Solo performers Laura Freeman, Beckie Menzie and Marianne Murphy Orland banded together in 2010 for a humorous look at Broadway and roles they were never destined to play (Miss Cast) and found that not only did their voices blend but so did their senses of humor. With Broadway conquered, next up was a holiday show that is like none other (The Most Wonderful Time of the Year)! Starting with the laughs and the harmonies, the ladies discovered that creating arrangements unique to them was something they all enjoyed.
After reading Sheila Weller’s book, Girls Like Us and discussing how Carly Simon, Carole King and Joni Mitchell had made such a huge impact on them and their artistry…Girls Like Us: the music of Carole King, Carly Simon and Joni Mitchell was born. This show has taken Laura, Beckie and Marianne from private concerts in New York City to theatres throughout the Midwest. In venues large and small, community centers, libraries, 500 seat venues…this tribute has touched a chord in all who see it.
In 2015 a new show was born and a tribute to all of the Girl Groups was created (Evolution of the Girls Groups). By this point, the soloists realized the group was one they wanted to continue and to see flourish…Girls Like Us, the brand, was created to bring all of these shows and more, to an audience eager to laugh, to hear stories and to be touched by the power of great music and harmony. 2016 the Girls produced a tribute show called Barbra, Bette and Bernadette, highlighting the music and lives of Barbra Streisand, Bette Midler and Bernadette Peters with humor, history and song. The show’s opening weekend was sold out and Laura, Marianne and Beckie look forward to presenting it again in 2017.
Girls Like Us can be configured to the size of your venue and the makeup of your audience, from three vocalists with piano or a trio (including bass and drums), to a full band. Girls Like Us will fill the house, and touch the hearts of your valued patrons.
LAURA FREEMAN is an Equity actress and has toured the US and Europe extensively in such productions as Into the Woods, as the Witch and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, as the Narrator. Recently, she has worked at Theatre at the Center in Munster Indiana, Porchlight and Ravinia (Annie Get Your Gun with Patti LuPone). As a cabaret performer, Laura has created tributes to Doris Day, Julie Andrews, the USO performers of WW2, along with salutes to Broadway and Hollywood. As a soloist, she has performed throughout the Chicagoland area, including the Skokie Theatre, the Drury Lane Water Tower, Moraine Valley, Freedom Hall and the Acorn Theatre. Laura is the President Emeritus of the Chicago Cabaret Professionals. www.laurafreemansings.com
BECKIE MENZIE has appeared at the legendary Carnegie Hall, Jazz At Lincoln Center and Birdland in New York, Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre and Park West, as well as at concert halls and art series across the country. Hailed by Chicago’s WGN Radio as “indispensable to Chicago cabaret,” Beckie was featured in Michael Feinstein’s Now & Then Series for her Carnegie Hall debut. She has been featured at many Mabel Mercer Cabaret Conventions in New York, The Hamptons, and in Chicago, as well as performances for the Chicago Humanities Festival, where she has served as a performer, director and musical director.
Beckie serves as a Musical Director for Michael Feinstein’s Songbook Academy. She performs regularly with Tom Michael and as a duo they have toured their many concerts across the country, including Carnegie Hall’s 100thbirthday celebration for Cole Porter, they’ve performed with the Rich Daniel’s City Light’s Orchestra and headlined with the Chicago Chamber Orchestra and many other symphonies with their holiday show. Beckie is the co-host for Monday Night Live at Petterinos and is an award winning songwriter who coaches Chicago’s young musical talent. For more info please visit www.beckiemenzie.com
One of Chicago’s favorite and most versatile talents, Marianne Murphy Orland has performed as a singer, cabaret artist, director, and voice-over talent both locally and nationally, since music came on vinyl. Notable local venues for her critically acclaimed and sold out performances include: Park West, Drury Lane, Victory Gardens, the Metropolis Center for Performing Arts, Davenport’s Piano Bar & Cabaret, Skokie Theatre, Acorn Theatre in 3 Oaks, MI, Madden Theatre at NCC, and the Chicago Cultural Center. In addition to being one third of Girls Like Us, Marianne is best known for her tribute shows: If I Were a Carpenter-The Life and Music of Karen Carpenter, and Pet Project – The Remarkable Petula Clark. Marianne is a long-time lead singer with society orchestras, show and dance bands including the Dan Hayes Orchestra and Spectrum. She has sung the national anthem for both the Cubs and the White Sox, and has been heard as the voice of various dolls, toys, radio commercials, and even the Dolphin show at Brookfield Zoo! www.mariannemurphyorland.com