BORN TO ENTERTAIN was the debut solo recording from Lisa Richard, a singer and actress from Southern California, released in April of 2000. Her second CD, VIRGIN TRACKS, a collection of previously unrecorded material from today's hot songwriters, released on April 9, 2002. Both her CD's are on the LML Music label and have garnered high critical acclaim.

Lisa appeared in the resident Las Vegas company of the hit ABBA musical Mamma Mia!, for three years. In 2003-2004, Lisa performed in the first national Broadway tour of Mamma Mia!. She performed a variety of musical theatre roles in regional theatres prior to Mamma Mia!, most notably as Chlo in Inside Out at the Laguna Playhouse (Robby Award) and Ginger in The 1940's Radio Hour at Fullerton Civic Light Opera (Robby nomination). She received rave reviews for her portrayal of Corine in Triumph of Love at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center, and as Audrey in Little Shop of Horrors in San Diego. Other roles include the Housewife in Working (also at the Laguna Playhouse), Sandy in Grease, Hope in Anything Goes, the Mistress in Evita, Sister Robert Anne in Nunsense, and Gloria in Damn Yankees. Lisa also appeared in the premiere concert version of the new musical by Jill Santoriello, A Tale of two Cities, with the late actor Richard Kiley, and recently was featured in a staged performance of the same musical at the Little Shubert Theatre in New York City with James Barbour and Gavin Creel.

In 2000, Lisa began performing her solo cabaret act at clubs in Los Angeles. She has appeared several times to critical acclaim at the prestigious Cinegrill at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, as well as Masquer's Cafe', the Saddleback Cabaret Series, and other venues. She has appeared as a soloist in cabaret shows and reviews with a number of renowned artists, including Dale Kristien, Amanda McBroom, Teri Ralston, Carol Lawrence, Bonnie Franklin, and Jason Graae. She has appeared frequently with friend and Broadway star Susan Egan, both as a guest in concert with Susan and in their duet concert, most recently at the Orange County Performing Arts Center. She completed a successful solo run at the famed cabaret club Don't Tell Mama, her New York City debut, where the Village Voice proclaimed, "So in your face she's practically in your lap as she rocks the room," and New York Newsday called her "Los Angeles' singing sensation!" She received Cabaret Hotline's Female Vocalist award in the "Best of Cabaret 2000" honors for her appearances at the Cinegrill and Don't Tell Mama.

Lisa has also performed in a variety of other venues: she was featured as a soloist in Leonard Bernstein's Mass at the Lincoln Center in New York, has recorded and appeared in numerous industrials, has appeared twice as featured vocalist in Laguna Beach's famed Pageant of the Masters, and sang the national anthem for the Mighty Ducks hockey team at the Anaheim Pond stadium.

Lisa is also featured on Adryan Russ' debut CD, EVERYONE HAS A STORY on the LML Music label, and on the solo CD debut of Broadway and film star Susan Egan, SUSAN EGAN - SO FAR..., available from Jay Records and recorded at Abbey Road studios in London.

Lisa holds undergraduate degrees in biology and chemistry (Colgate University), as well as an MBA in Marketing (Rutgers University). Prior to 2001, Lisa was the vice president of strategic planning for Toshiba in Irvine, where she worked for eleven years. Widely recognized as an expert in e-business, she was profiled in June 2000 on the cover of Information Week magazine, and has been interviewed by Fortune magazine, Internet Week, Computer Reseller News, and a host of other business publications. In 2001 she gave up the executive life to perform full time. She lived in Laguna, California, for 14 years, where she was one of the founding members of the local, non-profit community theatre, No Square Theatre. She is now a full-time resident of Las Vegas.

 

Copyright 2007 - Lisa Richard