NY TIMES: “O'Hara is a Marvel of Vocal Technique and Stylistic Flexibility"-- A “Luminous Star"-- Concert Featured “Incandescent Moments"
NY DAILY NEWS: O'Hara “Was in Complete Command and Showed, Once Again, She Can Do Anything - Theater Songs, Pop, Country, even Jazzy Swing"
New CD, Arranged by Harry Connick, Jr, set for 5/6 Release - Features Covers of Billy Joel and James Taylor, Mixed with Original Tracks and Familiar Favorites
Lead Role in April '08 Broadway Revival of South Pacific
“O'Hara sings with honesty and a lack of frills or eccentric phrasing, which is rare"
Singer Kelli O'Hara's upcoming May 6th solo debut CD 'Wonder in the World' combines pop music and covers of Billy Joel and James Taylor, with original songs and familiar favorites, to create a 14-track collection celebrating the diversity of the American Songbook. Last month, O'Hara was invited to perform selections at Lincoln Center, and The New York Times said the concert featured “incandescent moments," and praised O'Hara as “a luminous star," “a marvel of vocal technique and stylistic flexibility." The NY Daily News, in an enthusiastic review, noted that O'Hara “was in complete command and showed, once again, she can do anything - theater songs, pop, country, even jazzy swing," adding: “twice during the 10:30 p.m. show, O'Hara told why she sings, saying “It makes me feel better." Watching her perform, the feeling is contagious."
The CD, to be released on Ghostlight Records, features music arranged and orchestrated by Harry Connick, Jr., and showcases O'Hara's vocal range, as she bridges the gap between contemporary music and beloved standards. Chicago's Windy City Times has already described the album as a “Stellar" debut.
In addition to her career as an up-and-coming solo artist, O'Hara is a bona fide Broadway star - currently readying her latest Leading Lady role, as Nellie Forbush in Lincoln Center Theater's April 2008 revival of South Pacific.
O'Hara's parallel careers were encouraged by Harry Connick, Jr, whom she met when she joined the cast of the 2006 Tony Award-winning production of The Pajama Game. O'Hara went on to receive Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Award nominations for her leading role. The critical and commercial success of The Pajama Game followed on the heels of O'Hara's run in The Light in the Piazza, for which she earned her first Tony and Drama Desk Award nominations, in 2005.
NY DAILY NEWS Cowgirl O'Hara's Right at Home With Her Range BY JOE DZIEMIANOWICZ, January 28, 2008
“My hair is flatter, but I'm way looser," Kelli O'Hara joked, as she began her show Saturday night at the Allen Room in the Time Warner Center. Even relaxed this Broadway star was in complete command and showed, once again, she can do anything - theater songs, pop, country, even jazzy swing - and summon countless moods with her sumptuous soprano. O'Hara's show, part of Lincoln Center's American Songbook series, began wistfully with “The Glory of Love," a standard now linked with “Beaches" and Bette Midler, but one which she recalls her grandfather singing on the Oklahoma farm she grew up on. “I'm a cowgirl," she said. Or was. Now she's better known as the opera-trained Broadway leading lady with back-to-back Tony nominations for “The Light in the Piazza" and “The Pajama Game." She stars in March in “South Pacific." Accompanied by a 10-piece ensemble, O'Hara looked to musical theater for about half the selections in the 15-song show. Her voiced soared with emotion on “I Could Have Danced All Night" and “The Light in the Piazza," and turned quietly reflective for “Make Someone Happy," which she dedicated to the late lyricist Betty Comden. She filled Stephen Sondheim's love song set amid a dull, gray city -- “What More Do I Need?" -- with shimmering joy and remade “Fable," the dramatic closing song in “Piazza" sung by Victoria Clark, into something jazzier and breezier. Clark joined O'Hara on stage for “Fatso" a witty tune that let their voices blend beautifully and, intentionally, not so much. Matthew Morrison, another “Piazza" alum, was on hand for “Wonder in the World," a song written by Harry Connick, Jr. (her “Pajama Game" leading man) and the title number from O'Hara's upcoming album. Despite her chic blue cocktail dress and sky-high heels, that cowgirl O'Hara mentioned emerged for “The Sun Went Out," a charming country-pop ballad by her husband, Greg Naughton, who accompanied her on guitar. The Southern twang and exquisite soprano were both in full bloom on the rollicking Reba-meets-Tosca novelty number “They Don't Let You in the Opera if You're a Country Star," by music director Dan Lipton and David Rossmer. “I needed a song like Kristin Chenoweth," quipped O'Hara, alluding to another Oklahoman with big classically trained pipes and stage career to match. O'Hara sings with honesty and a lack of frills or eccentric phrasing, which is rare. Twice during the 10:30 p.m. show, O'Hara told why she sings, saying “It makes me feel better." Watching her perform, the feeling is contagious." NY DAILY NEWS, 1/28/08, BY JOE DZIEMIANOWICZ
More About 'Wonder In The World': On the album's opener, 'The Sun Went Out,' O'Hara's vocals evoke the warmth of Norah Jones and the melancholy of Emmylou Harris. That wistful track gives way to the CD's title song, a duet written by and featuring Harry Connick, Jr. on vocals and piano. From there, O'Hara offers a lonesome cover of Billy Joel's 'And So It Goes,' before shifting to her self- penned 'Here Now' - a track inspired by her Grandfather. The CD moves forward, highlighting O'Hara's impressive range and diverse musical taste, as she performs such standards as 'All The Way', 'And I Love You So,' and select Broadway favorites with respect and grace. Her version of 'Spooky' is soulful and funky, and she infuses James Taylor's 'Fire And Rain' with a delicate touch (this track also happens to feature Connick on piano, bass, drums, and keyboards.)
About Kelli O'Hara: A native of Oklahoma, O'Hara grew up on a farm, and had little exposure to theater or opera or classical music. She was surrounded by the sounds of country artists, American standards, songs she'd hear in movies. All of these influences can be heard on 'Wonder In The World.' She made her Broadway debut in Jekyll & Hyde and followed it with Sondheim's Follies, Sweet Smell of Success (opposite John Lithgow,) and Dracula. In addition to her critically acclaimed Carnegie Hall solo debut with the NY Pops conducted by Rob Fisher, O'Hara has also appeared in-concert with Barbara Cook at this famed venue. She has performed at The Kennedy Center with Marvin Hamlisch, and at the NSO, Lincoln Center, Town Hall, Cooper Union, Joe's Pub and with the Philly Pops conducted by Peter Nero. 2007 also saw O'Hara triumph as Eliza Doolittle in the NY Philharmonic production of My Fair Lady.
Kelli O'Hara was trained at the famed Lee Strasberg Institute. Among her film and television credits are The Dying Gaul starring Patricia Clarkson and Campbell Scott; Blue Blood (NBC pilot), All Rise (NBC Pilot), Alexander Hamilton (Maria Reynolds) starring Brian F. O'Byrne (PBS), NUMB3RS (CBS); All My Children, the upcoming animated series Car Talk, as well as numerous live performances on national television shows. Kelli most recently starred opposite Simon Baker in a Cava Freixenet industrial directed by Martin Scorsese.
NY DAILY NEWS: O'Hara “Was in Complete Command and Showed, Once Again, She Can Do Anything - Theater Songs, Pop, Country, even Jazzy Swing"
New CD, Arranged by Harry Connick, Jr, set for 5/6 Release - Features Covers of Billy Joel and James Taylor, Mixed with Original Tracks and Familiar Favorites
Lead Role in April '08 Broadway Revival of South Pacific
“O'Hara sings with honesty and a lack of frills or eccentric phrasing, which is rare"
Singer Kelli O'Hara's upcoming May 6th solo debut CD 'Wonder in the World' combines pop music and covers of Billy Joel and James Taylor, with original songs and familiar favorites, to create a 14-track collection celebrating the diversity of the American Songbook. Last month, O'Hara was invited to perform selections at Lincoln Center, and The New York Times said the concert featured “incandescent moments," and praised O'Hara as “a luminous star," “a marvel of vocal technique and stylistic flexibility." The NY Daily News, in an enthusiastic review, noted that O'Hara “was in complete command and showed, once again, she can do anything - theater songs, pop, country, even jazzy swing," adding: “twice during the 10:30 p.m. show, O'Hara told why she sings, saying “It makes me feel better." Watching her perform, the feeling is contagious."
The CD, to be released on Ghostlight Records, features music arranged and orchestrated by Harry Connick, Jr., and showcases O'Hara's vocal range, as she bridges the gap between contemporary music and beloved standards. Chicago's Windy City Times has already described the album as a “Stellar" debut.
In addition to her career as an up-and-coming solo artist, O'Hara is a bona fide Broadway star - currently readying her latest Leading Lady role, as Nellie Forbush in Lincoln Center Theater's April 2008 revival of South Pacific.
O'Hara's parallel careers were encouraged by Harry Connick, Jr, whom she met when she joined the cast of the 2006 Tony Award-winning production of The Pajama Game. O'Hara went on to receive Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Award nominations for her leading role. The critical and commercial success of The Pajama Game followed on the heels of O'Hara's run in The Light in the Piazza, for which she earned her first Tony and Drama Desk Award nominations, in 2005.
NY DAILY NEWS Cowgirl O'Hara's Right at Home With Her Range BY JOE DZIEMIANOWICZ, January 28, 2008
“My hair is flatter, but I'm way looser," Kelli O'Hara joked, as she began her show Saturday night at the Allen Room in the Time Warner Center. Even relaxed this Broadway star was in complete command and showed, once again, she can do anything - theater songs, pop, country, even jazzy swing - and summon countless moods with her sumptuous soprano. O'Hara's show, part of Lincoln Center's American Songbook series, began wistfully with “The Glory of Love," a standard now linked with “Beaches" and Bette Midler, but one which she recalls her grandfather singing on the Oklahoma farm she grew up on. “I'm a cowgirl," she said. Or was. Now she's better known as the opera-trained Broadway leading lady with back-to-back Tony nominations for “The Light in the Piazza" and “The Pajama Game." She stars in March in “South Pacific." Accompanied by a 10-piece ensemble, O'Hara looked to musical theater for about half the selections in the 15-song show. Her voiced soared with emotion on “I Could Have Danced All Night" and “The Light in the Piazza," and turned quietly reflective for “Make Someone Happy," which she dedicated to the late lyricist Betty Comden. She filled Stephen Sondheim's love song set amid a dull, gray city -- “What More Do I Need?" -- with shimmering joy and remade “Fable," the dramatic closing song in “Piazza" sung by Victoria Clark, into something jazzier and breezier. Clark joined O'Hara on stage for “Fatso" a witty tune that let their voices blend beautifully and, intentionally, not so much. Matthew Morrison, another “Piazza" alum, was on hand for “Wonder in the World," a song written by Harry Connick, Jr. (her “Pajama Game" leading man) and the title number from O'Hara's upcoming album. Despite her chic blue cocktail dress and sky-high heels, that cowgirl O'Hara mentioned emerged for “The Sun Went Out," a charming country-pop ballad by her husband, Greg Naughton, who accompanied her on guitar. The Southern twang and exquisite soprano were both in full bloom on the rollicking Reba-meets-Tosca novelty number “They Don't Let You in the Opera if You're a Country Star," by music director Dan Lipton and David Rossmer. “I needed a song like Kristin Chenoweth," quipped O'Hara, alluding to another Oklahoman with big classically trained pipes and stage career to match. O'Hara sings with honesty and a lack of frills or eccentric phrasing, which is rare. Twice during the 10:30 p.m. show, O'Hara told why she sings, saying “It makes me feel better." Watching her perform, the feeling is contagious." NY DAILY NEWS, 1/28/08, BY JOE DZIEMIANOWICZ
More About 'Wonder In The World': On the album's opener, 'The Sun Went Out,' O'Hara's vocals evoke the warmth of Norah Jones and the melancholy of Emmylou Harris. That wistful track gives way to the CD's title song, a duet written by and featuring Harry Connick, Jr. on vocals and piano. From there, O'Hara offers a lonesome cover of Billy Joel's 'And So It Goes,' before shifting to her self- penned 'Here Now' - a track inspired by her Grandfather. The CD moves forward, highlighting O'Hara's impressive range and diverse musical taste, as she performs such standards as 'All The Way', 'And I Love You So,' and select Broadway favorites with respect and grace. Her version of 'Spooky' is soulful and funky, and she infuses James Taylor's 'Fire And Rain' with a delicate touch (this track also happens to feature Connick on piano, bass, drums, and keyboards.)
About Kelli O'Hara: A native of Oklahoma, O'Hara grew up on a farm, and had little exposure to theater or opera or classical music. She was surrounded by the sounds of country artists, American standards, songs she'd hear in movies. All of these influences can be heard on 'Wonder In The World.' She made her Broadway debut in Jekyll & Hyde and followed it with Sondheim's Follies, Sweet Smell of Success (opposite John Lithgow,) and Dracula. In addition to her critically acclaimed Carnegie Hall solo debut with the NY Pops conducted by Rob Fisher, O'Hara has also appeared in-concert with Barbara Cook at this famed venue. She has performed at The Kennedy Center with Marvin Hamlisch, and at the NSO, Lincoln Center, Town Hall, Cooper Union, Joe's Pub and with the Philly Pops conducted by Peter Nero. 2007 also saw O'Hara triumph as Eliza Doolittle in the NY Philharmonic production of My Fair Lady.
Kelli O'Hara was trained at the famed Lee Strasberg Institute. Among her film and television credits are The Dying Gaul starring Patricia Clarkson and Campbell Scott; Blue Blood (NBC pilot), All Rise (NBC Pilot), Alexander Hamilton (Maria Reynolds) starring Brian F. O'Byrne (PBS), NUMB3RS (CBS); All My Children, the upcoming animated series Car Talk, as well as numerous live performances on national television shows. Kelli most recently starred opposite Simon Baker in a Cava Freixenet industrial directed by Martin Scorsese.
For more information contact Seth Cohen PR.
