LAMusArt Live! Evening concert: Cabaret with Charlotte, Chris, and Paul
On Saturday, October 23, LAMusArt Live! had the privilege of showcasing the three talented voices of Chris Bona, Paul Rico & Charlotte Mary Wen, and a fabulous piano accompanist, Richard An. In this opportunity, these wonderful musicians performed a wide range of pieces from classics like, “I Can Only Be Me” By Stevie Wonder to “Love is an Open Door” from Frozen the Musical streaming from our YouTube channel allowing viewers to enjoy the show from the cozy comfort of their homes.
The trio's performance of “Animazement Medley” connected with all of us as Charlotte, Paul and Chris performed such familiar, nostalgic tunes like "Just Around the Riverbend" and "I Can Go the Distance". Each performer had an opportunity to showcase their talent with overlapping harmonies and emotion. As they gradually intensified together, the vocalists ended with a momentous chord that filled the soundstage - sending the virtual audience off strong on their closing number. Skip to "Animazement Medley" here.
The name Charlotte Mary Wen might ring a bell and that is because Charlotte performed on LAMusArt’s 75th Birthday Bash, and she is currently touring with the production of Hamilton the Musical. She grew up doing theatre in her hometown San Diego, and later studied acting at USC. Charlotte is now a TV and stage actress and singer, she has performed on stage productions such as Anna in Frozen the Musical at the Hyperion, and Ali in Mamma Mia at the Hollywood Bowl.
Before the show aired we had the privilege of speaking with Charlotte backstage where she shared more about her arts experience. “Arts education is so important because on a very basic level, arts bring so much happiness and joy. I think that there’s so much joy and life that can be found in music and art and it really brings people together from all different backgrounds and all different walks. The reason why we can often connect is because the arts make it a point to find what is the common human experience, what’s universal, and what we can all connect with.”
Chris Bona is a stage actor and singer from Southern California. He has played Ronette in Little Shop of Horrors, Interpreter in The King & I, and Qian Po in Mulan. Paul Rico was born and raised in San Diego, he has worked abroad for entertainment companies such as Disney, Universal Studios and Holland America line. Richard An was born and raised in Los Angeles. Graduate from the California Institute of the Arts Herb Alpert School of Music with a MFA Performer-Composer and the University of Southern California with a BM Composition. He is a composer and performer, has been a pianist for USC Thornton EDGE and The Ensemble at CalArts, and is our current LAMusArt piano instructor and orchestra director. Read more about the artists and interact with our Study Guide!
If you enjoy music and arts make sure to register for music lessons, art classes, dance classes, or drama lessons and begin your journey through the arts, visit LAMusArt.org/programs for individual group classes in music, art, dance, and drama for students of all skill levels. Classes are offered Monday through Thursday, from 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm, and on Saturdays from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm.
For more details about our programs and a complete schedule of classes, click on the registration link to submit your information, and one of our scheduling staff members will contact you to get you all set up!
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