I Am Woman

I Am Woman, Hear Me Belt... The Future Voices of Broadway

March 20, 2019

HEY NONNY Live Music Venue

10 South Vail Avenue, Arlington Heights, Illinois 60005

Hear Broadway’s future stars perform show tunes from the past and the present… be serenaded by your classic favorites from West Side Story, Phantom of The Opera, and Les Misérables and catapulted to the present by those witches in Wicked, practically smell the pie alongside Jenna in Waitress, and “be found” alongside (Dear) Evan Hansen. These captivating performers will leave a lasting impression– and don’t be surprised when you see them grace our future Broadway stages. You can say you saw them when…!

FEATURING

Jennifer Baker, Kaitlin Feely, Samhita Madduru, Hanako Walrath, Francesca Walsh, and Emmie Ginsberg. 

Photos by Josh Baker

Artist Bio’s

JENNIFER BAKER is thrilled to be performing in tonight’s show. She loves being on stage and has been acting/singing since she was little. Credits include Drury Lane Theater production of Les Misérables, Victory Gardens Theater debut of Appropriate (Cassidy), Paramount Theatre Fiddler on the Roof (Shprintze), Drury Lane Ragtime (Little Girl), Eclipse Theatre The Fever Chart (Alya), Next Theatre A Very Merry Unauthorized Children’s Scientology Pageant (Analytical Mind/Ensemble), Lyric Opera of Chicago Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci (Flower Girl), Monitor Spectare at Wildclaw Theatre, the national tour of The Wizard of Oz at The Chicago Theatre, Porchlight Music Theatre’s production of It’s A Wonderful Life (Beth Bailey), Gypsy (News Boy and Balloon Girl). When Jennifer is not on stage or behind the camera she enjoys dancing, singing and spending time with her family and friends. A big thank you to Lauren Rawitz for this great opportunity.

KAITLIN FEELY is beyond thrilled and humbled to be a part of 4 Chairs Theatre’s “I Am Woman, Hear Me Belt” with such an incredibly talented cast and team. Kaitlin is finishing her junior year at Illinois Wesleyan University pursuing a BFA in Music Theatre and a minor in Mathematics. Kaitlin was most recently seen as Niki Harris in Curtains (IWU), Wendla in Spring Awakening (4 Chairs Theatre), Suzy in The Marvelous Wonderettes (IWU), Ensign Connie Waleweska in South Pacific (IWU), Kim in Miss Saigon (IHSMTA Finalist), and Nina Rosario in In the Heights (IHSMTA Finalist). She would like to thank her extraordinary director Lauren Rawitz, and her exceptional parents. Mom and Dad, thank you for always helping me to reach my dreams.

SAMHITA MADDURU is currently a junior at Adlai E. Stevenson High School and loves to sing and create music. She truly believes that music is a universal language— her music has no boundaries, neither genre nor nationality. Having studied Indian Classical music since the young age of 4, under the tutelage of Mrs. RajaRajeshwari Bhat, Samhita discovered her true passion for music. She participates in numerous music camps, workshops, and competitions to stay connected with the music community and have fun. Not only is she trained in Indian classical music, but also in musical theater. An active actor since middle school, Samhita has played lead roles in Aladdin, The Sound of Music, Fiddler on the Roof, The Wizard of Oz, Shrek, and more. She has performed at the Goodman Theatre in a student-produced showcase “I, Too, Sing America” and in the Chicago Humanities Festival. This past summer she studied the healing effects of music on PTSD patients in a Psychology lab in the Veterans Affairs Hospital. She hopes that through her various engagements with music and arts, she can bring about positive social change.

HANAKO WALRATH is a senior at Stevenson High School and she is thrilled to be a part of this cabaret! She has been accepted into Baldwin Wallace’s Musical Theater program for this upcoming year. In the past few summers, she has studied musical theatre at University of Cincinnati’s Conservatory of Music, Baldwin Wallace University, and Emerson College. Some of her favorite roles include Tzeitel (Fiddler on the Roof) and Cosette (Les Mis). Hanako is forever thankful for her family’s unconditional support and for her director, friend, and role-model, Lauren Rawitz.

FRANCESCA ‘FRANKIE’ WALSH is a senior at Stevenson High School. She has been performing in musicals since the 5th grade.  She has played such roles as Rose Alvarez in Bye, Bye, Birdie; Fantine in Les Misérables; Hodel in Fiddler on the Roof; Ilse in Spring Awakening; Dragon in Shrek The Musical and most recently Morticia Addams in The Addams Family. Frankie is a member of the Tri-M Music Honor Society, Patriot Singers, Lady Jazz A Capella Group and Thespians Club at Stevenson High School. She will be attending Columbia College of Chicago in the fall to study Musical Theatre.

EMMIE GINSBERG is a Sophomore at Stevenson High School. She loves singing and performing! She’s played roles like Wednesday in Addams Family, Eponine from Les Miserable, Chava (x2) from Fiddler on the Roof, Flounder in Little Mermaid and Olive in 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee!  She is also a member of Lady Jazz, Thespians, and part of the Improv Troupe. Thank you to Lauren Rawitz for the incredible opportunity and my family and friends for all the support!