Linda Eder: By Myself - The Songs of Judy Garland
Friday, February 25 2022 at 8pm
presented by Irvine Barclay Theatre
Performance Sponsor:
Christy and Lou Marlin
Artist Sponsor:
Walter and Lola Green
This performance is presented without an intermission.
Linda Eder: Voice
Billy Stritch: Piano
Program will be announced from the stage.
Showcasing one of the greatest voices of our time, Linda Eder’s diverse repertoire spans Broadway, standards, pop, country, and jazz. When she performs “live” in concert, it is amazing to experience the ease with which she moves back and forth from one genre to another as if she were gifted with the vocal ability to perform each genre as well as all the others.
Born in Tucson, Arizona and raised in Brainerd, Minnesota, Eder began her career right out of high school singing all around her home state, and she eventually landed a gig at Harrah’s Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. But it was her appearance on the 1987 season of Star Search, during which she won for an unprecedented 12 straight weeks, which attracted the attention of audiences and record companies alike.
Eder launched her recording career in 1991 with her self-titled debut album and soon established a vital niche as America’s most popular and acclaimed new interpreter of pop, standard and theatrical genres. She released two more solo albums before starring in the Broadway production of Jekyll & Hyde beginning on April 28, 1997. As the tragic character “Lucy” in this new musical, Eder blew the roof off New York City’s Plymouth Theatre eight times a week as she belted out her signature songs “Someone Like You” and “A New Life.” Her Broadway debut, for which she was rewarded with a Drama Desk nomination, sent her already rapidly rising star blazing across the sky securing her a spot as one of America’s most beloved singers and dynamic “live” performers. Stephen Holden of The New York Times wrote, “What do we mean when we use the word perfection? The question arises every time I watch the pop singer Linda Eder….”
After leaving Broadway, Eder’s recording career continued “full steam ahead” with her discography to date being comprised of 18 solo recordings and numerous musical recordings. She focused on mostly Broadway, standard and pop music for many years, which highlighted her abundant vocal gifts as well as her skill for delivering dramatic, emotionally resonant interpretations of mostly familiar songs while making them her own. Her highly successful first Christmas album, Christmas Stays the Same, is a perfect example of the way she is able to transform and interpret best loved Christmas music and make it her own without compromising the original.
In 2008, Eder stepped outside the box and her familiar “wheelhouse” to record The Other Side of Me, a country-pop blend of contemporary music, which included a song written by Linda herself. And, in June, 2010, she and Clay Aiken covered Roy Orbison’s “Crying” as a duet on Aiken’s album, Tried & True.
In 2013, Linda established her own record company under the name Tressamail, Inc., and in that same year she released her first recording on that newly established label, the highly acclaimed Christmas Where You Are. This CD features 12 tracks – six selected by her fans via social media and two originals from Eder herself. It also featured a unique twist on the classic, ”Baby, It’s Cold Outside,” which Linda rewrote and recorded with her teenage son, Jake. It was to represent a classic mother-son debate over going outside to play in a snow storm.
Eder has released two additional recordings on her own record label. In 2014, she released her first ever “live” CD, Linda Live, which was recorded in Saratoga, New York before a wildly enthusiastic crowd. In November, 2015, she released Retro Volume 1. This recording features 14 tracks written by Frank Wildhorn, Jack Murphy, Jason Howland, Leslie Bricusse, Nan Knighton, Baird Jarman, and Maury Yeston. It is filled with the kind of lush, sweeping Broadway-esque melodies that first introduced Linda’s voice to her many fans.
In 2018, Linda recorded her 17th solo album, a Broadway/standards CD entitled If You See Me, with music for the title track written by her son, Jake Wildhorn, and lyrics written by Linda herself. She has also put out her first “behind the scenes” DVD entitled The Other Side compiled from personal moments at work and at home over a three year period and culminating with the making of her new CD (If You See Me).
She has appeared on television numerous times. TrailMIX, her prime time Animal Planet special about singers with a passion for horses, was a natural extension of her love for animals and featured Linda interviewing fellow recording artists and performers Sheryl Crow, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Irish tenor Ronan Tynan, Rob Thomas, and Aerosmith’s Joe Perry. She has been featured on numerous PBS television concert specials including Clay Aiken’s Tried & True, Hallelujah Broadway, Linda Eder: The PBS concert, Best of Broadway: Broadway The Leading Ladies, Best of Broadway: The Love Songs, Jim Brickman Plays The Disney Songbook, and more. Her 2001 holiday concert, Christmas Stays the Same, was broadcast on Bravo TV and continues to be a popular selling DVD.
The concert stage remains the mainstay of Eder’s career. She has performed for sold-out crowds in venues across the country and throughout Europe. She has performed at many prestigious venues such as Carnegie Hall, Kennedy Center, The Palace Theatre, Radio City Music Hall, Wolftrap, New York City’s Town Hall, Davies Hall, among many others. Always touring in great company, her collaborators have included the late Oscar-winning composer and pianist Marvin Hamlisch, Emmy and Grammy winner Michael Feinstein, and conductor of the Boston Pops, Keith Lockhart. Eder is happiest on stage singing for her audiences and spreading the joy she exudes.
Billy Stritch began his career in Houston, Texas, where he formed the vocal trio Montgomery, Plant and Stritch. The trio performed all over New York and Europe from 1983 until they disbanded in 1990. A chance meeting with Liza Minnelli in March of 1991 resulted in her asking him to create vocal arrangements for the record-breaking extravaganza Liza Stepping Out at Radio City Music Hall. In addition to his 25-year collaboration with as accompanist and opening act for Liza, Billy recently toured with the legendary Tony Bennett as Tony’s pianist and musical director.
A solo entertainer in his own right, he has performed his own shows (including tributes to Mel Tormé and Cy Coleman) in concert halls and nightclubs across the country. Billy also serves as music director for such leading vocalists as Marilyn Maye, Linda Lavin, Linda Eder, Christine Ebersole and Paulo Szot. He is the co-writer of the Grammy-winning song “Does He Love You” recorded by Reba McEntire and Linda Davis. The single reached the number one spot on the Billboard Country music chart, winning a Grammy Award and selling in excess of five million copies along the way. Billy has arranged music for many top performers and created the arrangements for Minnelli On Minnelli and Liza’s At The Palace, both at Broadway’s famed Palace Theater. He was also seen onstage playing the role of Oscar in the Tony Award winning Broadway revival of 42nd Street in 2001.
Think Iconic Artists Agency, LLC
Wayne Gmitter
wayne@thinkiconic.com
www.thinkiconic.com
Season Sponsor
Venue Sponsor
Public Partners
City of Irvine and UC Irvine
Official Health Care Partner
UCI Health
Corporate Sponsor
Haskell & White LLP
$100,000+
Paul and Bonnie Lubock
$50, 000+
Tom and Mayumi Adams
Thomas Rogers and Sally Anderson
Worah Family Foundation
$25, 000-$49, 999
Clifford and Jennifer Cheng
Gerrit and Amy Cole Foundation
The Hiland Foundation
Bill and Carolyn Klein
The Richard and Elizabeth Steele Fund
Judy and Wes Whitmore
$10, 000 -$24,999
Gregory Bates and Joann Leatherby
Eugene and Carol Choi
Paul and Anne Devore
Farhang Foundation
David and Trudi Gartley
Mike Gordon
Haskell & White LLP
Harason Horowitz
Mark Chapin Johnson Foundation
Terry and Judy Jones
Mike Kerr and Jenny Backhaus
Jerry and Whitney Mandel
Goran Matijasevic
William and Janice Parker Family Fund
William and Pat Podlich
Robert E. Romney
Richard and Cheryll Ruszat – Montessori Schools of Irvine
Mary Watson-Bruce
Greg Zaret
$5, 000 - $9, 999
Stephen and Mary Auerbach
Robert and Lillyan Cendejas
Rohit Deshpande and Anita Watumull
Gary Fabian and Deb Solon
Chuck and Janet Henze
Jack and Joy Kayajanian
Robert Kazer and Jill Richter
Ken and Chantelle Labowe - Labowe Family Foundation
Josh Martin, Emerald Real Estate Partners, and Tom Politowski
Natalie Miles
Tom Newmeyer
Andrei Olenicoff Memorial Foundation
James and Lynn Payne
Jill M. Prentice
Christopher and Lynne Ramsey
Salwa Rizkalla
Adreana Souleles
Craig and Kirsten Springer
Alexander and Sachiyo Stimpson
Andrew Vollero
Ms. Renee Walter
Brian and Beth West
$2,500 - $4, 999
Terri Beber and Terry McDonald
Ellen Breitman and Brien Amspoker
Terry Causey
Alice and Dennis Creighton
Albert and Anne Encinias
Arlene and Steven Fienberg
Douglas and Kathleen Forde
Greg and Sumie Haase
Michael and Charisse Lyseight
Patricia M. McIntyre Foundation Fund at the Chicago Community Foundation
Mark J. Nielsen
Marcia Novegrod
Arthur Ong and Ginger Sun
Bill and Joyce Perrone
Ron and Jan Redmond
Bob and Jo Anne Simon
Eric and Donna Stovner
Robert Zasa and Judy Amiano
$1,000 -$2,499
Beth and Michael Adler
Charlotte W. and Richard D. Alexander Charitable Foundation
Scott and Katherine Arbuckle
Diane and Dennis Baker
Brad Crosley
Gail Doe
Jeanne Egasse and Boyd Philpot
Francis and Ruby Foo
David and Judy Fukuda
Stanford Gertler
Gary Good and Jackie Charnley
Roger and Patt Grable
Mary Graham
Geeta and Sanjiv Grover
Loren Hansen and Lorraine Caukin
Karen Kewell Jacoby
Dr. Elliott Kornhauser and Mr. Joe Baker
Rachel Levin
Lutz Moeckel
Janis and Dave Murray
James Pick and Rosalyn Laudati
Diana Putz
Josh and Carolyn Roberts
Phil and Joy Ruggiero
Arkady and Ella Serebryannik
Sally Anne and Don Sheridan
Walter and Masami Stahr
Robert and Veronica Start
CarolAnn Tassios
Michele and Irwin Walot
Kurt and Ellen Youngs
$500 -$999
Mark Achong
Dana and Angelika Aswad
John W. Ballantyne
Michelle Bentcliff and Ann Litke
Peter and Kari Bretschger
Wayne and Nancy Broadhag
Robert Cassidy
Esther Cervantes and Steve Rivero
Denise B. Chilcote
Michael and Melanie Cooper
Han Dinh and Martin Le
Joan Donahue
Ann Donat
Nancy Eisenberg
Christine Fluor and Walter Scacchi
Ian and Kari Gibson
S. Glass Family
Gleicher / Chen Family Foundation
Dr. and Mrs. Ben Goelman
The Gromfin Family
Marcus Hickerson
Kathleen Koch
John LaRue
John Long and Tamara Taylor
Patti Martinez
Mrs. Karen Martinez
Susan M. Mason
Duane and Kathleen Mauzey
Dr. & Mrs. John Middlebrooks
Philip and Pamela Milner
Kenneth Niedziela
Rey O'Day
Mike Peak
Bebe and Otto Reyer
Karen Rook
Jeff and Linda Schulein
Kent and Saudia Sentinella
Joe Simrell
Mr. & Mrs. Raymond Sutton
Dr. Anthony Vasek
Fred and Patricia Viele
Emily Crean Vogler
Gary and Cathy Wyatt
$250 - $499
The Aber Group Inc
Fredric and Lisa Albert
Mike Baginski and Kim Ling
Mrs. Kaui Balderston
George and Linda Bauer
Bruce Beckman
Pat Berry
William and Annette Blaney
Judy Bloomingdale
Ms. Nancy Braden
Scott Brinkerhoff
Mr. Jelle Brons
Sylvia Burnett
David and Lisa Butler
Luisa Cano
Robert and Valerie Carter
Michael Casey
Eileen and Henry Cohen
Anahid Crecelius
Mike Davis
Charles Davison
Myrtle Deakins
Mary Susan Denley
Mr. David Dijkstra
Don and Debra Drysdale
Kent and Irene Dunlap
Doug Elliott
Kelly YuehChun Feng
Joanne Fernbach
Kevin and Candice Gomez
Dan and Nicole Honigman
Harason Horowitz and Mark Chapin Johnson
Melvin and Hazel Hoshiko
Korey Jorgensen
Jessica Kaltman
Arlene Kato and Mike Kurihara
Judy Kaufman
Kerry Krisher
Bruce Larson
Michael Lawler
Vicki and Richard Lee
Robert and Kathy Lopez
Edward Luedke
Capt. Kevin M. Mac Donnell
Dr. Frank and Mrs. Linda Meyskens
William D. Miller and Florence E. Miller
Daniel Morrison
Ms. Maryellen Musgrave
Susan O'Brien
Cyrus Parker-Jeannette
Jorge Perez Valdes
Brad Rawlins
Kenneth Reinhard and Julia Reinhard Lupton
Mr. and Mrs. Rivadeneyra
Dr. Stephen Rochford
Paul Schmidhauser and Cindy Hughes
Kris and Geraldine Shah
Richard and Ann Sim
Gary and Melanie Singer Charitable Fund
Dorothy J. Solinger
Tina Sommers-Bernhardt
Daniel and Jeanne Stokols
Sullivan Family
Kim Tang
Cindy Tyan
Alvin Umeda
Jeanne Villacorte
Beth Waterman
Carl and Deborah Weinert
Mark and Lou-Ann Weltman
Hemantha and Sophie Wickramasinghe
Jim and Sandra Williams
Dexter and Gisele Winzey
Kelley Yasbek
Andy and Wendy Yurcho
$100-$249
Brian and Gloria Abrams
Susan Adleman
Hoku and Kalani Aichele
Lillian Aranda
Theresa Battel
Rosanne and William Beam
Melissa Beck and Daniel Pugh
Sally Bender
Stephen and Susan Billard
Chris Blank and Josie Badeaux
Mr. Paul Blank
Carol Boot-Storie
Kerry and Paul Boulian
Mr. and Mrs. J. Boyer
William and Lindsay Brennan
Mr. Steven Brenneis
Dawn Burdick
Mr. & Mr. Christopher Cabrera
Peggy Campbell
Dr. Michael Cater, MD
Ms. Sarah Chamberlain
Patrick J. Chambers
Grace Chen
Jeff Corp
David Coscia and Mark Armstrong
Vivian Daniel
RJ, Rita, and Timmy De Rama
In Memory of Irene DeNoia
Ernest Duarte
Ron and May Duff
Peggie Fariss
Mr. Kevin Finley
Aviva and Fred Forster
Ms. Ellen Fujikawa
Eileen Garbutt
Charles Gates
Mr. John Gibbs
Manuel Godoy
Michael and Kristina Golden
Anna Gonosova
Ms. Judith Guffey
Patricia Hansen
Gayle and Phil Harp
Sheila and Hal Harrison
Jennifer Hart
Fred and Cheryl Heinecke
Edwin Henderson
Julie Hill
Ms. Jan Hirsch
Peter Holden and Angela Howley-Holden
Holmes Family
Rita B Hopper
Dr. Dena Hulbert
Mr. Simon Huttegger
W. Itoga & Sons
Gary Jackson and Linda Globerman Jackson
Laurie Jacobs
Jasbir Nami Kaur
Kyle and Cherrill Kawakami
John Keating
Mrs. Patricia Keenan
Kenneth Keller
Audrey Kapelinski
Lynne Koffler
Colin and Joan Koransky
Karen Kotake
Angela Kraus
Mr. Richard Krey
Jennifer and Robert Langer
Robert and Karen Lechich
Cheryl and James Lewis
Amy Li
Dave and Jennifer Link
Anne Llewellyn
Willard and Bettina Loomis
Ramon Lugo
Ms. Helene Luley
Lorena Mague
Dr. Sari Mahon
Ms. Amira Mansour
Milena Marsico
Christine A. Marx
Thomas and Glynett Mcteer
Erica Morikawa
Elaine and Cameron Mummery
Mr. Ramon Munoz
Ms. Barbara Musil
Ms. Elizabeth Olson
Virginia Olson
Tilden and Lisa Osako
Judy Oswald
Lauren and Richard Packard
Tom and Diane Pardue
Gerald Parham
Thomas and Davida Parham
Karin S. Paul
Ms. Julie Patterson
Dr. Dolly Platt
Paul Ramey
Elaine Ramsay
Anita and Bruce Reisman
Dennis and Marie Richman
Paul and Kristen Schmidt
Jack and Katharine Schoellerman
Jill Sekiguchi, DDS
George Sidorakis
Tom Slickelman
John L. Smith and Mary Anne Anthony-Smith
Jack and Molly Spiegel
Michael and Marilyn Staffieri
Ingrid Strayer
D. Stroebel
John and Margaret Sun
James and Nadine Turner
Margaret Vaneck
Joanne Vargas
Linda Venezia
Kathy Vickers
Elliot Vogelfanger
David and Renee Warren
Philip and Judith Westin
Bruce and Susie White
Steven and Elizabeth White
Henry and Yen Yang Wu
Susan Yee
Hoku and Mark Aichele
Kaui Balderston
Gregory Bates and Joann
Leatherby
Melissa Beck and Daniel Pugh
Rachel Berman and David Finch
Paul Blank
Mr. and Mrs. J. Boyer
Nancy and Wayne Broadhag
David Coscia and Mark
Armstrong
Vivian Daniel
Charles and Maureen Davison
RJ, Rita, and Timmy De Rama
Eduardo and Elsie Espinosa
Judith Guffey
Roger and Patt Grable
Kevin and Candice Gomez
Paul and Marilynn Gushard
Patricia Hansen
Gayle and Phil Harp
Lisa Hudson
Kyle and Cherrill Kawakami
Karen Kotake
Lorena Mague
Janis and Dave Murray
Hon. Julie A. C. Owen
Julie Patterson
Christopher and Lynne Ramsey
Brad and Susie Rawlins
Jill Sekiguchi
Traci Shirachi and Cory Chhiap
Michael and Marilyn Staffieri
Tom Slickelman
Fred and Patricia Viele
David and Renee Warren
Bruce and Susie White
Roxanne Wong
Andrew and Wendy Yurcho