Interview: WICKED'S SHOSHANA BEAN

Shoshana is a veteran of the Broadway stage having debuted in the original cast of Hairspray and starring as the very first replacement for Elphaba, the green-skinned witch, in Wicked. She sang back up for Michael Jackson at his 30th anniversary concert at Madison Square Garden and arranged vocals for Jennifer Lopez's American Idol performance of "I Luh Ya Papi."

Pati Buehler: Shoshana, I remember seeing you perform several years ago in Nyack, NY at a concert with Neil Berg. Your voice and stage presence simply brought down the house! I knew immediately that you were a person that would be all over this industry. Tell us when, where did you get that amazing voice?"

Shoshana Bean: Hahhahahha well thank you! Where??? I think God gave me the ability and desire to sing, my Grandmother and father gave me the respect and love of music and vocalists and my teachers and experiences helped me to continually train, explore and strive to improve and push my limits.

PB: Shoshana was born in Portland Oregon. So we'll ask her; who was instrumental in your early years of acting and performing"? And please, tell us about your unique name.

SB: My grandmother, my voice teacher Barabra Irvin and Pam Myers who played Dot in a production that I did of Sunday in the Park With George. I was so enamored of her I wanted to follow her path and that's how I ended up looking at Cincinnati for college. My name is Israeli. My parents were hippies and wanted something different.

Known for her powerhouse vocals, impressive range and energetic and emotional performances, her third studio project gives fans exactly what they want: direct, unfiltered access to the raw and visceral power of her voice.

PB: Having played one of the most popular roles on Broadway in WICKED are there any roles that you'd love to tackle? Also, as we've heard what 'roles' as an artist are you tackling now in LA?

SB: I would love to do Fanny Brice but that's no secret. Always wanted to play Eliza Doolittle and Coalhouse Walker in Ragtime. Currently I am tackling the starring role in a one-woman show! I play every single role in my record label, career and company so right now I'd say it's all about seamless 'quick-changes' as I shift from role to role. It's the hardest one I've ever played!!!!

Shoshana Bean's independent solo releases have topped the iTunes R&B and Blues charts in the US and UK in peak positions 5, 3 and now #1 with the release of her latest EP Shadows to Light.
Her television performances include: The Queen Latifah Show, Soul Train Christmas Starfest, Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards (with Brian McKnight, to honor Aretha Franklin), Bebe Winan's BET's 4th of July Special "American America," The Marie Osmond Show and The Queen Latifah Show. Shoshana's music has been featured in TV shows on NBC, MTV, Oxygen and Showtime.

PB: I understand you are doing a master class and concert in Lancaster, Pennsylvania with The PRiMA Theater. Can you tell us what you plan to focus on in the master class? What does your songlist look like for the concert?

SB: Connectivity to the music the performer has chosen and honesty in the communication so that as an audience we have a genuinely authentic and moving experience. I like to strip away any 'show-bizzy' type of habits and really get them connected to the text and why they were drawn to the song and what it means to them. They will learn a lot about themselves not just as performers but as people. It's a parallel journey. In the show I will perform a combo platter of my own music, theater music and some other fun surprises!

Photo Credits as per PRiMA Theater
Shoshana as Elphaba- google.com
Head Shot provided by Shoshana Bean

For more information about Shoshana please visit her website at www.shoshanabean.com