An Evening of Spiritual Song with Carol Woods and the Shepherd’s Singers

Sponsored by Joseph Labenson, CPA .

The incomparable folk and blues great, Odetta, is ill and unable to perform Saturday night. However, Broadway Star Carol Woods will perform in her place with special guests The Shepherd’s Singers and host Rev. Vivian Nixon of Mt. Olive AME.

Carol Woods is at home singing the blues, the gospel or singing standards on stages across the world. Carol has made Broadway her home, having recently starred as “Mama Morton” in the Broadway production of Kander & Ebb’s Chicago in January 2007 and in Spring 2006. Carol has enjoyed that role for the past 3 years on the National Tour as well.

In November 2006, Carol Woods performed at Carnegie Hall with the New York Pops, for The Laurie Strauss Foundation. In addition, she co-starred with Cedric The Entertainer in the Paramount motion picture comedy The Honeymooners.

Carol’s impressive list of roles on Broadway include: Smokey Joe’s Cafe, the Tommy Tune – directed Stepping Out, Neil Simon’s The Goodbye Girl, Grind, Big River and The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. As a founding member of Tony Randall’s National Actor’s Theatre, Carol appeared in their first two productions: The Crucible and A Little Hotel On The Side. Off Broadway, she starred in One Mo’ Time at The Village Gate, Taking My Turn and First Lady Suite at the Public Theatre. On it’s National Broadway Tour, she starred as “Jeanette” in The Full Monty.

Internationally known, Carol has had command performances for England’s Princess Margaret and Prince Andrew, starred in the London production of One Mo Time, and performed the title role in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom at the Royal National Theatre. She was nominated for an Olivier Award for her performance in the long running London production of Blues In The Night.

Carol’s nightclub and cabaret performances span the globe – from London to Tokyo, from Las Vegas to Honolulu. In New York, she has appeared at Carnegie Hall, B. Smith’s, Rainbow and Stars, Michael’s Pub and Town Hall.

Television audiences have seen her on Law and Order, The Equalizer and as a regular cast member of the Robert Townsend series, The Parent Hood.