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Wednesday, September 12, 2018

Pioneer Productions Introduces The Living Room Series Featuring Wendy-Lane Bailey & Michele Brourman

clip_image001Pioneer Productions Presents

Wendy-Lane Bailey: Women’s Work

WHEN: September 16th, 6:00 PM
WHERE:
Arthur Murray Studios, 26 Bloomfield Ave. 2nd Floor, Denville, NJ
TICKETS: Tickets are $25 and may be obtained at womenswork.brownpapertickets.com 
Further information about Pioneer Productions may be found at their website www.pioneerproductionscompany.org 

Pioneer Productions kicks off its new Living Room Series with Women’s Work an evening of songs by female songwriters. Conceived and performed by singer/storyteller Wendy-Lane Bailey & composer/pianist Michele Brourman it has a funny, sometimes challenging but always defiantly feminine viewpoint that brings the worlds of Broadway, pop, and country together in one show.

The Living Room Series focuses on intimate concerts in non-traditional venues. “Putting great performers together with an audience in a cozy space can create magic. There are fewer barriers which helps make real connection,” says Dan Vissers, Pioneer’s artistic director. “I can’t think of a better way to start things off than with Wendy-Lane -she’s smart, witty, has great musical taste, and always takes the audience on a great ride!”

Bailey and Brourman have worked together for almost a decade. Brourman produced Bailey’s debut recording Breathing featuring two of Brourman’s songs. “I knew Michele’s songs before I knew Michele the person,” says Wendy-Lane, “It was love at first listen. Plus It’s wonderful to work with someone who gets you and takes your ideas and adds things that make them even more exciting”.

Bailey has collected a unique group of tunes spanning generations and genres. ”I wanted it to be fun and surprising and upend what audiences think they know. Almost everyone knows Ring of Fire was a hit for Johnny Cash, but how many people realize that it was June Carter Cash who wrote it ?” says Bailey.

Wendy-Lane Bailey has a powerful classic pop voice (think Ronstadt crossed with Adele with a bit of Patsy Cline thrown in for good measure), and a rather cavalier attitude towards the idea of genre. Wendy-Lane recently released her debut solo recording, Breathing, produced by composer/arranger/pianist Michele Brourman. Her performances in venues across the country have earned critical praise for her versatility and sophistication, and she has appeared as a guest artist on multiple recordings, including those of pop legend Leslie Gore and Broadway’s Susan Egan. She received her training at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, HB studios and the Eugene O’Neill Theatre Center. Off-stage Wendy Lane is a creative advocate for artists. While living in Washington, D.C., she founded a regional networking organization for musicians and for five years, she was the Associate Director of the Cabaret Conference at Yale University. She is the recipient of a 2007 Bistro Award for outstanding achievement and was nominated for a Washington Area Music Association Award (WAMMY). She currently teaches and consults both privately an in master classes for singers of all genres. www.wendylanebailey.com

Michele Brourman has been making up songs and singing them since she was three years old.  Her best-loved song, “My Favorite Year”, has been recorded by Michael Feinstein, Dame Cleo Laine, Margaret Whiting, Billy Stritch, and frequent collaborator Amanda McBroom.   She’s written and produced the songs for 18 animated features for Universal Studios, including the beloved “Land Before Time” series, writing for Reba McIntyre, Donnie Osmond, Olivia Newton-John and more.  Brourman's work has been featured in television and film and performed by countless cabaret artists, garnering numerous awards and critical acclaim.  Her work for the theater includes the scores for the musicals “Dangerous Beauty” and “The Belle of Tombstone.” www.michelebrourman.com

Photo by Bill Westmoreland