LAURIE ROLDAN SINGS A SONG FOR YOU
A Benefit Concert for 42nd Street Moon

A Cabaret Concert Inspired by the Music of Karen Carpenter
Starring LAURIE ROLDAN Singing Karen Carpenter Favorites

Written and Directed by Laurie Roldan
Musical Direction by Brett Strader

LIMITED ENGAGEMENT
Sat. Aug. 17, 2024 – 7:00 pm
Sun. Aug. 25, 2024 – 3:00 pm

Gen. Admission Tickets: $49 
Senior Student & Under 35: $39 
GATEWAY THEATRE  215 Jackson St., San Francisco 94111
Tickets can also be purchased through the Box Office at 415-255-8207 

TICKETS

LAURIE ROLDAN SINGS A SONG FOR YOU – A Cabaret Concert Inspired by the Music of Karen Carpenter, stars Laurie Roldan as Karen Carpenter. Laurie shares personal stories and memories in a delightful evening woven through well-known Carpenters hit songs. Appearing with Laurie are guest vocalists: Deborah Del Maestro, Monica Slater and Jordan Smith. Guest children’s vocals include: the C- Kids Ensemble, Arielle Friedenburg, Hadley Wong, Lily Xu, along with the 42nd Street Moon School Kids.

The on-stage band features:  Brett Strader, piano; Michael Henning, drums; Aaron Germain, bass. There is a surprise drum soloist on the hit song Close To You. Music Direction is by Brett Strader. The show is written and directed by Laurie Roldan.

“It’s a message of overcoming life’s challenges, celebrating life’s joys and empowering each individual to create the life of their dreams. I reflected on my life and realized my heartaches and regrets led me to life lessons and triumphs. It was clear this message of hope and inspiration was placed on my heart to share with others through Karen’s music. No matter what life brings, my gift is my song, and my purpose is to share love and inspiration through my story and music. My story is about not giving up, embracing the idea that it’s never too late to learn something new, and empowering others to step into their purpose and passion.”  – LAURIE ROLDAN

MEET THE PERFORMERS

LAURIE ROLDAN
Writer/Director/Vocalist

BIO

BRETT STRADER
Musical Director/Pianist

BIO

MICHAEL HENNING
Drums

BIO

AARON GERMAIN
Bass

BIO

LAURIE ROLDAN
Vocalist

BIO

BRETT STRADER
Musical Director / Piano

BIO

MICHAEL HENNING
Drums

AARON GERMAIN
Bass

WITH SPECIAL GUESTS

DEBORAH DEL MASTRO

MONICA ROSE SLATER

JORDAN SMITH

MEDIA

VIDEO – “Won’t Last A Day Without You”

LAURIE ROLDAN

Laurie thrives on singing to inspire others, and feels this is her unique purpose in life. She is a guest artist at many shows throughout the West, and has appeared as a soloist with symphony orchestras throughout California, and performed lead roles at many Bay Area Theaters. Some favorite roles include The Narrator in JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT (Shellie Nominee), Percy in THE SPITFIRE GRILLE (Shellie Nominee), Sarah in GUYS AND DOLLS, Rose in THE SECRET GARDEN, Mary Magdalene JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR. Laurie was also a part of the Dean Goodman Award-winning cast of A GRAND NIGHT FOR SINGING. Laurie was featured in LAURIE SINGS GERSHWIN, appearing on FOX KTVU news special. She volunteers her performance annually for the Hospice of the East Bay’s “Tree of Lights” events throughout the Bay Area. Roldan recorded an inspirational album, EVEN THAT, which was recorded to comfort those going through difficult times.

After an extensive foray into musical theater, cabaret, and inspirational music; and raising her three daughters, Laurie realized her strongest inspiration growing up was Karen Carpenter. The lyrics to the songs the Carpenters sang told unique stories – many that identified with her life. As a result, Roldan has dedicated several years creating LAURIE ROLDAN SINGS A SONG FOR YOU, a Cabaret Concert Inspired by the music of Karen Carpenter. “This has been my proudest production to date. I am so grateful for my family and could not do what I do without their support! My mom, dad, sister my husband Dan, and my 3 daughters Charlotte, Bridgette and Natalie”. www.laurieroldan.com

 

BRETT STRADER

Musical Director/Pianist Brett Strader has been a mainstay in the Bay Area theatre scene for nearly two decades. Recent productions include The Pirates of Penzance, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, and A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder at Lamplighters Music Theatre, Oklahoma!, The Last Five Years and Daddy Long Legs at Cinnabar Theater, Bright Star at Woodside Musical Theatre, and solo cabarets by Caitlin McGinty and Laurie Roldan.

Brett is a prolific composer of theatrical and concert works. His original musical play It Can Happen (lyrics by Ian Flintoff and book by Richard Mitchell) premiered at the Old Fire Station in Oxford, UK in September of 2022. In 2020 he conducted the San Antonio Symphony and Chorus in the premiere of his original musical Remember (book and lyrics by W. Blake Winchell) that tells the stories of William Travis, Davey Crockett, Jim Bowie, and the Battle of the Alamo heroes. In 2019 he premiered Passion: a new oratorio (lyrics by Lauren Gully) with the Festival Choir and chamber orchestra at Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church.

Brett’s original works cover the gamut of musical styles and have been performed worldwide by notable and diverse ensembles such as the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square and the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus. Later this year he will return to guest conduct the Santa Barbara Symphony following a critically-acclaimed sold-out concert featuring the music of Van Morrison in 2023, He has conducted throughout Europe and North America and in 2009 made his Australian debut with the Sydney Lyric Orchestra. Prior to the pandemic Brett served as resident musical director and board president for Pacific Coast Repertory Theatre in Pleasanton.

In 2023 Brett was named Resident Music Director and LMT Multimedia Director at Lamplighters Music Theatre in San Francsico, the North American premiere presenter of Gilbert & Sullivan operettas and other works of similar wit and eloquence. In 2011 Brett cofounded and continues today as Artistic Director of the Sing For America Foundation in San Francisco. A life-long pianist, Brett maintains an active career as a coach-accompanist, specializing in both chamber and vocal music. He has taught voice and musical theatre at Cal State Fullerton, A.C.T., San Francisco State University, and Biola University. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Piano Performance and a Master of Music in Conducting. He and his wife, harpist Krista Strader, live in Pleasant Hill.

 

MICHAEL HENNING

Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Michael has been performing on the drums since age 10. Michael has studied with Tommy Igoe, Thomas Pridgen, Mark Foglia, and Christian Pepin. He is well versed in many styles including jazz, pop, rock, R&B and hip hop.

As one of the premier drummers on the Bay Area music scene, Michael can be seen performing and touring regularly with Sarah Reich, The Alpha Rhythm Kings, and The Local Edition Jazz Orchestra among others.

Michael has recorded and performed with many world renowned artists including Tom Scott, Kurt Elling, “Beautiful” the Carole King Musical, Delfeayo Marsalis, Conan O’Brien, Don Most from Happy Days, Andy Vargas of Santana, Drew Zingg, Tom Politzer, Aaron Lington, Tony Peebles, Laurence Hobgood, Shelly Berg, Sarah Reich, Drew Tucker, Bennett Roth, The Alpha Rhythm Kings, and The Fil Lorenz Orchestra.

AARON GERMAIN

Aaron Germain began his musical career in Massachusetts, but has lived in the San Francisco since the year 2000. He has always struck a balance between being a consummate sideman and a composer/bandleader. Playing both upright and electric basses, he is adept at diverse genres of music, which reflects in his eclectic compositions. He has performed with musicians such as Yusef Lateef, Stanley Jordan, Randy Brecker, Paul McCandless, Nguyen Le, Andy Narell, Michael Wolff, Eric Reed, Bonnie Raitt, Barry Finnerty, Mary Wilson, Paula West, Melba Moore, and Tom Coster among many others.

Touring has allowed him to play venues such the Blue Note (NY), Birdland (NY) Scullers (Boston), The House of Blues (Boston), Ronnie Scott’s (London), The Blues Alley (Washington DC), Zanzibar Blue (Philadelphia), Yoshis (SF), Yoshis (Oakland), The Jazz School (Berkeley), Humphrey’s by the Bay (San Diego), The Fillmore (SF), Dakotas (Minneapolis), The Iron Horse (Northampton), Herbst Theatre (SF), Kuumbwa (Santa Cruz), The Baked Potato (LA), Le Club Jazz (Kyoto), Cafe Yorozuya (Kobe), Z Imagine (Tokyo), Donfan (Tokyo), MEG (Tokyo), Bar T.T. Funk (Tokyo), The San Francisco Jazz Festival, The North Beach Jazz Festival, The Fillmore Jazz Festival, The San Jose Jazz Festival, and the Drumming in the New Millenium Festival in front of the Great Pyramids of Egypt (December of 1999), Jazz Club Ferrara (Italy), Chorus (Switzerland), Franz K. (Germany), The Bromo Jazz Festival (Indonesia), Ambleside Days (UK), Band on the Wall (UK), among many others.

Aaron has 4 albums of original music, “Before You Go”, “Chance” (on Origin records), “Bell Projections”, and “Opus”. Germain began his musical career in Massachusetts, but has lived a consummate sideman and a composer/bandleader. Playing both upright and electric basses, he is adept at diverse genres of music, which reflects in his eclectic compositions. He has performed with musicians such as Yusef Lateef, Stanley Jordan, Randy Brecker, Paul McCandless, Nguyen Le, Andy Narell, Michael Wolff, Eric Reed, Bonnie Raitt, Barry Finnerty, Mary Wilson, Paula West, Melba Moore, and Tom Coster among many others.

Aaron has 4 albums of original music, “Before You GoOrigin records), “Bell Projections”, and “Opus”.