Penobscot Theatre to Ring in the New Year with Tribute to Three Divas

Penobscot Theatre Company will ring in the New Year with a special show celebrating the music of three rock-and-roll legends: I'm Your Diva Tonight: The Music of Whitney, Tina and Aretha will play for two performances only, 6:00 and 9:00 pm, at the Bangor Opera House.

"Singing the hits we all know and love will be the extraordinary Clare Bathé," said Producing Artistic Director Bari Newport. "Clare has graced the world's most prestigious stages, and I'm thrilled to welcome her to ours. Few other than the mesmerizing Clare Bathé can emulate the vocal stylings and stage presence of these wonder-women. It is a true honor to have Bathé with us for New Years Eve. She is a legend in her own right."

Born and raised in St. Louis and rooted in gospel music, Bathé sang, danced and acted her way to a successful theatrical career. She was dance and vocal captain in Lena Horne: The Lady & Her Music, and toured the country for more than a year in this show's popular national tour. She also had memorable appearances on Broadway in Big River and Jelly's Last Jam; and starred in several Off-Broadway productions as well as the European musical theatre and teleVision Productions of Harlem Story and Body and Soul. She toured and recorded with The Lionel Hampton Orchestra; performed alongside such greats as Roberta Flack, Luther Vandross, Patti LaBelle and Branford Marsalis; opened for Julio Iglesias on a South American tour; and earned pop star status as lead vocalist forMachine. As a cabaret star, Bathé has headlined at The Rose Tattoo in Los Angeles, Sweetwater's in New York City, and Casino de Monte Carlo in Monaco, to name a few.

In I'm Your Diva Tonight, an original tribute to the superstars who shaped and inspired her remarkable career, Bathé will be accompanied by a full band led by acclaimed music director Daryl Waters. Waters, who will also play keys, received Tony nominations for his work on Shuffle Along (orchestrations) and Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk (original score). In 2010, his orchestrations for Memphis earned him Tony and Drama Desk Awards. He has conducted and arranged for many talents over the years, including Eartha Kitt, Leslie Uggams, Jennifer Holliday, Gregory Hines, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Cab Calloway.

The show's writer and director Iona Morris has showcased top-notch talent from coast to coast, creating rich and distinctive experiences. Daughter of late actor Greg Morris, she is perhaps best known for her own acting credits. She was the original voice of Storm in X-Men and Spider-Man: The Animated Series.

Local singer and actor Heather Astbury-Libby will perform backup vocals for Bathé and filling out the band will be Tom Libby on drums, Jeremy Shirland on guitar and Gaylen Smith on bass.

Tickets will go on sale to the general public on November 1 at $45 each. Exclusive discounts of $5 per person are available to subscribers, including those who purchase half-season subscriptions ($100 for the final three regular productions of PenobscotTheatre Company's 2017-2018 Season). To purchase, call the Box Office at (207) 942-3333 or visit www.penobscottheatre.org.

Penobscot Theatre Company is America's Northeastern-most professional, year roundtheatre company, owners of the historic Bangor Opera House,a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, producing a wide variety of plays and musicals each season. For a complete list of show times, pricing and more information about the season visit www.penobscottheatre.org.

To post a comment, you must register and login.