VANJARI: The Mother/Daughter Cabaret!, starring Evangeline Johns and Ariana Johns, at Don’t Tell Mama on Tuesday, September 25th at 7:00 PM. Musical Direction is by Darryl Curry and staging by Max McGuire and Mark Mindek. In VANJARI: The Mother/Daughter Cabaret!, Evangeline and Ariana a take the audience on a generational romp from the blues to Blondie and from Kander and Ebb to the Cure, with a dash of Grey Gardens to boot, because the apple doesn’t fall very far from the tree!
NiteLife Exchange celebrates Evangeline and Ariana with Six Questions:
- NiteLife Exchange (NLE) – When did you first realize that you wanted to be a performer and when was the first time you sang and or acted in front of an audience? How did you eventually get involved in cabaret? Evangeline was Radio Songs at Don’t Tell Mama your first?
Evangeline Johns (EJ) – My first clear memory of being a performer was in 4th grade, when I wrote, directed and starred in a classroom Halloween play. We were making such a ruckus in the classroom the principal came in to see what was going on, and stayed to enjoy our high spirits. It was then I felt I had found something I loved doing. Radio Songs at Don’t Tell Mama was my first venture into cabaret, aside from taking a “turn” in my daughter, Ariana’s, two cabaret shows. She inspired and encouraged me to do my own show, and I found I felt very at home on a cabaret stage. A late-in-life-discovery, which brings me great fulfillment. Performing with my daughter, as we are doing now in VANJARI, is the ultimate in joyful satisfaction. We have so much fun up there.
Ariana Johns (AJ) – I I knew very early by watching my parents, both of whom were (and still are!) in the theatre, that I wanted to play too! I acted when I was just a wee tot at Greenwich House in such classics as The Tinder Box, then did a lot of musical improv with OK, So We Lied, at clubs around town, prior to my first musical, VAMP, where I sang the immortal “Rock Him in his Coffin” with another vampire bride. I arrived on the cabaret stage via comedy, then singing after working with my musical director Darryl Curry, and being encouraged to put together my first show, The Dreamer’s Guide to the Galaxy.
2. NLE – Which is the most memorable experience you’ve had in your singing/acting career?
EJ – My most memorable singing/acting experience was in our recent musical, Buzz, Son of a Bee, a great comic part with a lovely song that closed the first act. “Cora’s Song” was touching and funny. A delight to deliver.
AJ – I’ll probably be repeating my mom, but Buzz, Son of a Bee: an Actor’s Life for Me, for which I wrote the lyrics, with Darryl composing and my dad, internationally produced playwright, Andrew Johns writing the book! (I also wound up with a good part to play! And now Darryl and I are working on a new musical, A Stroll with Troll, a magical experience in so many ways.
3. NLE – What would you say is your current motivator?
EJ – My current motivation is the love I have for singing and sharing song with others. It’s Cloud Nine for me.
AJ – Delight— especially when we get the wonderful exchange of energy with an audience, or have a great rehearsal. We’re currently recording some “Troll” songs with some marvelous singers, including Sierra Rein, Blake Zolfo, Mick Bleyers and Erin Cronican. And we’re recording a CD with VANJARI too!
4. NLE – With regard to future shows, how many others do you already have in mind?
EJ – I have two other shows in mind—an evening of torch songs and blues, and a second, an all new show with my daughter.
AJ – I guess I’ve already gone on a bit about that, but as far as cabaret, definitely more VANJARI shows. Radio Days was our debut in a way, as we did four duets and realized we wanted to do much, much more.
5. NLE – What are the ways you go about sourcing material for your projects/shows?
EJ – In order to discover new songs, I keep my ears open, wherever I’m at, whatever I’m doing. Seek and ye shall find. My husband also enjoys finding new songs for both me and Ariana.
AJ – Once people hear we have a mother/daughter act, the suggestions start flowing—and we’re both writers, so we include at least one original song and prose piece per show. It works and is always surprising. Plus, the “mix tape” in my head is seemingly endless!
6. NLE – What do you like to do on your spare time?
EJ – (Laughing) What spare time? Okay, late at night, I have a secret pleasure—I read mysteries or do the New York Times crossword puzzle.
AJ – I have a little orchid garden in the apartment, and a big, demanding cat, as well as a talented partner, Greg Mullavey. And I love to cook, walk a few brisk miles a day, read voraciously and binge watch TV. Plus, I’m in a (mostly) Shakespeare reading group, and—wait, did you say free time? Oh, and bubble baths.
For more information on VANJARI: The Mother/Daughter Cabaret, click here
For tickets for tonight, Tuesday, September 25th at 7:00 PM, please click here
Don’t Tell Mama is located at 343 W 46th St (between 8th & 9th Ave) New York, NY, 212-757-0788
Well written article, much appreciated – Thank-you. We did get some new audience members from the “web”, on 9/25, so we’re thrilled. Evangeline Johns, half of VANJARI team.