Theatre News Wire

KMP Artists proudly presents acclaimed vocalist, actor and songwriter Spider Saloff and her highly entertaining one-woman musical, "The Roar of the Butterfly" at Victory Gardens' Richard Christiansen Theater May 2 - 20, 2012.
In the tradition of Lilly Tomlin and Tracey Ullman, Saloff portrays eight different characters in this hysterical and moving new musical comedy.

"The Roar of the Butterfly" features a book, music, and lyrics by Saloff. Contributing writers are Jim Sellers (who is also musical director and arranger) and Steve Ramsdell. Pianist is Jeremy Kahn. "The Roar of the Butterfly," was initially performed in Melbourne and Tazmania to sold-out crowds, followed by a successful run this past summer in Los Angeles. With this engagement, Saloff brings the production to her hometown before off-Broadway and Edinburgh Fringe Festival engagements.

The setting for "The Roar of the Butterfly" is the memorial service for Butterfly, an Asian drag queen who has been a colorful and inspirational character in the lives of the attendees - an unlikely and diverse group all portrayed by Saloff - including a sharp-tongued Scottish waitress, a faded stage star, a hair dresser from South Philly and a bearded poet.

Reviewing the most recent run in California, Don Grigware of Broadwayworld.com raved "Spider Saloff's vibrantly diverse characters have one thing in common: a unique attraction to and zest of living that is infectious. Saloff's light comes from deep within and like Butterfly, she shares it magnanimously." On his own website, Grigwaretalkstheatre.com, he hailed the show as "The Best Female Solo Show of 2011." In Australia, Time Out Melbourne hailed "Roar of the Butterfly" as "A fantastic Musical Comedy" and the Herald Sun wore "Watching Spider Saloff change from character to character in 'Roar of the Butterfly' is truly wonderful, a privilege to watch. Brilliantly written."

Based on a true story "The Roar of the Butterfly" is a musical comedy tour de force with a message and contains poignant moments touching on subjects of diversity, human loss and dysfunctional relationships. Essentially, "The Roar of the Butterfly" is about how one unusual life affects so many others. "The script touches upon themes that are close to my heart," says Saloff. "It's a dream come true to be able to perform something so personal for my home town fans."

Chicagoan Spider Saloff has been hailed by the New York Times for "her wicked way with a lyric with a glint of well-controlled mischief;" by the Chicago Tribune as "slyly sophisticated, easily accessible... a kind of ideal;" and by the New York Observer as "a gifted and polished song stylist."

She has performed in nationally recognized venues including New York's Jazz at Lincoln Center and Birdland; Chicago's Green Mill, Fairmont Hotel and Gold Star Sardine Bar; and San Francisco's Yoshi's, The Castro Theatre and the Jazz Heritage Center.

As one of the rare officially sanctioned acts of the Gershwin Centennial, her Gershwin concert, "The Memory of All That," continues to tour the globe including an appearance in Russia where she headlined the St. Petersburg Gershwin Festival.

In addition to touring her one-woman show "The Roar of the Butterfly," this year she will also tour again with acclaimed biographer, James Gavin, in a show about Chet Baker, called "Deep In a Dream: The Long Night of Chet Baker," which is scheduled for a Midwest tour fall 2012 /winter 2013.

As a guest artist Saloff has performed at The Smithsonian Institution, Denver Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Jazz Orchestra, the Willingford Symphony and the Wilmington Grand Opera.

Saloff's discography includes "1938," "Sextet," "The Memory of All That," "A New Set of Standards" and "Like Glass." Her Christmas CD entitled "Cool Yule" was a finalist for the Indie Awards. Her latest recording, "Cole Porter Live at Maxim's," was released in 2008.