Marty Thomas Presents DIVA to Feature Tony Nominee Orfeh Tonight

Marty Thomas presents DIVA is a weekly show at Industry Bar in midtown Manhattan. Featuring a rotating cast of tremendous female vocalists, it is hosted and produced by Marty Thomas (XANADU, WICKED, THE SECRET GARDEN). DIVA celebrates fabulous female vocalists paying tribute to some of histories most over the top icons! The cast performs a brand new show every week with exciting new guests rotating.

Monday, Jan. 5, 2015 begins in style with guest artist Orfeh!

Growing up in the city, Orfeh attended New York City public schools. Immediately after graduation from a performing arts high school, she landed a record deal with EMI Records, headlining the early-1990s dance group, "Or-N-More". Life suddenly became a whirlwind of coast-to-coast concerts, music video shoots and press appearances for Orfeh as the group's self-titled album and single, "Everyotherday", were released. The single off the gold album went top 40 on the pop charts and #1 on the club play charts.

Orfeh entered the Broadway scene, by chance, as a choreographer friend encouraged her to audition for the musical, "Footloose"; she made her debut in the fall of 1998, as understudy to all the female leads in the original company. Following "Footloose", Orfeh was part of the ten-member company of "The Gershwins' Fascinating Rhythm". She belted out modern interpretations of Gershwin classics, alongside talents like Adriane Lenox, Sara Ramirez and Patrick Wilson. Although the revue closed after just 17 performances, Orfeh already had her next gig lined up.

A hit from London, the stage version of the John Travolta disco film classic, Saturday Night Fever, arrived on Broadway, featuring Orfeh as Tony Manero's jilted sidekick, "Annette". Critics singled her out for her powerhouse rendition of the disco smash, "If I Can't Have You", in the first act. Orfeh met her future husband Andy Karl during "Saturday Night Fever."

Orfeh and Andy appeared onstage together again in "Legally Blonde" - she as Elle's hairdresser friend "Paulette" and he as "Kyle," the UPS man who steals Paulette's heart. Orfeh received a Best Featured Actress Tony nomination for her performance in "Legally Blonde".

On TV, Orfeh's played a tough chick from Staten Island on Sex and the City, a sassy secretary on Chappelle's Show and a grieving widow on Law & Order: Criminal Intent. She was also seen on the big screen in Julie Taymor's movie musical, Across the Universe, and can also be heard on the soundtrack, backing up music legend Joe Cocker on The Beatles classic, "Come Together".

Orfeh balances her acting and singing work with a career as one of the top voice-over artists around.

Orfeh continues to work on her music and released her debut solo CD, "What Do You Want From Me", on Sh-K-Boom/Ghostlight records. The CD is available everywhere in stores and online, now.

Our cast this week includes Holly Ann Butler (On The Town, How To Succeed In Business, Grease), Marissa Pontecorve (American Idol), and Marissa Rosen (My Big Gay Italian Wedding).

Don't miss Orfeh, Marty Thomas and the divas turning it out this Monday!

To post a comment, you must register and login.