With two well-received performances this past June at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, Dawn Derow presented The House That Built Me, a show inspired by her father’s vast record collection of music, heard from her youngest years through her teenhood. Derow weaves a story of how these songs inspired her and helped her blossom into the multi-faceted performer she is today. Her set includes include classic pop hits and Broadway show tunes from legendary performers such as Judy Collins; Jacques Brel; Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young; and a young Rosemary Clooney, as well as by contemporary artists P!nk and Miranda Lambert. Directed by multiple MAC Award-winning Director, Jeff Harnar with Musical Direction by Matt Baker, with Peter Calo on guitar and Steve Doyle on bass.
NiteLife Exchange (NLE) celebrates Dawn Derow (DD) with Six Questions:
NiteLife Exchange: When did you realize you had the gift of singing and what were your early influences?
Dawn Derow: I was just 8 when I appeared in my first show as Gretl in The Sound of Music. I remember hearing my music director and piano teacher—who I was very close with until she died in 2005—that I was “pitchy” and “out of tune” during that time. I don’t think I really started focusing on singing until I was 12 when Les Miserables came out, and I acted out every part in my living room. I started taking voice lessons a year later, and wa singing opera before the age of 15. As for other influences—people will just have to come see my show on October 27th or November 14th to find out.
NLE: You studied classical voice at The Boston Conservatory and moved to New York to pursue a career in musical theater, having performed all over the world in operas, classical concerts, musicals and on cruise ships. How did you eventually get involved in Cabaret?
DD: When I worked on cruise ships for a couple of years as a Guest Entertainer. So if we were so inclined, in addition to the shows we were hired to perform, we would put on “Cabaret Concerts.” Naturally, I was always the one saying to the other singers, “Let’s do it.” That’s how I met my best friend, Jason Reiff (we have something coming up that will be launched via the WEB in the near future). Jason and I, along with the other female singers, did a “Modern Musicals” Cabaret for the passengers aboard Norwegian Cruise Lines. The set list included songs from Wicked and anything by Jason Robert Brown. Then I did a Karen Carpenter tribute. That was really successful. So when I returned to NYC, I took “Summer in the City” workshop with directors/performers Lina Koutrakos and Lennie Watts. That was really my start in New York Cabaret.. I think they would both agree I’ve come extremely far since then.
NLE: How did growing up on Cape Cod shape your performance style.
DD: That’s a complex question to answer. Come see the show and you’ll find out. The House That Built Me is all about that.
NLE: Since 2008, you have presented eight different shows. What are the ways you go about sourcing material for your projects/shows?
DD: If you count my Birthday Party shows and EveryDay People, which was off the Cabaret grid, I’ve actually performed 10 different shows… but who’s counting. Some were much better than others, but all reflected that moment in my life and the stories I wanted to sing about, so I appreciate the lessons I learned from all of them. Sometimes it can start with just a song like My Ship. I was obsessed with Anita O’Day’s recording of it and I had heard Billy Stritch and Christine Ebersole perform it at Birdland years ago. When I circled back around to it, I was put on the bill to do a show at the Provincetown Cabaret Festival that year with Musical Director Barry Levitt and we explored that year 1941, which was the year the song was a big hit. With a show like Revolution, which along with Kathleen France won me my first MAC award in 2015, Kathleen and I had been wanting to do a duo show, and we decided to make a political statement. Originally, it was her idea, then we started going through music—and out came Revolution, which you can still view on Kathleen’s Youtube page.
NLE: Which show is your favorite—which do you hold dear?
DD: That’s like asking who your favorite child is, but I’d say it’s a tie between My Ship—Songs from 1941 (which is still touring around and about to be recorded in the studio) and my 2016 opera-based show Legit, which earned me a Bistro Award. I’m incredibly proud of that show because it was like running a vocal marathon and I love that type of challenge. Plus, it was birthed by another dream team—Koutrakos and my Musical Director Mark Janas. My Ship was also another heavenly collaboration with the late Barry Levitt, who saw Legit and loved that I could go from singing Puccini to Johnny Mercer. Barry really got me started on the American Songbook path. Jeff Harnar directed (he also directs my current show) and Ian Herman took over as Musical Director after Barry’s death. Ian and I have such a blast together and every time we do the show it just breathes new life. Barry would have been so proud and I honestly think he would have wanted Ian to be the one playing for me. I’m really a lucky girl to have worked with so many awesome, cool and incredibly talented individuals.
NLE: If someone was narrating your life, who would you want to be the narrator? And why?
DD: Funny, question… I know who would play me in the movie of my life—Allyssa Milano or maybe Drew Barrymore. But for narrator Carol Burnett comes to mind because I love how perfectly outright silly she can be. But to pick someone in 2019—I’d have to say Samantha Bee from the TV show “Full Frontal.” She’s witty, quick tongued, smart and hilarious.
NLE: What do you like to do on your spare time?
DD: Spare Time? What’s that? I don’t have spare time. I fill all my time with all the things I need to accomplish that’s on my “to do” list, which is mostly stuff I want to pursue, enjoy, learn, figure out and love doing. A plethora of creativity weekly! To name a few things, besides the obvious musical endeavors I have going on: I workout using Kettle Bells. I do a lot of stretching, massage, acupuncture, mobility class. Recently, I gave myself the nickname “Body-Work Junkie.” Some people like to spend their money on clothes but I spend it on “body therapy.” That way I feel strong and look good for one of my other favorite past times~ PHOTO SHOOTS!
Two more performances of The House That Built Me are scheduled for The Laurie Beechman Theatre on Sunday, October 27th at 1:00 pm and Thursday, November 14th at 7:00pm. Here is a preview of the show:
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