Producer: Kenneth Gartman
Host: Raissa Katona Bennett
Featured Entertainer: Maureen Hamill
Pianist: David Harris
Cost: $15
Doors open at 6:30 pm. Sign-up for those who wish to perform is from 6:30-6:55 pm. You must sign up by 6:55 to perform. Once the show starts we may not be able to accommodate additional performers. Bring music printed out in your key, and David Harris will accompany you at the piano for your moment at the microphone.
Comedians, poets, writers and musicians are all encouraged to perform! After the event, we will move the party to BanC House for a special 2 for 1 drink offer. The monthly Open Mic Night is typically held on the 3rd Saturday of the month and hosted by singer/pianist Kenneth Gartman. THIS MONTH ONLY the Open Mic is on the 4th Saturday with Guest Host Raissa Katona Bennett, Featured Entertainer Maureen Hamill and Pianist David Harris.
The evening is structured as a traditional open mic night with the Featured Entertainer doing a set in the middle of the evening. Some snacks and non-alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase.
Raissa Katona Bennett (Host) – Broadway: “Christine Daae” - PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, CHESS in concert. First National Tours: CATS, PARADE, A CHILD’S CHRISTMAS IN WALES (National Theatre of the Deaf). Off-Broadway: “Mother Hawkins” - DEVIL & THE DEEP (by Air Supply’s Graham Russell), “Mother/Vanna” - WATER FROM THE MOON. Selected Regional: “Helen” - FUN HOME, “Truvy” - STEEL MAGNOLIAS, “Mrs. Potts” - BEAUTY & THE BEAST. TV: “Law & Order SVU”, “Unsolved Mysteries”. Concert & Headliner venues: Feinstein’s, Metropolitan Room, Iridium, Beechman, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Town Hall, 54 Below, Algonquin. MAC & BISTRO Award winning host/producer/creator of Music & Art for City Greens, devoted to the “greening” of city spaces. 2 CD’s on LML Music Label at Amazon & iTunes. www.raissakatonabennett.com
Maureen Hamill (Featured Entertainer) is the Artistic Director of the Fairfield Theater Company. Maureen has been a guest soloist with the Bridgeport Symphony, Florida A&M Concert band and The New Haven Symphony. She has sung the National Anthem at Madison Square Garden, Shea Stadium and Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Florida. Maureen has performed her one woman cabaret show for The American Red Cross, The Winter Equestrian Festival, Westport Country Playhouse, Downtown Cabaret Theater, The Intrepid Air Museum, The Klein Memorial as well at the Fairfield Theatre Company. Including a sold out run at the iconic Tavern on the Green in New York. Hamill has shared the stage in concert with Tony winners James Naughton and Christine Ebersole. Maureen is a member of Actors Equity Association League of Professional Theatre Women (steering committee member)
David Harris (Pianist) is a consummate musician with a highly varied and diverse background. Director of Music and Organist at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Fairfield for 21 years; Taking A Chance On Love, Postcards On Parade and The Grass Harp Off-Broadway; Feinstein's (Lowes Regency) with Barbara Schottenfeld; Master classes with Paul Bogaev. Concert and recording artist; Toured the Netherlands, Europe and the U.S. as the Piano/Theatre Organ "Dynamic Duo" of David Harris and Jelani Eddington. David is one of the tones in the performing vocal trio, "Two Tones and a Diva" with Opera/Cross Over Artists, Jodi Keogan and Mark Watson. Currently the Director of Music for St. Michael the Archangel Church in Greenwich, CT.
