Whether she's singing a rock song or a jazz tune, acting, making people
laugh, writing a song, producing a webisode series, tap dancing, or posing for
a picture, the word most often used to describe Lisa Marinacci is "versatile".
The history of music in her family covers far and wide; her father, uncle, and
both grandfathers worked professionally as musicians, and her second cousin
Bob Cooper played with the Stan Kenton Orchestra and was married to the
great jazz singer June Christy.
Lisa Marinacci dot com
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Lisa began performing professionally at age 5 when she landed the role of
“Gretel” in the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera’s production of The Sound of Music
starring Maureen McGovern. She would spend the next 15 years studying and
performing throughout Pittsburgh with the Civic Light Opera, Don Brockett
Productions, Joe Negri and The Center for Theater Arts.
By the age of 10 Lisa was a recognized face in Pittsburgh. She was featured in
several local and national TV commercials. At the age of 12 she was selected
as “The Showtime Kid”, and was flown to New York City to host a week of
Showtime’s “Family Time” TV Series.
In 1993 she won the prestigious “Best Actress” Gene Kelly Award given by the
Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera for Excellence in Musical Theater for the role of
“Ms. Adelaide” in Guys and Dolls.
She went on to study drama and writing at Carnegie Mellon University. During
her junior year, Lisa was selected to perform with Marvin Hamlisch at the
Pittsburgh Pop’s Search For A Star concert at Heniz Hall. She also performed
with Stephen Schwartz at a benefit for the Scotch’n’Soda Theater Company.
Upon graduating with her Masters degree in Professional Writing, she relocated
to New York City where she worked with many theater groups, including AMAS
Musical Theater and The NYC Fringe Festival.
From 2000-2003 Lisa spent several months traveling the world with Royal
Caribbean, and in the fall of 2003, Lisa traveled back and forth between New
York and Pittsburgh, working together with close friend and mentor Joe Negri on
her first album. Waiting For Spring was released in April 2004.
By 2005, Lisa was simultaneously writing the book, music, and lyrics to her
pop/rock musical, The Devil and Daisy Jane, singing with a jazz band in NYC,
promoting her first album, and auditioning for and performing in musical theater
workshops and productions.
In 2006, Lisa headed for the bright lights of Las Vegas, where performed with
several bands and musicians including Harbor Lights Music West, guitarist Jimi
Brent, The Universal Grille Band, and saxophonist David VanSunch, among
others. She also played “Peggy” in the musical, “The Taffetas”, and performed
as a featured vocalist with the Las Vegas Tenors. In October she was named
one of the 10 semi-finalists in the Snickers Sing-Off Jingle Writing Competition..
2007 was an exciting year for Ms. Marinacci. She wrote the music for a
production of James and The Giant Peach that was performed in conjunction
with the University of Hawaii. In May, she headed further west to appear in the
west-coast premier of the musical TALES OF TINSELTOWN at the Crossley
Theater in Hollywood, California, and in August starred as "Peppermint Patty" in
SNOOPY, THE MUSICAL - A BENEFIT FOR DOWNTOWN DOG RESCUE at the
McCadden Place Theater, also in Hollywood, which she co-produced along with
college buddy Suzanne Mayes.
In 2008, Lisa continued to stretch her legs as a producer and writer, and
created the online webisode series "Welcome to California!". Acting not only as
producer and star of the show, she also taught herself how to edit and score.
Lisa began 2009 with her daytime TV debut on "Days of Our Lives". Other
projects this year included acting in the staged reading of the musical "Shoot,
Cut, Print, Kill, Die!", portraying the lead role in "Ecstasy" the musical directed
by Kay Cole, singing at the Upright Cabaret, working with L.A. bands "Word of
Mouth" and "Bliss Bomb", and also coming closer to finishing her musical, "The
Devil and Daisy Jane", which received a staged reading in January, 2010.
Lisa currently continues to produce the musical "The Devil and Daisy Jane" and
the web series "Welcome to California!", and sings with Bliss Bomb. Check back
soon for updates and performances.
For more info and to buy the CD: www.cdbaby.com/marinacci
“Gretel” in the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera’s production of The Sound of Music
starring Maureen McGovern. She would spend the next 15 years studying and
performing throughout Pittsburgh with the Civic Light Opera, Don Brockett
Productions, Joe Negri and The Center for Theater Arts.
By the age of 10 Lisa was a recognized face in Pittsburgh. She was featured in
several local and national TV commercials. At the age of 12 she was selected
as “The Showtime Kid”, and was flown to New York City to host a week of
Showtime’s “Family Time” TV Series.
In 1993 she won the prestigious “Best Actress” Gene Kelly Award given by the
Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera for Excellence in Musical Theater for the role of
“Ms. Adelaide” in Guys and Dolls.
She went on to study drama and writing at Carnegie Mellon University. During
her junior year, Lisa was selected to perform with Marvin Hamlisch at the
Pittsburgh Pop’s Search For A Star concert at Heniz Hall. She also performed
with Stephen Schwartz at a benefit for the Scotch’n’Soda Theater Company.
Upon graduating with her Masters degree in Professional Writing, she relocated
to New York City where she worked with many theater groups, including AMAS
Musical Theater and The NYC Fringe Festival.
From 2000-2003 Lisa spent several months traveling the world with Royal
Caribbean, and in the fall of 2003, Lisa traveled back and forth between New
York and Pittsburgh, working together with close friend and mentor Joe Negri on
her first album. Waiting For Spring was released in April 2004.
By 2005, Lisa was simultaneously writing the book, music, and lyrics to her
pop/rock musical, The Devil and Daisy Jane, singing with a jazz band in NYC,
promoting her first album, and auditioning for and performing in musical theater
workshops and productions.
In 2006, Lisa headed for the bright lights of Las Vegas, where performed with
several bands and musicians including Harbor Lights Music West, guitarist Jimi
Brent, The Universal Grille Band, and saxophonist David VanSunch, among
others. She also played “Peggy” in the musical, “The Taffetas”, and performed
as a featured vocalist with the Las Vegas Tenors. In October she was named
one of the 10 semi-finalists in the Snickers Sing-Off Jingle Writing Competition..
2007 was an exciting year for Ms. Marinacci. She wrote the music for a
production of James and The Giant Peach that was performed in conjunction
with the University of Hawaii. In May, she headed further west to appear in the
west-coast premier of the musical TALES OF TINSELTOWN at the Crossley
Theater in Hollywood, California, and in August starred as "Peppermint Patty" in
SNOOPY, THE MUSICAL - A BENEFIT FOR DOWNTOWN DOG RESCUE at the
McCadden Place Theater, also in Hollywood, which she co-produced along with
college buddy Suzanne Mayes.
In 2008, Lisa continued to stretch her legs as a producer and writer, and
created the online webisode series "Welcome to California!". Acting not only as
producer and star of the show, she also taught herself how to edit and score.
Lisa began 2009 with her daytime TV debut on "Days of Our Lives". Other
projects this year included acting in the staged reading of the musical "Shoot,
Cut, Print, Kill, Die!", portraying the lead role in "Ecstasy" the musical directed
by Kay Cole, singing at the Upright Cabaret, working with L.A. bands "Word of
Mouth" and "Bliss Bomb", and also coming closer to finishing her musical, "The
Devil and Daisy Jane", which received a staged reading in January, 2010.
Lisa currently continues to produce the musical "The Devil and Daisy Jane" and
the web series "Welcome to California!", and sings with Bliss Bomb. Check back
soon for updates and performances.
For more info and to buy the CD: www.cdbaby.com/marinacci
David C. Nichols of the Los Angeles Times called Lisa an "Olivia Newton-John flavored Queen" and says "Marinacci deftly shifts from bespectacled nerd to lithe siren." "[Marinacci] is an accomplished triple-threat performer. [She] makes an impressive transition from dweeb to sex goddess." - Les Spindle, Backstage West "Petite powerhouse Lisa Marinacci [is] excellent." - Steven Stanley, Stage Scene LA |