karen1

Photo Credit: Jeff Fusco

Life is a cabaret for Plumstead Township native Karen Gross.  Now splitting her time between Philadelphia and New York City this Central Bucks East High School graduate has been writing songs since she was a teenager, “When I was in high school at C.B. East, I recorded my first demo cassette tape of original songs with a producer named Jim Cravero – who has since won a Grammy Award! The cassette tape was called “Portrait,” and I paid for the studio time with my earnings from working as a bus girl at the Carversville Inn.”  Her passion for music then led her to performing after graduating from college, “My first solo gig was at John and Peter's in New Hope. I had a three-hour set typically on Sunday afternoons, and I'd sing and accompany myself on keyboard. Looking back, I have no idea how I filled three hours all by myself! But those were some of the most wonderful shows. I met new friends who would wander in and listen.”  Karen no longer resides in Bucks County but still comes back to visit friends and family and also to perform “I love the beauty and the vibrant arts scene. I enjoy eating out in New Hope and Lambertville, and driving along the Delaware. Plus, there is such incredible history tied to music.”  

Karen has had a love for Cabaret performing since 2005, “I credit Bob Egan, who gave me my first cabaret headlining show at the legendary Cabaret at Odette's in New Hope around 2005. I created my first cabaret show ‘Sex & the Single Singer' for that occasion. I had so much fun during that first show that I fell in love with cabaret, and ended up performing ‘Sex & the Single Singer' for 5 amazing years! I performed all over the region, and many times in Philadelphia at the Tin Angel. I've also performed at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Kimmel Center. A few years ago, I started immersing myself in the cabaret scene in New York City, and I've found a wonderful community of fellow cabaret artists, musicians, and teachers there. I've performed in New York City venues including The Metropolitan Room, Don't Tell Mama, the Laurie Beechman Theatre and I even did a show at Frank Sinatra's onetime penthouse, which was featured on the HGTV show “Selling New York.”  

Last year she debuted her newest Cabaret in New York City, called “Cabaret Mixtape” which is a homage to the music of the 80s and 90s that those of us from that generation would love to add to various cassette tapes, “It was a way to revisit the songs, which were often heavily produced, and strip them down to just voice and piano so people could really hear the songs in a new way. I aim to include at least one original song per show.” 

Although she spends most of her time in the big cities Karen is happy to be from Bucks, “Bucks County benefits from being close to both Philadelphia and New York City, so you get the benefit of a beautiful, rustic setting along with an abundance of arts, culture, and great food! And I feel really fortunate to have been educated by some of the most amazing teachers, who I still get to see! Two of my Gayman Elementary School teachers have attended my cabaret shows in New York City!”

You can hear Karen's music on iTunes, CDBaby, and her website where you can also find out where she is performing from month to month.

 

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