Laura Freeman ( Eliza Doolittle )
Laura Freeman has been delighting audiences, around the country and abroad, for over twenty years. Laura attended Indiana University and during summer breaks, she appeared at various theatres around Indiana including Wagon Wheel Playhouse, Enchanted Hills Playhouse, and The Round Barn Theatre at Amish Acres. There, Laura had the pleasure of working with Father Ken for the first time. They shared the stage when Freeman was performing the role of Genevieve in The Baker’s Wife, by Stephen Schwartz directed by Scott Schwartz, the composer’s son. Stephen Schwartz, who attended the production, commented following Laura’s performance,”(Meadowlark) it’s a seven minute song with a foregone conclusion. But she made me forget what that conclusion was until right when she sang it.” Father Ken and Laura have sung numerous times with Kevin Moore Productions, Chicago Cabaret Professional's programs and at venues such as Davenports, the Park West and the Skokie Theatre.
Next up for Freeman: It’s My Party, the girls and the groups of the 1960’s at Davenport’s Piano Bar and Cabaret June 30 and July 1st. You can also take her home tonight and every night in the form of a CD! Something Cool is available through her website, laurafreemansings.com or at CDBaby.com.
Brian Fimoff ( Freddy Eysford-Hill )
Brian Fimoff (Freddy) is pleased to be working with Ken Baker and Friends for the very first time. Favorite roles include Dusoleil in Amour (Black Button Eyes), Aaron in First Date and Darren in Next Thing You Know (Towle Theatre), Lysander in A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Chicago Summer Opera), and the Balladeer in Assassins (ATC Repertory). Other recent credits include The Producers, Victor/Victoria, and Mary Poppins (NightBlue). Brian is also a former Yale Whiffenpoof. Thanks to Kip and Stacy!
Cynthia Clarey ( Mrs. Higgins )
Cynthia Clarey, a graduate of Howard University and The Juilliard School, was an opera singer for more than 35 years. Her reputation as a consummate singing actress led to engagements throughout the world. She sang major roles with companies in New York, Boston, Houston, Dallas, Chicago, Santa Fe, Philadelphia, Toronto and St. Louis Her work extended to performances with opera companies and symphonies in England, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Hungary, Austria, Japan, Hong Kong, Israel, Spain and South Africa. She toured in seven countries with Peter Brook’s innovative “La tragedie de Carmen”.
Her recordings include John Duffy’s “A Time for Remembrance”, Berg’s “Lulu”, Tippett’s “The Icebreak”, and “A Child of Our Time”, Weill’s “Lost in the Stars”, and the Grammy nominated “Porgy and Bess” conducted by Sir Simon Rattle. The films of “Porgy and Bess” and “L’incoronazione di Poppea” are available on DVD.Cynthia is now a member of Chicago Cabaret Professionals, has performed in several shows at Davenport’s Cabaret, Skokie Theater and Victory Gardens. She made her theater debut last year in Porchlight Theater’s Jeff Award winning show, “Scottsboro Boys”. Her new show, “Bridge Over Muddied Waters” opens at Davenport’s Cabaret on May 6 at 7pm.
John B. Boss ( Colonel Pickering )
Boss is elated to make his debut with Ken Baker and Friends. John is a Chicago actor who recently completed his 9th production of "La Cage Aux Folles" at Fort Wayne Civic Theatre. Prior to this he performed a 6 month Big League National Tour in Mel Brooks' The Producers playing Roger DeBris. Other credits include Sir Walter in "Jane Austen's Persuasion, a musical drama" with Chamber Opera Chicago Tours in the U.K., Edinburgh Fringe, Scotland and New York City; national tours of "Aladdin" and "Babes in Toyland, " with American Family Theatre, Sylvia St. Croix in "Ruthless, The Musical," Don Quixote in "Man of LaMancha," Max and Von Tropp in "The Sound of Music," Scrooge in "A Christmas Carol," Mary Sunshine in "Chicago," Engineer in "Miss Saigon," Thenardier in "Les Miserables," Buffalo Bill in "Annie Get Your Gun," and Warbucks in "Annie" to name a few. Boss is often seen in commercials and TV, having made appearances on "Empire" for FOX and several Dick Wolf shows filmed in Chicago. He has made several look-alike appearances as Captain Jack Sparrow and Austin Powers to name a few. He would like to thank everyone for attending and supporting St. Cletus. Enjoy the show!
Ken Baker & Freinds
My Fair Lady in Concert
Guest Performers
Denise McGowen Tracy ( Mrs. Pearce )
Denise McGowan Tracy has been a part of Chicago’s entertainment and events community for over 3 years with experience on-stage and behind the scenes.
From her early days as the manager and house MC of the storied Byfield’s nightclub, to her years as Director of Entertainment at Navy Pier, to creating and co-hosting the long-running impromptu musical showcase Petterino’s Monday Night Live and founding and running her own event company, DMT Entertainment & Events, Denise has really done it all.
In 2015 Denise added “author” to her resume when she published her first children’s book, Eleanor’s Very Merry Christmas Wish. This charming story tells of Eleanor, a rag doll who lives at the North Pole and wishes for a best friend and home of her own.
As a producer, her DMT Entertainment & Events has collaborated with The American Bar Association, Driehaus Design Initiative, The Better Government Association, The Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Chicago Gateway Green, Arlington Park Racetrack, Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises and for a variety of private events.
She is married to the creator of “Conversations with Ed Tracy” and “Pickinsix” Ed Tracy.
Jeffrey Segal ( Zoltan Karpathy )
Jeffery Lyle Segal began his theatrical career in Chicago as the first Executive Director of the nascent Steppenwolf Theater Company. He then worked as a local actor and director before turning to film as a special effects makeup artist and sometimes casting director, wearing both production hats on Chicago’s most famous independent film, HENRY: PORTRAIT OF A SERIAL KILLER. He returned to the Chicago stage as Stuart Dalrymple in BRIGADOON with Light Opera Works, and as Sir Peter Teazle in the staged reading of his musical, SCANDALOUS BEHAVIOR!, based on THE SCHOOL FOR SCANDAL, at City Lit. He also produced and directed his musical revue, MATING, in the Chicago Musical Theater Festival 2016.
Ken Baker
* Singer* Actor* Director
George Howe ( Alfred P. Doolittle )
George Howe returns to the stage after a sixteen year sabbatical . He is known to most theatre-going audiences in Chicago as a composer/lyricist having won Joseph Jefferson citations for his musicals “Queen Lucia” and “Northanger Abbey” at Lifeline Theatre in Chicago. He has written extensively for children’s theatre where some of his popular titles include “Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type”, “Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile”, “Mr. Popper’s Penguins” and “Arnie the Doughnut”. As an actor, he has portrayed such roles as Nicely-Nicely in “Guys and Dolls”, the Beadle in “Sweeney Todd”, Enoch Snow in “Carousel” and Mary Sunshine in “Chicago”. George is adjunct faculty at the Chicago College for the Performing Arts at Roosevelt University where he musical directs and teaches Musical Theatre History. He can be seen playing piano and belting out showtunes most nights at Davenport’s Piano Bar and Cabaret.