|  |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
| Member
Since |
Aug 28, 2006 |
|
Influences
|
For my first album: Patsy Cline, k.d. lang, Peggy Lee,
Note: to listen to longer versions of my songs, go to www.cdbaby.com/leisaway, and click on each track
After performing in musical theatre for the past twenty years, this new adventure in recording my own album has been a wonderful awakening. I love being in the studio! I'm a real mixed bag as a singer. I began my career in a small town, singing country music and then ended up in Toronto studying opera. In between, I've always been influenced by the great jazz singers - Ella, Sarah, Billie. Today we have so many contemporary jazz singers that I admire....Diane Reeves, Ranee Lee, Wesla Whitfield, Jane Monheit, Diana Krall, and of course the late Canadian jazz singer Trudy Desmond and the late cabaret singer Nancy LaMott. All women...hmm...fancy that! I think what has influenced me most about these women is the way they treat the lyrics....I've always admired singers who sing more than just pretty notes, but can evoke a feeling, can entice the audience to come on a journey with them. I guess it's like acting to me. Who cares about a beautiful voice, I want the music to make me feel something., |
|
Sounds Like
|
In making my first album, Sweet Dreams: the songs of Patsy Cline, my band and I didn't try to do a sound-a-like of Patsy Cline, instead we wanted to evoke the feeling of that wonderful era of music, and yet put our own more contemporary stamp on it. We really produced the album because so many people at our live shows were asking for it.
The next album? Definitely jazz!, |
|
Record Label
|
Leisa Way Productions
www.leisaway.com
www.cdbaby.com/leisaway |
|
|
| |
| General
|
You can find out more by going to:
www.leisaway.com
|
| Television
|
I rarely have time to watch t.v. as I work most nights in theatre doing 8 shows a week and on my nights off - the last thing I want to do is watch TV!
|
| Hobbies
|
|
| Views
|
I love being in this business and feel so very lucky to have made a career out of doing what I love. And, because of this career, I have been able to travel and work all over the world, in countries I never dreamed I'd perform in. A bonus are the many friends I have made - true gifts!
|
|
|
| |
| Gender |
Female
|
| Status |
Single |
| Here
For |
the possibilities |
| Hometown |
Originally? Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, home of the big nickel and the |
| Sign |
Virgo |
| Smoke |
No |
| Drink |
Yes |
| Children |
not yet! |
| Education |
University |
|
|
| |
| |
|
Untitled Document
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
Sep 28, 2008 |
8:00pm |
The Long Weekend |
Theatre Collingwood - show runs from September 17th to 28th
Collingwood
Ontario, L9W 4E3
|
|
Aug 29, 2008 |
8:00pm |
Sweet Dreams: A Tribute to Patsy Cline |
Gibson Centre
Alliston
Ontario, L9W 4E3
|
|
Aug 28, 2008 |
8:00pm |
Gibson Centre |
63 Tupper St.
Alliston
Ontario, L9R 1E4
|
|
Jul 12, 2008 |
8:00pm |
Sweet Dreams: A Tribute to Patsy Cline |
Gryphon Theatre
Barrie
Ontario, L7M 4E2
|
|
Jun 28, 2008 |
8:00pm |
The Long Weekend by Norm Foster |
Victoria Playhouse - show runs from June 10th to 28th, 8 shows per week
Petrolia
Ontario, N8W 4E5
|
|
Mar 29, 2008 |
8:00pm |
Sweet Dreams: A Tribute to Patsy Cline |
Maplefest Grey Road #109
Holstein
Ontario, NOG 1KO
|
|
Feb 23, 2008 |
8:00pm |
Sweet Dreams: A Tribute to Patsy Cline |
Capitol Theatre 20 Queen Street
Port Hope
Ontario, L1A 3Z4
|
|
Feb 03, 2008 |
2:00pm |
Sweet Dreams: A Tribute to Patsy Cline |
Waterloo Entertainment Centre 24 King Street North
Waterloo
Ontario, N2J 2W7
|
|
Feb 02, 2008 |
2:00pm and |
Sweet Dreams: A Tribute to Patsy Cline |
Waterloo Entertainment Centre 24 King Street North
Waterloo
Ontario, N2J 2W7
|
|
Feb 01, 2008 |
7:30pm |
Sweet Dreams: A Tribute to Patsy Cline |
Waterloo Entertainment Centre 24 King Street North
Waterloo
Ontario, N2J 2W7
|
|
Jan 31, 2008 |
7:30pm |
Sweet Dreams: A Tribute to Patsy Cline |
Waterloo Entertainment Centre 24 King Street North
Waterloo
Ontario, N2J 2W7
|
|
Jan 30, 2008 |
2pm & 7:30 |
Sweet Dreams: A Tribute to Patsy Cline |
Waterloo Entertainment Centre 24 King Street North
Waterloo
Ontario, N2J 2W7
|
|
Dec 20, 2007 |
8:00pm |
Theatre Orangeville |
87 Broadway
Orangeville
Ontario, L9W 1K1
|
| View
All Shows |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
Leisa Way delivers the songs of Patsy Cline with a pure heart and sensational vocals. Her strong full, honest voice will thrill any fan. This cd features traditional country with a more contemporary sound -- you'll find a dash of jazz and a little bit of country rock.
"Leisa Way's portrayal of Patsy Cline must be unprecedented. I'm willing to bet that no one has come as close as Way in emulating the essence the voice and the passion of the country music legend. A very difficult repertoire to master -- with Cline's trademark deep voice and the ability to hit those low guttural notes-- but Way causes shivers with her grandiose voice." (Banner Review 2005)
"There have been so many Patsy Cline Tributes through the years....but this one by Leisa Way is just different enough to make it stand out above most of the others. Leisa Way delivers these Patsy Cline standards with lots of pizzazz and passion; and while it is difficult for anyone to bring something new to the plate on these time-tested nuggets Way's strong vocals keep you interested from start to finish. Just when you think you really didn't need to hear another female voice singing Sweet Dreams Walkin' After Midnight and Crazy Leisa Way manages to change your mind."
(review by Larry Delaney Country Music News Magazine September 2006)
The idea for this album came about in 2005 when Canadian actress/singer Leisa Way was privileged to portray “Patsy Cline” in Dean Regan’s stage musical "A Closer Walk With Patsy Cline" back home in Canada. After enjoying a career in musical theatre that has taken her to over 50 countries in the world Leisa was thrilled to return to her roots of country music.
After her staggering success portraying Patsy Cline Leisa and her fabulous band,(Michael Mulrooney Bruce Ley, Bob Hewus and Dave Wilson) went into the studio to try to recapture the magic of that live performance. The result is this marvellous cd "Sweet Dreams: the songs of Patsy Cline".
Spurred on by fans critics and producers, Leisa has written a one-woman show that is a phenomenal tribute to Patsy Cline. She and her band are excited to begin touring this tribute show in the new year. Watch for it at a theatre or concert hall near you!
Leisa is a native of Sudbury Ontario, Canada, better known as the former nickel mining capital of the world! She comes from a very musical family and was raised on country music. Her folks loved all kinds of music and Leisa's first "concerts" were on the way up to the family camp. She'd stand between the seats of Dad's old truck while they yelled out song titles - and Leisa would belt out tunes for the whole trip up to camp. She started singing at events when she was 9 years old and at age 12 sang for Queen Elizabeth. Since then she has performed for every member of the Britain's Royal Family excluding the young princes! She also was privileged to sing for the Kennedy Family and at a private dinner for Terry Fox. As a child her big clear voice amazed people (how does such a big voice come out of such a little girl?) and she was encouraged to study opera. Her studies took her to the University of Toronto for opera and the Banff School of Fine Arts where she caught her bug for musical theatre.
Leisa took her first professional acting role in 1981 when she played Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz and she has performed in over 100 professional productions since then both plays and musicals. In Canada she is perhaps best known for her starring role as Anne of Green Gables a role she played for six years at the Charlottetown Festival including six tours to Japan and Canadian and U.S.A. tours and over 1,000 performances.
Her 25-year career in theatre has taken her to countries and theatres all over the world starring in such roles as "Peter Pan" in Peter Pan (both in Canada and the United States) as well as playing "Wendy" to Olympic Medalist Cathy Rigby's Peter Pan (U.S.A. Tour) Polly in Crazy For You (South American tour) and Peggy in 42nd Street (Ntl Tour). In Canada Leisa starred as Magnolia in ShowBoat; as Billie Dawn (the Judy Holiday role) in Born Yesterday; The Woman in Dave Carley's Test Drive; Guenevere in Camelot; Carly in Maritime Star; Maria in The Sound of Music; Josefine/Monica in Romance Romance; Diana in Lend Me a Tenor; Laurey in Oklahoma; Sally in Me and My Girl; Maggie in Harvest Moon Rising; Eileen in The Invisibility of Eileen; Laurey in Oklahoma; Sandy in Grease!; and as Heather in the Canadian hockey musical Home and Away.
In the United States Leisa performed the leading roles in Crazy for You; Forty Second Street Grease!; TinTypes, Peter Pan; and she also starred in the U.S.A National tour of the hit off-Broadway musical I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change!
Leisa is a great fan of Canadian playwright Norm Foster and has starred in a few of his plays including The Long Weekend (in Bermuda and Canada) The Melville Boys, Race Day (his musical with composer Steve Thomas) and The Love List a role she will reprise again at two theatres this summer in Canada starring opposite the playwright himself.
Leisa has performed her one-woman Cabaret shows on various cruise lines including Silver Sea Cruises Norwegian Cruise Lines, Regal Cruises and Japan's Venus Cruise Line. Her latest Cabaret is a one-woman tribute to Patsy Cline (of course!) that has been overwhelmingly received by audiences and critics. Leisa also performs a Judy Garland cabaret an Evening of Jazz; a Stroll Down Broadway a cabaret of Latin music and an old War-time Radio show.
One of the greatest joys of travelling the world is the wonderful people you meet. Leisa feels very blessed to have a career she loves so much and to have made so many lasting and wonderful friendships all over the world.
Leisa lives in Orangeville Ontario, where her partner, David Nairn, has been the Artistic Director of Theatre Orangeville for the past 8 seasons. Theatre Orangeville is a beautifully restored Opera House only an hour from Toronto that is gaining a fine reputation in Canada for producing the best of Canadian-only theatre and giving actors, designers and playwrights a chance to continually develop new works. Something to be proud of! |
|
|
| |
Spanish Translation by Google
|
| |
| |
|
| |
|
|
eddiewells |
|
|
|
Thank you for the kind words!
Love your music.
Eddie |
|
walknroll |
|
|
|
Hello Leisa...
Hope you have a great Hollidays full of Blessings...Wanted to share my other passion...ART...here are two stores I thought you would enjoy and they make great gifts for all ages...Enjoy....http://www.cafepress.com/kuddie and http://stores.lulu.com/cindypearson
Blessings...
Love,
Cindy |
|
walknroll |
|
|
|
Hi Leisa...wanted to say you do Pattsy Proud...She'd be In Her Glory...I have her story Sweet Dreams...and when you do Seven Lonely Days...it puts a grin on my face...sometimes I get the Feelin she's with you in spirit when you sing her songs...you are connected...somehow...it's that feelin of knowing...Thank you for havin that Dream of Yours...and Keepin it ALIVE...Your Friend,Cindy Pearson/WalknRoll |
|
kuddie |
|
|
|
Hello...This is Kuddie...Your New Friend. Your voice is Beautifull and Powerfull and Full of Heart when you sing...Just like Pattsy...Where The Boy's Are by Connie Francis would be one for you to sing...the spirit in you could do it ...Kuddie can hear your voice doing it...Connie and Pattsy are Ballad singers...as you are ...Just wanted to drop in...and say Hello ...and Thank You for singing to us all...Your Friend, Kuddie/WalknRoll |
|
eddiewells |
|
|
|
Wow what a great voice.
Proud to be a friend !
Keep in touch and let me know about shows.
I am from upstate New York.
Eddie
PS thanks for the kind words on my sight. |
|
galaxyrise |
|
|
|
Hey Leisa!
Wow...Your Beautiful rendition of Patsy Cline's "Crazy" is simply...AMAZING.
I was really moved by your beautiful voice, range and clearity...really Outstanding stuff you got there.
Thanx 4 the add...
You definitely have a new Fan here in the Rockin San Francisco Bay Area!
Love, Peace, and Happiness!
Your friend,
Mark aka Galaxyrise |
|
| View All Comments for
leisajway |
|
|
|
|
| |
Purchase URL:
Add
Download
Buy CD
