Penelope Thomas

Credits include lead vocals for two albums with prog rock band FauveMuseum; background vocals with Shellen Lubin, and US & UK tours of Mikel Rouse’s "The End of Cinematics." She’s read poet Anne Carson’s work at The Whitney Museum and played leads in HBO Women in Comedy Festival-selected film "Pretty Dead" and the indie film, "The Interview." She studied voice with Norma Garbo, music theory with bassist Mark Wade, LoVetri Somatic Voicework through Baldwin Wallace University, and acting with Deena Levy. She taught in the New School’s Sweat musical theatre intensive. With a degree in Cultural Studies & Anthropology and a background in contemporary dance, Penelope loves thinking and writing about performance—connecting the dots between styles and genres and supporting the connection between artists and audiences.

Penelope Thomas

Frances Ruffelle

Penelope Thomas
Frances Ruffelle’s voice sounds like diamond dust: just so pretty and so gritty that you could listen to it sparkle roughly for hours. If Éponine had had the chance to grow up, this is who she’d be: streetwise, lovelorn, and European…singing to share the hard-won wisdom she attained through heartbreak and owning that wild edge....

Tamra Paselk

Penelope Thomas
Awkward, Tamra Paselk's recent show at Don't Tell Mama (directed by Casey Burden), answered a few questions: are those high-rise pants that are coming back into style a good idea? YES. Should all performers hand out frozen treats at their cabaret? A thousand times YES. The bigger issues, however, were left somewhat unresolved. Since death...

Ian & Elliot Finkel

Penelope Thomas
With Ian on xylophone and Elliot on piano, the Finkel brothers owned the stage at the Metropolitan Room on September 9 as if variety-show acts were still going strong and winning us over—not only with shtick, but also with quality and integrity. The Finkels are the sons of Emmy and Obie award-winning actor Fyvush Finkel (1922-2016),...

Ari Shapiro

Penelope Thomas
With his luxurious vintage-yet-current baritone, and his educated demeanor and sleekly handsome presence, it was easy to forget that Homeward was Ari Shapiro's freshman solo cabaret performance. If his is a face for radio, we're in luck. Nonetheless, it's a steep learning curve to go from Broadcast Journalist to Seasoned Crooner on your first show...

Tammy McCann

Penelope Thomas
Chicago jazz singer Tammy McCann recently completed a month of Thursdays at Pangea, performing a different show each week. She is working with a formidable instrument: she has a rich lower register and a powerful upper voice that speak to her early classical training. A former "Raelette" backing vocalist for Ray Charles, MCann has sung...