By Bill Haugen, VocalEssence

It’s that time of year again—lovers and supporters of the performing arts are buzzing about the upcoming performers at Cocktails & Cabaret, the third annual benefit event hosted by VocalEssence. The event supports the organization’s community engagement programs, ¡Cantaré! and WITNESS, which educate and enrich the lives of thousands of students through the exposure and participation in new and diverse music.

Photo by Mike Krivit, Krivit.com

On November 18th, VocalEssence will present a delightful show directed by Peter Rothstein and performed by featured guest artists Greta Oglesby, Simone Perrin, Bradley Greenwald, Dieter Bierbrauer and none other than Philip Brunelle at the piano. The performances will include selections from beloved musicals such as Into The Woods, West Side Story, Les Misérables, and My Fair Lady. Peter Rothstein, director, works extensively as a director of theater, musical theater, opera and new work development. He is the Founding Artistic Director of Theater Latté Da, a Twin Cities-based company dedicated to adventurous music theater. For Theater Latté Da, Rosthstein has directed 48 mainstage productions, including eight world premieres and 23 area premieres. Directing highlights include award-winning productions for the Guthrie Theater, Children’s Theatre Company, Minnesota Opera, Ten Thousand Things, and Theater Latté Da. Rothstein has been named one of Minnesota’s Artists of the Year by the Star Tribune, Theater Artist of the Year by Lavender Magazine, and the Best Director by City Pages.

Dieter Bierbrauer has appeared in shows at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, Guthrie Theater, Ordway Center, Theater Latté Da, Children’s Theatre Company, Park Square, and Theatre de la Juene Lune. He recently worked with director Peter Rothstein in New York appearing in Power Balladz, a live comedy performance on the history of the “power ballad” musical form.

Bradley Greenwald is a talented performer of many genres, from opera to musical theater. Audiences recognize him from his work with numerous local arts organizations, including Theatre de la Jeune Lune, Jungle Theater, Children’s Theatre Company, Guthrie Theater, Nautilus Music-Theater, Minnesota Dance Theatre, James Sewell Ballet, VocalEssence, Minnesota Orchestra, Lyra Baroque Orchestra, A Prairie Home Companion, Ten Thousand Things, Skylark Opera and Ballet of the Dolls.

Greta Oglesby is known from Oregon to New York for her acting and her singing, including three seasons at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Crowns at the Guthrie Theater, Gem of the Ocean at the Goodman Theater, and important roles at Penumbra, Minnesota Jewish Theatre Company and Ten Thousand Things. In 2009, she won the Ivey Award for her performance of Caroline in Tony Kushner’s Caroline, or Change at the Guthrie.

Simone Perrin spent five years in New York doing sketch comedy. Now based in the Twin Cities, she has appeared in theater productions at the Ordway, Mixed Blood, and Theatre de la Jeune Lune, among others. She boasts two premiere shows at the Minnesota Fringe Festival and has performed extensively with The Bad Astronauts, her New York-based sketch comedy group.

VocalEssence welcomes all lovers and supporters of music education to attend Cocktails & Cabaret on November 18^th. Register online here or call 612-547-1459