CABARET

Suzanne Petri is a true performer in every sense of the word she takes you on a journey that will lift you and stir your senses, illuminating, moving and connecting with her audiences through her performances.

BIO: "Noted Chicago actress and cabaret darling,“ Suzanne acts, sings, directs and produces all over Chicago at such venues as the Goodman, Steppenwolf, Victory Gardens, Chicago Dramatists, Davenport's, Katerina’s and the Pritzker Stage. She is an ensemble member of American Blues Theater. Her honors include the After Dark Award for Outstanding Cabaret Artist and CCP’s Gold Coast Award for Cabaret Excellence and the Jeff Award nomination for the musical “Zorba.” Suzanne is a founding member of Chicago Cabaret Professionals and the President for 13 years. She was featured in the Mabel Mercer Foundation's Chicago and NYC Cabaret Convention, Jazz at Lincoln Center. Suzanne was a 2000 Cabaret Fellow at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center's Cabaret Symposium.

PRESS: Suzanne Petri conjures Marlene Dietrich at Millennium Park
“She torched the place.”

“You might think there was nothing left to be done with tunes such as "See What the Boys in the Back Room Will Have," "Lili Marlene" and "Falling in Love Again" after Dietrich branded them her own. But in each case, and many others, Petri found her own entryway into these pieces, while simultaneously evoking Dietrich's classic renditions. A savvy stage performer, Petri knows how to conjure drama with an expression of sorrow on her face, how to raise spirits by strolling exuberantly through the crowd. As a musician, Petri can arch a phrase for poignant effect or bend a pitch downward to evoke a touch of pathos.

Rather than make this an evening of Dietrich's greatest hits, however, Petri aspired higher, telling the remarkable story of Dietrich's transformation from German movie actor to Hollywood icon, from stage star wooed by the Nazis to American citizen risking her life to entertain U.S. troops during World War II.

To hear Petri's Dietrich discuss her revulsion at Hitler, then sing songs that Dietrich sang in that era, evoked the terror of those times with irresistible force. To her credit, Petri sang much of this repertoire in German, the very sound of that language helping place listeners inside Dietrich's psyche...”
Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune

“As when she stopped the show during March's Chicago Cabaret Convention ... audiences can always count on Suzanne Petri to entertain with style and artistry."
Jeff Rossen, Cabaret Scenes

"Suzanne Petri has established herself as an actress who can handle classy and brassy with equal ease. Her gritty voice, crisp and witty delivery, and assured stage presence also suit her to musical theater of a certain high style."
(Critic's Choice) Albert Williams, The Chicago Reader

“Petri, served so finely by musical director Bob Moreen’s expert settings, delivers a tour de force program on Das Grand Tour. One of her greatest strengths as a performer is as a storyteller…Petri and her cast of characters make us want to take the this tour over and over.”
Jeff Rossen Cabaret Scenes

Drury Lane	Park West Gala	Park West Gala
Chicago Cabaret Gala	Chicago Cabaret Gala	Chicago Cabaret Gala
Maxims	Hat	Jim Cox, Suzan and Dez Desormeaux
Marlene Dietrich	Davenport	Davenports
Davenports	Millenium Park	Millenium Park
Millenium Park	Millenium Park	Millenium Park
Millenium Park	Maxims	Suzy and Bob Moreen