VANGARI! THE Mother/Daughter cabaret
VANGARI: The Mother/Daughter Cabaret!
Starring Evangeline Johns and Ariana Johns Musical Direction by Darryl Curry Staging by Max McGuire & Mark Mindek In their new and unique show, Vangie and Ari take the audience on a generational romp from the Blues to Blondie to Broadway—with selections ranging from Java Jive, The Cure, Kander & Ebb, with a dash of Grey Gardens, because…the apple doesn't fall very far from the tree! A bit about Vangie: Evangeline began performing in the Copacabana chorus line--then came summer stock and regional theatre, followed by experimental theatre with Laurie Carlos, Suzan-Lori Parks and many others. She performed Off-Broadway in the solo show LATE NIGHT CATECHISM, and in 2017, she joined lyricist Ariana Johns and composer Darryl Curry in the premiere of the new musical, 'BUZZ, SON OF A BEE…AN ACTOR'S LIFE FOR ME'. She has performed 2 solo cabaret shows, RADIO SONGS and TORCHING THE BLUES st Don't Tell Mama, and was a finalist in TOMATOES GOT TALENT at The Triad. A bit about Ari: Ariana has performed with Darryl Curry in her cabaret series, THE DREAMER'S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY (also at DTM), and they are currently in development for their new musical, GLAMOUR AND GRIT, which was selected by the Dramatist's Guild Foundation for a reading in the Women's Voices Theatre Festival, where Ariana was one of three featured playwrights. She began in comedy/improv with Chicago City Limits, and she's performed her solo show, VAMPINGO…A COMEDY WITH BITE on both coasts. Musical performances include new works at The National Opera Center, The Metropolitan Room, and Musical Theatre Factory. 
'Evangeline and Ariana have gifted us with talent, variety and class--they are the real deal!' --Sondra Lee
'I had a wonderful time and also got a kick out of the choreography...all in all ,a fun and loving performance!' - Randi Levine-Miller 'Two legendary Theatrical Goddesses using their unique interpretive skills to set DON'T TELL MAMA'S ablaze with nostalgia, humor and a whole lotta' heart. To see (and hear) the world through their eyes is to remember what a beautiful woman, some serious talent, and a microphone can bring to our world'--Daniel McDonald, The View From the Trailer Park 'A really fun evening...Musical Director Darryl Curry provided some terrific back-up vocals while masterfully tickling the ivories' - Deb Miller, DC Metro Theatre Arts 'Congratulations on a wonderful show. Everyone shone brightly. I had such a good time! Loved your choice of material and your repartee' --Debra Vogel 'A fabulous show! If you're in New York in September, drop by Don't Tell Mama, and see two delightfully talented ladies entertain you and bring the house down! It's a HIT!!! It should run FOREVER!!!' --Michael Citriniti |
Hear some of our studio recordings on SoundCloud
And check out our YouTube channel here And you can reach us directly at our email: vanjarimixedbags@gmail.com 
VANGARI IN THE NEWS:
From Nite Life Exchange 9.25.2018: NiteLife Exchange celebrates Evangeline and Ariana with Six Questions:
Ariana Johns (AJ) – I I knew very early by watching my parents, both of whom were (and still are!) in the theatre, that I wanted to play too! I acted when I was just a wee tot at Greenwich House in such classics as The Tinder Box, then did a lot of musical improv with OK, So We Lied, at clubs around town, prior to my first musical, VAMP, where I sang the immortal “Rock Him in his Coffin” with another vampire bride. I arrived on the cabaret stage via comedy, then singing after working with my musical director Darryl Curry, and being encouraged to put together my first show, The Dreamer’s Guide to the Galaxy. 2. NLE – Which is the most memorable experience you’ve had in your singing/acting career? EJ – My most memorable singing/acting experience was in our recent musical, Buzz, Son of a Bee, a great comic part with a lovely song that closed the first act. “Cora’s Song” was touching and funny. A delight to deliver. AJ – I’ll probably be repeating my mom, but Buzz, Son of a Bee: an Actor’s Life for Me, for which I wrote the lyrics, with Darryl composing and my dad, internationally produced playwright, Andrew Johns writing the book! (I also wound up with a good part to play! And now Darryl and I are working on a new musical, A Stroll with Troll, a magical experience in so many ways. 3. NLE – What would you say is your current motivator? EJ – My current motivation is the love I have for singing and sharing song with others. It’s Cloud Nine for me. AJ – Delight— especially when we get the wonderful exchange of energy with an audience, or have a great rehearsal. We’re currently recording some “Troll” songs with some marvelous singers, including Sierra Rein, Blake Zolfo, Mick Bleyers and Erin Cronican. And we’re recording a CD with VANJARI too! 4. NLE – With regard to future shows, how many others do you already have in mind? EJ – I have two other shows in mind—an evening of torch songs and blues, and a second, an all new show with my daughter. AJ – I guess I’ve already gone on a bit about that, but as far as cabaret, definitely more VANJARI shows. Radio Days was our debut in a way, as we did four duets and realized we wanted to do much, much more. 5. NLE – What are the ways you go about sourcing material for your projects/shows? EJ – In order to discover new songs, I keep my ears open, wherever I’m at, whatever I’m doing. Seek and ye shall find. My husband also enjoys finding new songs for both me and Ariana. AJ – Once people hear we have a mother/daughter act, the suggestions start flowing—and we’re both writers, so we include at least one original song and prose piece per show. It works and is always surprising. Plus, the “mix tape” in my head is seemingly endless! 6. NLE – What do you like to do on your spare time? EJ – (Laughing) What spare time? Okay, late at night, I have a secret pleasure—I read mysteries or do the New York Times crossword puzzle. AJ – I have a little orchid garden in the apartment, and a big, demanding cat, as well as a talented partner, Greg Mullavey. And I love to cook, walk a few brisk miles a day, read voraciously and binge watch TV. Plus, I’m in a (mostly) Shakespeare reading group, and—wait, did you say free time? Oh, and bubble baths. |
Ariana Johns
Click above for info about Ariana
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THEATRE
Theatre Productions
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 ARTWORK BY ANDREW JOHNS
Fine Art: paintings, prints, murals and greeting cards by Andrew Johns: click above, or:
www.andrewjohnsart.com |