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PrintBig Hearts Take to the Stage
Kathy Finn
So it was with a recent concert staged at Le Chat Noir for the benefit of performing arts organizations in Cedar Rapids, Ia. The cabaret club’s owner, Barbara Motley, organized the song-and-dance program, calling upon the musical expertise of: Amy Alvarez, Rich Arnold, Trina Beck, Lisa Picone, Anais St. John, Jessie Terrebonne and Jefferson Turner, with direction by Blake Coheley and technical assistance from Su Gonczy and Thad Griffin.
The performers played to a sold-out house, with audience members also participating in a silent auction, bidding for ticket packages donated by other area performing arts organizations. Proceeds from the event, termed “HeartSong Two: A New Orleans Concert for Iowa,” benefited individual theater artists in the severely damaged Iowa community, whose arts district was all but ruined by the summer flood.
The evening hearkened back a few years to a series of HeartSong programs staged in New York and New Orleans by friends and members of the theater community. A stellar lineup of national entertainers contributed their talents to the concerts, which raised some $60,000 for theater artists and producers in Katrina-devastated New Orleans.
Congratulations to all the HeartSong participants for their generosity. As a native of Iowa, I am particularly grateful for their recent kindness.
performance cut short
The curtain fell way too early on one of New Orleans’ beloved entertainers, Cynthia Owen, who passed away in July at the age of 44. We at OnStage want to add our voice to the chorus who have paid tribute to Cynthia’s theatrical talents and personal charm. Our hearts go out to her family and her many friends and admirers. We salute Cynthia and the fine work she brought to local stages throughout her life. •
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