicians backing her up, Heidi took us on her journey through her childhood until now. Her dad was in attendance tonight and we were able to meet him after the show, almost two hours of wonderful music through her decades of growing up. Born in New Orleans, moving to Nashville and then truly finding herself in Evanston during her college years, we learn about her love of music and the specific music that brought her to where she is today.

Seeing Heidi over the years play roles such as Belle (“Beauty and the Beast”), Eliza (“My Fair Lady”), Anna (“The King and I”), Fanny Brice (“Funny Girl”, the first production I remember her standing out in) and countless others, I have reviewed her ability to become the roles she has been cast in. Tonight, we were witness to her, Heidi Kettenring, as the girl and the woman she has become. As the daughter, the sister and the wife! This was Heidi doing Heidi! Yes, she sang songs that Sinatra brought us, Bette Middler, Streisand (of course) and countless others, but always as Heidi Kettenring in an extraordinary performance where she hit notes that truly showed the range of this talent.

If you have seen her at the area theaters, you know what she is capable of. If there is another announcement of her doing another one of these special nights at The Metropolis, and I would think there would be, make sure you run, do not walk, to get your fingers on the keyboard and enter your credit card. Busy that night? Change your plans! You do not want to miss an evening like this. Special thanks to producer Michael Ingersoll for creating this series at The metropolis, Artists Lounge “live” and bringing talent such as Heidi Kettenring to Arlington Heights.

To see all the upcoming Cabaret performances coming (and there are some dynamite ones), visit www.artistsloungelive.com

To see what is happening at The Metropolis Performing Arts Centre located at 111 West Campbell Street in downtown Arlington Heights (lots of free parking) call 847-577-2121 or visit www.metropolisarts.com