Women of Paris
The city of Paris is perfumed with the songs of its divas.
Some were born in Paris, some made it in Paris, and others had the greatness of Paris thrust upon them.
Claudia Hommel and music director Bob Moreen have distilled the energy of Parisian music-hall with a dose of intimate Chicago-style cabaret to create a theatre-piece that will transport you to Paris. You may not speak a word of French but you’ll understand every nuance of these women of song.
From Chicago, Kansas and Paris
WOMEN OF PARIS débuted in January 2008 at the Metropolis Performing Arts Center in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Double-billed with “Her Way”, Megon McDonough’s tribute to American singers, the 350-seat house was sold-out weeks in advance.
In Manhattan, Kansas, the Fine Arts Center’s audience ranged from 9 years old to 90. The eldest woman was moved to tears, she said beaming. The 4th grader gushed “It was awesome.” It certainly didn’t feel like Kansas anymore.
With ground-breaking cooperation from each university’s French department, music and theatre faculty and students, the two-day tour to the University of Tennessee/Martin and Murray State University in Kentucky was a rousing success.
At the Musée de Montmartre in Paris, the discerning audience was on its feet for an ovation. The museum director offered the “key” to the museum to Claudia, to return for another concert anytime.
Rave reviews from Ravinia, summer home of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The oversold audience packed the "cabaret room" devised for the occasion.
To your Venue
- “Women of Paris” is available for select dates from 2013-2015.
- For concert halls, cabaret rooms, theatres, performing arts centers, libraries, museums and schools.
- Add a French flavor to your chamber music or jazz series, world music and pops lineup.
- Bring intimate music-making to rapturous audiences.
- The show travels with singer and singer-pianist (Elizabeth Doyle, Stefan Kukurugya, Randy Morris are some of our favorites in each region). When programming allows, we recommend adding one of our wonderful accordionists. And for large venues, we love bass and drums (Claudia’s or your own local musicians).
The Repertoire
-
Josephine Baker
- Aux îles Hawaïi
- J’ai deux amours (Two Loves Have I)
-
Paulette Darty
- Fascination
- La Diva de l’Empire
-
Bricktop
- Insufficient Sweetie
- Miss Otis Regrets
-
Edith Piaf
- Padam padam
- Milord
- Bal dans ma rue
- Mon manége à moi
- Non, je ne regrette rien
- La vie en rose
-
Yvonne Printemps
- Les chemins de l’amour
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Lucienne Boyer
- Parlez-moi d’amour
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Juliette Gréco
- Les feuilles mortes (Autumn Leaves)
- Chanson des vieux amants
-
Eartha Kitt
- C’est si bon
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Mistinguett
- Mon homme (My Man)
- Ca, c’est Paris Lys Gauty
- Á Paris dans chaque faubourg
- Le Chaland qui passe
-
Jacqueline François
- C’est le printemps (It might as well be spring)
- Mademoiselle de Paris
- La mer
- La Seine
-
Dolly 25 for extra measure!
She may be fictional but she feels like quite the real thing.