Actress and singer, Gay Marshall, celebrates the genius of Leonard Cohen in Back on Boogie Street at Pangea in New York City this April. Marshall, considered a premiere interpreter of the music of Edith Piaf and Jacques Brel, was drawn to Cohen after hearing covers of songs she didn’t realize were his. “I had never thought of singing his repertoire, but then I immersed myself in his records and the glorious variety of melodies and messages hit me like a lightning bolt. I was hooked,” says Marshall. “The process became a fascinating discovery of an exceptional artist who turned out to be surprisingly shy and funny, while introducing me to other remarkable musician-singers, like his sublime longtime collaborator Sharon Robinson.”
“Marshall combusts with joy. There are no half measures: she performs with soul and conviction, reaching in through our sweaters and defenses, chilling and affecting us all.” – Alix Cohen, Woman Around Town
Canadian born Leonard Cohen started out as a successful author of poetry and novels, and at the age of 33 directed his attention towards writing and composing songs. In the 50-year career that followed, he garnered prestigious accolades from countries all over the world including numerous Album and Artist of the Year awards and the much coveted Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. When interviewed in Songwriters on Songwriting Cohen said, “I just have the sense of work. I have the sense of hard labor. If I knew where the good songs came from, I’d go there more often. It’s a mysterious condition. It’s much like the life of a Catholic nun. You’re married to a mystery.”
Gay Marshall starred as Diana Morales in A Chorus Line on Broadway, a role she left to move to Paris where she married photographer and Man on Wire accomplice, Jean Louis Blondeau. She originated the role of Grizabella in the French production of Cats. Her one-woman show, If I Were Me…,was voted #2 On The Fringe at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Marshall’s first show about Édith Piaf (of whom she is considered a foremost interpreter), La Vie l’Amour, played successful engagements at The Great Lakes Shakespeare Festival, Dayton’s Victory Theater and The Missouri Rep. Marshall’s Fringe show and runs in The Baker’s Wife at Goodspeed, The Papermill Playhouse and The York Theatre led her back to New York, where she re-captured the attention of New York audiences with her performance in the Zipper Theater’s revival of Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living In Paris. Gay has two solo CDs, Go Back Where You Stayed Last Night, an Ethel Waters inspired selection of ’20’s and ’30’s New Orleans style blues and jazz tunes and Gay Marshall sings Piaf La Vie L’Amour, which hit the Billboard Top World Album chart as a #12 Hot Shot debut.
Marshall has starred in Night of A Thousand Judys, Piaf: A Centennial Celebration at Town Hall, It Was a Very Good Year at Carnegie Hall and Edith Piaf: An All-Star Celebration at Feinstein’s/54 Below. Her shows, Gay Marshall Sings Piaf La Vie L’Amour and Gay’s Paree have enjoyed overwhelming critical success in NYC clubs.
Ross Patterson is Musical Director of Back On Boogie Street. Shows are at 7:30 PM on Thursdays, April 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th at Pangea in the East Village at 178 Second Avenue between 11th and 12th Streets. Tickets are $20.00 (plus online fee) in advance and $25.00 at the door. Advance purchase is highly recommended. To purchase tickets and for more information, visit: http://www.pangeanyc.com/ or call 212.995.0900.
Pangea is a casual, Mediterranean/Italian restaurant that houses a chic music listening room in the rear. It has become home to a variety of unique top talent of every genre. The restaurant recently celebrated its 30th anniversary.
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