Invitation to Play: A Cabaret for the Musical Mannequin
Details
Categories: Cabaret, Music, Theater
Dates: September 11, 2021
Run Time: 60 mins
Venue: Mister John's Music
![](https://phillyfringe.org/wp-content/smush-webp/2024/05/06-28-2021-183623-9948.jpg.webp)
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Categories: Cabaret, Music, Theater
Dates: September 11, 2021
Run Time: 60 mins
Venue: Mister John's Music
During the shutdown last year Jennifer Blaine began to write a musical, Mannequin. Even under enforced limitations, she discovered a new aspect of her creativity. We invite you to discover yours too. Join us for this interactive evening to playfully explore some Mannequin songs, themes from the musical, and sing together so we can animate once again. With special accompaniment performed by Steven Crino, and vocals by Diamond Franklin, Samantha Solar, and others.
Jennifer Blaine (creator) has been performing solo shows for 25 years. Her original works delve into serious and socially relevant issues and provide audiences the opportunity to unite in laughter. She’s opened for George Carlin and performed with Chris Rock and Joe Piscopo. The Philadelphia Daily News says “her comic genius is like Lily Tomlin and Tracey Ullman. She has performed in every FringeArts for the festival’s first decade. Some of her 15 FringeArts works include Sorry, White Flight, Hearing Voices, and Ridiculous, which asked the audience to end the patriarchy once and for all.
Diamond Princess Franklin (actress) trained under renowned musicians: Monette Sudler, Ruth Naomi Floyd, and Angel Blue, and has performed with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Walnut Street Theater and the Kimmel Center with rock and R&B artists Jon Bon Jovi and Estelle. Diamond received her Bachelors of Music from Cairn University, and in addition to performing also works as a music instructor and vocal coach for the prestigious settlement music school and school of rock in Philadelphia.
Samantha Solar (actress) appeared as South Philly girl #1 in the virtual staged reading of Mannequin. Sam graduated from Muhlenberg College with a Bachelor of Arts in both Theatre & French. She performs with Ladysuits, Pulley, Buttonhole Theatre Company, and Luke Allen Productions. Sam also writes and performs with Tribe 12’s Theatre Group, creating Jew(ish) parodies to well-known shows! On IG: samanthajsolar & www.samanthasolar.com
Steven Crino (keyboards) is a composer primarily interested in simplicity, compositional craft, and emotional immediacy. His music has been performed by ensembles and soloists, such as Peter Sheppard Skaerved, The Podcast Opera Company, The Boston New Music Initiative, The Philadelphia Experimental Theatre Ensemble, and The Temple University Singers. His first opera, Tomb of Beauty, is a national finalist for the 2021 Ame