Biography
Whether she's singing a rock song or a jazz tune,
acting, making people laugh, writing a song, 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, and The Center for Theater Arts, performing everywhere from
Heinz Hall and The Benedum Center to Walt Disney World. She also performed
live and on television with Joe Negri (of the television show, “Mr. Rogers
Neighborhood”), who was instrumental in introducing her to the world of jazz and
standards.
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. Favorite
roles performed during her college years include “Annabel” in “Lucky Stiff”,
“Florence” in “Chess”, “Kim” in “Bye Bye Birdie” and “Sara Jane Moore” in
“Assassins”. 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 and has since 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, singing everything from classic rock to Spanish love songs. 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 she has been
performing 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 this past February . 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.
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, and The Center for Theater Arts, performing everywhere from
Heinz Hall and The Benedum Center to Walt Disney World. She also performed
live and on television with Joe Negri (of the television show, “Mr. Rogers
Neighborhood”), who was instrumental in introducing her to the world of jazz and
standards.
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. Favorite
roles performed during her college years include “Annabel” in “Lucky Stiff”,
“Florence” in “Chess”, “Kim” in “Bye Bye Birdie” and “Sara Jane Moore” in
“Assassins”. 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 and has since 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, singing everything from classic rock to Spanish love songs. 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 she has been
performing 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 this past February . 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.
For more info and to buy the CD: www.cdbaby.com/marinacci
