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"Joyce is sly, spry, and eager to wink an eye. And that's why the lady is a vamp!" |
"With her sunny side up and at 'em, Joyce ebulliently sashays and struts and smiles or sobs her way through the songbook of Ager....
 A major part of the pleasure is hearing the lesser-known numbers... they are ripe for the dusting off and admirers of old-time tunes (like me) are grateful for Joyce and Earl's way with the feather duster and the feather boa.
Revealing a legit soprano and prominent vibrato on sentimental ballads like her dignified Trust in Me, a bombastic belt for Hard-Hearted Hannah, and light comedy-cute characterization on Crazy Words, Crazy Tune, there's variety in Joyce's choices and voices.......Fun...it becomes contagious."
-- Rob Lester, Cabaret Scenes
(Read the full online review here.)
(Read the full review from the print edition here.) |
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"Like Ethel Merman - Joyce has got the pipes!"
-- Joey Reynolds, WOR Radio |
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"Vampin' Lady is a strong entry in Earl Wentz's laudable American Composer Series. Milton Ager may not be a household word, but many of his songs are -- and the ones that aren't are well worth discovering. As is Joyce Moody, who holds forth with considerable charm and polish and has a presence that is as lovely as her voice."
-- Roy Sander, Backstage; Citysearch |
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 "A Must See!
Joyce Moody returns with her acclaimed (and I concur) musical revue of the songs of Milton Ager. Who? you ask. Well, maybe it would be better if I listed a few of the songs:
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Ain't She Sweet,
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Happy Days Are Here Again,
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Hard Hearted Hannah (The Vamp of Savannah),
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Louisville Lou (That Vampin' Lady),
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Big Bad Bill (Is Sweet William Now).
Get the picture? Join the fun!"
-- Stu Hamstra, Cabaret Hotline |
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 Joyce Moody - Vampin Lady: The Music of Milton Ager is an exemplary example of a tribute show to a songwriter. Ager is one whose name may not be familiar to today's music fans, but whose great songs from the Twenties and the Thirties created many hit songs that are still being sung today.
Moody, in conjunction with her multi-talented musical director and singing partner, Earl Wentz, begins with a great example: A familiar song, an enduring standard, and an obscure torch are demonstrated in I'm The Last of the Red Hot Mamas (Sophie Tucker's signature song), Ain't She Sweet, and the less familiar barrelhouse blues, Mamma Goes Where Poppa Goes, the first medley on the program.
Throughout the program she alternates obscurities like I'm Doin' What I'm Doin' For Love, Could I? I Certainly Could, along with such perennial favorites as I Wonder What's Become of Sally, Big Bad Bill Is Sweet William Now, Glad Rag Doll, Trust in Me, and I'm Nobody's Baby. A centerpiece is the "vamping lady" medley (done with a series of colorful boas): Hard-To-Get Gertie, Louisville Lou, and (the most famous of all) Hard Hearted Hannah.
The classically trained Moody performed without amplification and every word, soft, or stong, was heard clearly and beautifully. She saved the best for last, a great Happy Days Are Here Again that was originally FDR's campaign theme. By the end of this show you certainly know who Ager is and what an extraordinary talent Ms. Moody is.
-- Joe Regan Jr., critic, Cabaret Scenes Magazine, Cabaret Exchange, Riveting Riffs |
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"Vampin' Lady is a total treat -- polished, professionally presented, and entertaining in every way. The songs are presented in such a delightful way that I was totally engaged the entire show. What fun material! Bravo!"
-- Bob Egan |
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 "Joyce really puts a lot of spirit and feeling into the music.... Earl's arrangements are very creative and fun to listen to. They are both really talented."
-- Laurence Rubenstein, UCLA, Ager family archivist |
oyce Moody in "Vampin' Lady" gives a powerhouse, not-to-be-missed performance! This is what the art of cabaret is all about! | |
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Live On Stage!
New York Performance Dates
(Summer 2008)
Additional performance dates just added.
More to come! Please check back!
Friday, July 11, 2008 at 6:30 pm
Thursday, July 31, 2008 at 8:00 pm
Located on New York's Restaurant Row at
343 W. 46th Street
New York, NY
Call for Reservations: 212-757-0788
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The Vampin' Lady Fall Tour Begins
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Orrs Bailey Island Yacht Club
Harpswell, Maine
Additional Dates and Locations to Come -
Please check back.
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Joyce Moody photo by TalismanPHOTO
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Songwriters' Hall of Famer Milton Ager (1893-1979) would qualify as one of America's musical treasures had he only penned one of his trove of songs, Happy Days Are Here Again.
Instead, he penned over 130, including
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Ain't She Sweet which has been recorded by artists as diverse as Frank Sinatra, Lawrence Welk, and The Beatles;
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Hard Hearted Hannah (The Vamp of Savannah) which scored successes for Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, and Ray Charles among others;
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the Judy Garland weepie I'm Nobody's Baby; and
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I'm the Last of the Red Hot Mammas, Sophie Tucker's signature tune.
All of these songs - and 23 more - are included in Joyce Moody's Vampin' Lady show, which takes its title not just from Ager's keenly-focused ear for songs about seductive sirens, but more specifically from Ager's 1923 hit Louisville Lou (That Vampin' Lady).
The Vampin' Lady CD features 24 songs from the show and will be available at performances.
Vampin Lady is produced live on stage in conjunction with Wenhelm Productions' American Composer Series. For more information on the American Composer Series, click here. | |
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Production History:
Vampin' Lady opened at Bob Egan's Cosmopolitan Club in New Hope, PA on Thursday, October 25, 2007 at 8:00 pm.
Vampin' Lady opened at Don't Tell Mama in New York, NY on
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Wednesday, December 19, 2007 at 6:30 pm; and continued on
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Friday, December 21, at 6:30 pm;
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and Saturday, December 22, at 6:00 pm.
Vampin' Lady returned to Don't Tell Mama in New York, NY on
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Thursday, January 24, 2008 at 6:30 pm
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Thursday, January 31, 2008 at 6:30 pm
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Thursday, February 7, 2008 at 6:30 pm
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Wednesday, February 20, 2008 at 6:30 pm
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Monday, February 25, 2008 at 6:30 pm
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Tuesday, March 4, 2008 at 6:30 pm
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Sunday, March 9, 2008 at 3:00 pm
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Thursday, April 17, 2008 at 6:30 pm
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Friday, April 18, 2007 at 6:30 pm |
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