Eden Casteel to Present KAHN ARTIST: MADELINE AND ME at Davenport's Piano Bar and Cabaret in November

Eden Casteel was a frustrated teenage soprano in Ohio whose life was forever changed by a Madeline Kahn beer commercial (it was Michelob). In thirty seconds of comic, high-note humor, Kahn inspired Casteel to want to be just like her: "wealthy, glamorous, with an unbelieveable singing voice." (Well, two out of three ain't bad).

Casteel brings Kahn Artist: Madeline And Me to Chicago on Friday, November 4, 8pm at Davenport's Piano Bar and Cabaret, 1383 North Milwaukee Avenue Chicago, IL 60622. Beckie Menzie, piano. Tickets available now. $25, two drink minimum. 21 and over only.

With iconic songs, compelling stories, and hilarious anectdotes, Kahn Artist: Madeline And Me is an intimate look at the trials and triumphs of both Kahn and Casteel. Kahn, of course, was the beloved star of some of Mel Brooks' most popular movies, including Young Frankenstein, where she played Elizabeth, the cold-yet-hot fiancee of Gene Wilder's Dr. Frankenstein who ends up in the monster's arms instead. Of course Kahn's rendition of "I'm Tired" from Blazing Saddles is part of Kahn Artist, as is "Das Chicago Song," a Kurt Weill spoof written just for Kahn by Michael Cohen. Casteel performs many of Madeline's most iconic movie moments (To quote Lili Von Stupp, Kahn's character in Blazing Saddles: "It's twoo, it's twoo! ", interspersing songs by Mel Brooks, Clarence "Frogman" Henry Heitzman & Reid, Cy Coleman, Susan Werner, Dave Frishberg, and Goldrich & Heisler. Kahn Artist: Madeline And Me is directed by Faith Prince, cowritten with Roderick Ferguson, with musical arrangements by Jim Rice and Bobby Peaco.

The hilarious one-hour show has already bowed at Josephine's in Club Cafe Boston MA, The Contemporary Theater Company in Wakefield RI, and The Arctic Playhouse and Cabaret in West Warwick, RI. Upcoming performances include Feb. 11 for the Seaglass Theatre Company in New Bedford, MA.

A "stunning coloratura soprano" with "a great sense of comic timing," performer/producer Eden Casteel is the host of "The Eden Show," a weekly interactive online show featuring musical guests who sing, play, and love to talk. Using livestream and low-latency technology, Eden is able to perform live with her guests, even if they are hundreds of miles apart. The show streams on YouTube, Twitch, and Twitter.

Eden has played diverse regional theatre roles including The Proprietor in Assassins for The Gamm Theatre in Warwick RI, Adele in Die Fledermaus for Arbor Opera Theatre in Ann Arbor MI, Yum-Yum in The Mikado with Michigan Opera Theatre, Mama Rose in Gypsy for The Contemporary Theater Company, Francesca Johnson in The Bridges of Madison County, for Chestnut St. Playhouse in Norwich CT, Victoria Grant in Victor/Victoria for Ocean State Theatre Company in Warwick RI, and Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd for The Contemporary Theater Company. She also performed all the soprano arias and most of the tenor arias in a re-imagined Handel's "Messiah" with full orchestra, with All Saint's Episcopal Choir and Orchestra in Phoenix, AZ.

Eden is a co-creator of The Co-Eds, a musical duo with guitarist Ed Vallee. She's also a co-creator of The Benchwarmers, a musical improv trio with fellow improv pianists Mark Meritt and Keith Munslow.

Eden writes and music directs solo musicals, coaches vocal technique and performance in person and online, and assists clients with all aspects of songwriting and production.

Eden recently arranged, coached, accompanied, recorded and released "Peace Dale Hayride Vol. 2," the third studio album created by her students since mid-2020. "Holly Days," the studio holiday album, was released in mid-December 2020. "Six Feet From Stardom," an online album featuring 13 of her private students, was released in June 2020. Listen to all albums at www.edencasteel.com.

A native of Dublin, Ohio who moved to Rhode Island in 2010, Eden holds a Bachelor of Music Degree from The University Of Cincinnati College-Conservatory Of Music and a Master of Music degree from The University of Maryland. She is a past president of the Rhode Island chapter of NATS, and a charter member of The Speakeasy Cooperative.

A go-to consultant during the the lockdowns of 2020, Eden gave presentations on low-latency technology and studio use to national and international groups, including The National Association Of Teachers Of Singing (NATS), The Speakeasy Cooperative, Vocology In Practice, the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, and The Pandemic-Proof Singer Summit.

Before she opened her private studio in 2011, Eden was adjunct voice faculty at Community College of Rhode Island, Salve Regina University, Spring Arbor University, Hillsdale College, Kellogg Community College, and the Rhode Island Philharmonic Music School.

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