VocalEssence – Philip Brunelle, artistic director

Maureen McGovern's career, which spans nearly 35 years, includes recordings, concerts, Broadway, theater, films, television, radio and composing. She first appeared with VocalEssence in the 1999 performance of Of Thee I sing.

Maureen returned to Broadway's 2005 season, originating her Drama Desk nominated role of 'Marmee' in Little Women, The Musical and reprised her role as 'Marmee' in the first Broadway National Tour [2005-2006] of Little Women. Maureen made her debut as 'Mabel' in The Pirates of Penzance, starred as 'Luisa' in Nine with Raul Julia, and as 'Polly Peachum' in The 3 Penny Opera with Sting. Off-Broadway, Maureen originated the role of 'Mary' in Brownstone. Critics and audiences alike were delighted with her definitive portrayal of 'Anna' in the recent Broadway National Tour of The King and I. She performed in the West Coast Premiere of William Finn's Elegies at the Canon Theatre. Maureen starred as 'Countess Aurelia' in the historic revival of the Jerry Herman musical Dear World (an adaptation of The Madwoman of Chaillot) at The Sundance Institute Theatre and appeared in the Boston World Premiere of Letters from 'Nam, originating the role of 'Eleanor Bridges.'

In 2001, she made her dramatic debut as 'Eleanor of Aquitaine' in The Lion in Winter at The Carpenter Square Theater. She starred as 'Mme. Emery' in The Umbrellas of Cherbourg at The Sundance Theatre, as 'Mary Turner' in Of Thee I Sing for the 'Reprise' series at UCLA's Freud Playhouse and also at The Kennedy Center and BAM in tandem with Let 'Em Eat Cake! Maureen has also starred in productions of The Sound of Music, South Pacific, Guys & Dolls (playing both 'Sarah' and 'Adelaide'), and I Do, I Do. Maureen's children's musical, The Bengal Tiger's Ball, had its East Coast Premiere in 1999. Maureen wrote the music, co-created and also starred in the production.

Maureen's films include The Towering Inferno, Airplane, Airplane II: The Sequel, The Cure for Boredom (aka: Sex and Bullets) and as the voice of 'Rachel' in the DreamWorks animated video Joseph: King of Dreams with Ben Affleck. Television roles include One Life to Live, The Tracey Ullman Show, Pacific Blue, Duckman and Beyond Belief. Her recording career began with a #1 chart topping, Academy Award winning Gold Record "The Morning After" from The Poseidon Adventure, for which she received a "Best New Artist" Grammy nomination, followed by the Oscar winning Gold Record "We May Never Love Like This Again" from The Towering Inferno, "Can You Read My Mind?" from Superman and "Different Worlds" from the TV series, Angie. Maureen has recorded more than 25 albums, including songwriter tributes to George Gershwin, Harold Arlen, Richard Rodgers and Alan & Marilyn Bergman. She received her second Grammy nomination in 1999 for her CD, The Pleasure of His Company. Maureen is featured singing "This Is Just The Day" on the Grammy winning, "Best Musical Recording for Children" CD/DVD, "Songs from the Neighborhood: The Music of Mister Rogers."

Maureen's current releases, Help is On the Way (in partnership with Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids) and Works of Heart, songs of hope featuring a newly recorded 30th Anniversary version of "The Morning After" launched the Maureen McGovern "Works of Heart" Foundation for Music and Healing to address the emotional and inspirational needs of patients and caregivers. Ms. McGovern is a National Board Member of the Muscular Dystrophy Association and an Artist Spokesperson for The American Music Therapy Association.

For the most current information, please go to: www.maureenmcgovern.com