Rising star Whitney Bashor gave us one of 2014's best stage moments with that Joni Mitchell-inspired killer “Another Life” in The Bridges of Madison County (and she has the 2014 Clarence Derwent Award for Most Promising Female Performer on the New York Metropolitan Scene to prove it). Then she went and broke our hearts in the Broadway-aimed musical adaptation of Beaches. Now she’s bringing that gorgeous voice over to 54 Below on September 15 as she performs an evening of Joni Mitchell, Laura Nyro, and other revered female writers of yesteryear. Below, we get a better sense of Bashor’s musical tastes as she talks Jewel, Ke$ha, Ragtime and her ultimate Broadway girl group.
1. The song that gives me goose bumps every time I hear it:
"Before It Breaks" by Brandi Carlile. I saw her perform it live at The Beacon last year. Incredible
2. The album I completely wore out in high school:
Pieces of You by Jewel. I listened to the cd so many times it stopped working in my boom box. I fear some of the kids may not recognize two of the words in that sentence.
3. If I wrote a song about my real-life ex it wouldn’t be called “Another Life,” it would be called:
It depends on which ex we're talkin' about.
4. The musical theatre album that has become a part of me:
Ragtime. I'm pretty sure I could sing every part.
5. The most unexpected song I am going to sing at 54 Below:
"Helplessly Hoping" by Crosby Stills and Nash.
6. The most embarrassing track on my iTunes is probably:
I like to workout to some Ke$ha. Some people may turn their noses up to that, but she will pump you up.
7. If I was starting an all-girl Broadway band and needed to pick three others members:
First off, this is the best idea ever. Second, I actually came up with two very different bands based off of what type of music I'd like to sing. I'm always torn between the legit soprano music that I love singing so much and the folk/country music I also love. So instead of deciding, I created two bands.
First the Soprano Angels. Kelli O'Hara, Audra McDonald, Rebecca Luker and myself. We'd just melt faces with our legit.
And my second band would be The Gritty Gals. Jessie Mueller, Katie Thompson, Alysha Umphress and myself. And we'd just be funky whiskey drinkin’ gals with crazy harmonies.
