A Night with Janis Joplin
- Starring Tony Award® Nominee Mary Bridget Davies
- Created and Written by Randy Johnson
- Co-Directed by Mary Bridget Davies and Brian McDonald
Step into the vibrant, soul-stirring world of a rock legend as Ensemble Theatre Company of Santa Barbara presents A Night with Janis Joplin, starring the sensational Mary Bridget Davies. This music-driven theatrical event creates an immersive experience, allowing audiences to feel the “ferocity that seems to tear at her own throat” (LATimes) that defined Joplin’s sound. Davies, reprising her critically acclaimed role, brings to life not just the chart-topping hits like “Piece of My Heart” and “Me and Bobby McGee,” but also the crucial voices of blues and soul—Odetta, Aretha Franklin, Bessie Smith, Nina Simone, and more—who shaped Joplin’s artistry. It’s a “thrilling and heartbreaking” (HuffPost) journey into the pain and passion behind the music, a true “revelation” (HuffPost) of a voice that transcended time.
WHAT CRITICS ACROSS THE NATION SAY ABOUT MARY BRIDGET DAVIES AS JANIS JOPLIN
Nelson Pressley, The Washington Post
“Davies, who is reprising the role she played on tour, has the vocal power and the emotional intensity to bring Joplin to life. She doesn’t just sing the songs; she inhabits them, finding the pain and the passion that made Joplin such a compelling figure.”
Frank Rizzo, Variety
“Davies is a wonder. She doesn’t just sound like Joplin; she channels her anarchic spirit and raw vulnerability. It’s a performance that goes beyond impersonation to become something truly transformative.”
David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter
“Electrifying… Davies has the requisite vocal power and gritty texture, but she also nails the fragile, needy side of the singer’s personality. It’s a tour-de-force performance that anchors the show and gives it its heart.”
David Finkle, HuffPost
“Mary Bridget Davies is nothing less than a revelation. She captures the very essence of Janis Joplin, from the raspy vocals to the frenetic energy. It is a performance that is both thrilling and heartbreaking.”
Thom Geier, Entertainment Weekly
“In a performance that should make her a star, Davies captures the singer’s distinctive, scratchy contralto and her unique physical vocabulary… She doesn’t just mimic Joplin; she channels her.”
Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times
“Davies doesn’t just reproduce the sound; she captures the ache. She sings with a ferocity that seems to tear at her own throat, leaving the audience breathless.”
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