How Lovely To Be A Woman: the title of our show is at once facetious and faceted ---"with many faces". We could read “how lovely to be a woman” dripping with irony, earnestly, tenderly, or, as a question, and all resonate. At the same time, our theatre-cabaret has many "facets" as well. As a whole, it is about the questions we confront as we look in the mirror...or as we reflect on our ourselves, this prism projected out into the world. What does it mean to be a woman today? Apparently, we have infinite choice and opportunity in this “lean-in” era. Yet we receive confusing messages about what this should look like, how success and joyful living as women should manifest. How much of me, is really me, or is these things we’re told a woman must be? How does this shift and change as I get older? Where is meaning and purpose in my life? How do I find peace and freedom? In my quest to become all the things I should be, am I truly connecting with others? How Lovely to be a Woman circles around these questions of identity, image and womanhood----the feelings and questions which arise when we look in the mirror.
This story-in-song follows two distinct characters at two different junctures in their lives. They follow separate paths, yet at times these paths intersect, occasionally they collide, and ultimately they connect, through vulnerability, love, strength.
Music selections for our show are delightfully eclectic, as well, from the musicals Chicago, Side Show, Ragtime, Edges, I Love You Because, Anyone Can Whistle, Wicked, Bye Bye Birdie as well as songs from contemporary American songwriters Neil Young, Randy Newman, Rufus Wainwright, and Nina Simone.
Directed by Shedd veteran Richard Jessup, How Lovely To Be A Woman is a new form of cabaret show for us. and we are very excited to share it with you. -- Siri Vik & Shirley Andress
The evening is offered in Jaqua cabaret configuration with a bar in the Tykeson Lobby on the main floor. All seats are reserved. Gold circle tabled seating on the main floor, with the rest of the house normal scaling.
Original choreography for "Hot Honey" by Bob Fosse' Adapted by Richard H Jessup.
| | Pretty Women Siri/Shirley (1973) Sweeney Todd Stephen Sondheim (w/m) |
| | Perfect Siri (2005) Edges: A Song Cycle Benj Pasek (w) Justin Paul (m) |
| | Making Good Shirley (2003) Wicked Stephen Schwartz (w/m) |
| | The Actuary Song Siri/Shirley (2006) Ryan Cunningham (w) Joshua Salzman (m) |
| | There's Always A Woman Siri/Shirley (1964) Anyone Can Whistle Stephen Sondheim (w/m) |
| | Who Will Love Me As I Am Shirley (1997) Side Show Bill Russell (w) Henry Krieger (m) |
| | Nowadays Siri/Shirley (1975) Chicago Fred Ebb (w) John Kander (m) |
| | Hot Honey Rag Siri/Shirley (1975) Chicago Fred Ebb (w) John Kander (m) |
| | Back To Before Siri/Shirley (1996) Ragtime Lynn Ahrens (w) Stephen Flaherty (m) |
| | Flight Siri/Shirley (1992) Craig Carnelia (w/m) |