Grandmother of 12 and Cabaret Singer Tonia Tecce Sings the Story of Her Life November 20 & 24 at Curtis Institute of Music's Field Concert Hall

Mother of 6, grandmother of 12, and now cabaret singer, TONIA TECCE sings the story of her life in A COCKEYED OPTIMIST Why We Believe The Songs of Richard Rodgers on Thursday, November 20 and Monday, November 24, both at 7:30PM at Curtis Institute of Music's Field Concert Hall (1726 Locust Street). Tickets at $25 each are available by calling 610-527-6899.

A theater piece about life and taking chances, A Cockeyed Optimist chronicles Tecce's personal tale behind the journey to center stage, taking her extensive life experience and fueling it into her art. Mr. Snow recounts her younger years; If I Loved You introduces audiences to her parents; and I Have Dreamed becomes a love song to her children and grandchildren.

"A Cockeyed Optimist, and Tonia herself, personify the American Dream by proving you are never too old to dream," said renowned theater director Michael Bush, who wrote and is directing the show.

Tonia Tecce's career has had an unusual path. Although the native Paulsboro, New Jerseyian began singing in public at age 8, after graduating from college she turned down an offer to go to Hollywood for true love, marrying her husband, Frederick Tecce. Twenty years and six children later, however, the Gladwyne resident resumed her vocal training with renowned Juilliard and Temple School of Music voice teacher Florence Berggen and Met Opera conductor and vocal coach Martin Rich, which soon led to a performance with the Ocean City Pops, a relationship that lasted 18 years.

Tecce recently made her New York City cabaret debut at NYC's popular Metropolitan Room to rave reviews. Appearing at Carnegie Hall, the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Prince Music Theater, and Academy of Music, she has also performed with The Philly Pops, New Jersey Pops, Newark Symphony, and Opera Company of Philadelphia, among others. She received a Hollywood Music in Media Award nomination for her CD Smile, and was spotlighted on Music Connection's Hot 100 List of artists. She was selected to attend the 2012 Tony Award-Winning Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Cabaret and Performance Conference.

Author and Director Michael Bush, recently directed the Off-Broadway productions of Psycho Therapy, Cactus Flower and Based On A Totally True Story. He is the co-author and director of Leslie Uggam's Uptown Downtown, which won the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Solo Performance. In addition, he won the 2009 New York Musical Theatre Festival Award for Excellence in Direction for the world premiere musical Hurricane.

Music Director Tom Lawton, is a performer, recording artist, composer and teacher, who performs extensively at jazz festivals and concert venues such as Vail Colorado Jazz Festival, Cremona Italy Jazz Festival, Norway Molde Jazz Festival and the Finland Pori Jazz Festival. He is a member of the Jazz Studies faculty at Temple University and faculty member at Bucks County Community College.

For further information please call 215-735-7356.

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