[rating=5] Some of you already know about the love affair that Chicago actress/songstress Heidi Kettenring has with Karen Carpenter and her music from her sold out concerts last year. Well, she has come back, in a more intimate space, the wonderful Venus Cabaret Theater ( adjacent to The Mercury Theater Chicago) on Southport Avenue with a special Christmas show, again, with the many wonderful tunes of Karen and Richard. Heidi gives us not just the music, but a look into the life of this “gone way before her time” musical genius. She also shows how their lives share some of the same paths as they both found a way out of P.E. with music. For both it was the right path to take.
Ms Kettenring along with her pianist/music director Chuck Larkin and Jake Saleh on the bass are also joined by two wonderful supporting vocalists, Andrew Mueller and Lara Filip. I am told that Andrew alternated with Alex Newkirk on the male sounds, and I would imagine that they would be comparable.
If you know the songs of Karen Carpenter, you know what you can expect. They are all there for you to hear and in some cases, even sing along. Not only is Ms Kettenring a great vocalist and wonderful story teller, as it turned out she is not bad at baking either. She passed a bowl of baked cookies around to the audience as her way of saying Happy Holidays. They were yummy, but not as yummy as the flavors her voice produces bringing the songs of the Carpenters to life. She never attempts to imitate Karen ( no one could) but instead pays homage to the talent that we can all remember for generations. She was definitely a gem. A true artists! Well folks, I must say that Heidi Kettenring is the perfect singer to pay tribute to this talent. Once can see the love she has for the singer and her music. Yes, you will see a tear here and there and more than likely, one will run down your cheek as well.
“Merry Christmas Darling” has a few more shows:
December 28th, Saturday 2 p.m. and 7 :30 p.m.
Sunday, December 29th at 2 p.m.
The Venus Cabaret Theater is located at 3745 N. Southport and the phone is 773-325-1700
Tickets range from $55-$65 and be prepared for 90 minutes of heaven in Wrigleyville!
I have said it before and I am pretty sure I will say it again, Heidi Kettenring is worth watching in anything she does, but she shines as the brightest star atop the Christmas Tree as she brings her Merry Christmas Darling Concert to the stage. I am sure this show will be remounted nest season as well. Time and place will be found at www.artistsloungelive.com. Here you will also see info on the other great singers and their shows as well as following Ms Kettenring.
Secret: Look for the show to be done at Marriott Lincolnshire in December of 2020. See you there !
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