Idyllwild’s free Summer Concert Series continues Thursday, Aug. 10, when the Butterfield Amphitheater will host Jennifer Singer, with locals Bryan and Lareé Goodhead opening. The music begins at 6:05 p.m. with the headliner taking the stage at 7 p.m.
PHOTO COURTESY OF SINGER
Singer was a special treat at the end of last summer’s series. Series producer Ken Dahleen managed to add a ninth concert to the series, and invited Singer to close the season. As last year, Dahleen will call upon members of his network, the same pros that make up his Big Band Staff, to put together a seven-piece band to back her up. The program promises “A Touch of Broadway.”
Singer (her real name) earned her degree in drama and education at University of California Irvine (UCI), and as a participant in UCI’s New York satellite program, had the opportunity to study under Broadway professionals. She has credits as a singer, actor, dancer and songwriter, and her career has taken her from Equity Theaters to cruise lines and the big stages in Las Vegas. On dry land she enjoys traveling and performing with Live It Up Productions, road trips, hiking and teaching yoga.
Last year, Royal Caribbean chose her to be the “signature artist” aboard its Wonder of the Seas. The world’s largest cruising vessel, it has the biggest theatrical venue at sea. She told the Crier then that the program she is bringing to Idyllwild is “semi-scaled down” from a show she was doing in Europe, minus the hydraulics, lifts and backup singers, but still a musically big show.
Locals and visitors may have heard the Goodheads, the warmup band, with their “Heavenly 70’s” program at Middle Ridge Wine Tasting Gallery and around town. They plan to play tribute material from James Taylor, Carole King and Carly Simon, as well as original songs by Lareé. “Bryan does fabulous impressions of various musical artists and loves the complexities of James Taylor’s music; he enjoys the more sophisticated guitar parts,” she said. Over the last few years, she has stepped up the songwriting, and has produced recordings at her brother’s Orange County studio. A lot of this has been posted to YouTube.
The couple met while working on a Holland America cruise ship, performing independently. He was headlining a musical comedy act while she worked as a piano-bar entertainer. “We became fast friends and then a romance developed,” she said. They realized that they had been living near each other, in Venice Beach and El Segundo, but had to go to Central America to meet.
The duo combines musical skills with comedy and impressions. Recent runs include Marvyn’s Magic Theater in La Quinta, doing a musical variety/comedy act. The Goodheads plan to take their show beyond Idyllwild, booking shows throughout California and the Southwest. “We look forward to some road trips,” she said.
Lareé had her sights on Idyllwild for a while before moving here. Childhood family camping trips to the Sequoias gave her a taste for mountains and forests. “I knew that one day I wanted to set down some roots again.” She introduced Bryan to Idyllwild in 2009 while they were on a break from cruise ship work. “He fell in love as well,” she said. “We knew we had a future together here. We were very tired of the city. Being here in Idyllwild and getting our house is a dream come true. We’re really happy in Idyllwild. We love our home and have some great friends. We’ve lived a lot of our dreams and we’re not done yet.”
Lareé also wanted to say she is “grateful for the opportunity to give” and looks forward to the crowd at the Butterfield. This will be her third date with the series; in past years she joined Roger Dutton and Eric Lindgren. “This will be the first with Bryan, and we’re doing something different.”
These free concerts, funded completely by donations from local businesses, groups and individuals, are among the high points of summer life here in Idyllwild. The “hat” is passed at the event, and those who can are invited to give to keep this tradition alive. Contributions also may be sent, checks payable to “Idyllwild Summer Concert Org,” to P.O. Box 1542, Idyllwild CA 92549-1542. For more information, call Dahleen at (760) 413-4638.
Remember that temperatures drop in the summer evening. Come prepared with an extra layer to Butterfield Amphitheater, 54201 Ridgeview Drive, access through the Idyllwild Community Center Playground parking lot on Highway 243 just south of town.
