Ella Fitzgerald Songbooks
Ella Fitzgerald Songbooks
WHEN: 6:30 pm Sunday, August 24, 2025
WHERE:Parker Jazz Club, 111 W 4th Street, Austin, TX 78701
TICKETS: $60 (Seating will be assigned*)
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Austin Shakespeare will bring the spirit of jazz and the elegance of Ella Fitzgerald to life at its upcoming fundraiser, Ella Fitzgerald Songbooks, featuring selections made famous by the Queen of Jazz.
Set in the intimate and stylish Parker Jazz Club, Ella Fitzgerald Songbooks promises a sophisticated, high-energy evening of unforgettable tunes, from sultry ballads to toe-tapping swing. Proceeds from the event will support Austin Shakespeare’s professional productions and education programs throughout Central Texas.
If you are interested in a sponsorship with preferred seating, complimentary drinks and valet parking, contact info@austinshakespeare.org or call Alex Alford at (512) 470-4505.
Parker Jazz Club is an intimate venue. Seating is limited.
“Don’t miss this unforgettable night of live music. We’ve brought together some of Austin’s finest vocalists to celebrate the timeless songs of Ella Fitzgerald. It’s the perfect way to enjoy a night out while supporting the arts—get your tickets now and be part of it.”
—Ann Ciccolella, Austin Shakespeare Artistic Director
Ella Fitzgerald Songbooks will feature four vocalists, each bringing their own stylish flair to Fitzgerald’s timeless repertoire, as well as Dan Redner on the piano. Tara Smith, UT Austin professor of philosophy, will be the emcee.
Tim O’Brien has appeared with Austin Shakespeare in West Side Story, Kiss Me Kate, and A Little Night Music and is known for his extensive work in opera.
Pamela Hart, hailed as Austin’s First Lady of Jazz and a 2018 inductee into the Austin Jazz Society Hall of Fame, brings decades of acclaimed performance, including collaborations with national jazz legends and leadership of the Women in Jazz Concert Series.
Chelsea Manasseri is a versatile actor and singer whose recent Austin Shakespeare credits include Jane Eyre and Romeo & Juliet, with additional standout performances across Austin stages including The Vortex and Different Stages.
Kara Bliss McGregor, an Austin native with 50 years of performance experience in theater, film, and music and has earned multiple local awards and nominations for her dynamic stage roles spanning opera, jazz, and dramatic theater.
Dan Redner, music director and accompanist, is a jazz pianist and composer whose career spans performances with Andrea Bocelli and Andrew Bird, international tours and Broadway accompaniment, all in addition to teaching and directing from his Austin studio.