Wendy Parman is a professional singer/songwriter and actor working in the Chicago area for many years. She has a B.F.A. in Theater/Voice from The University of Kansas where she studied voice with Kenneth Smith and William Warfield, and an M.A. in Interdisciplinary Arts from Columbia College Chicago. She has been teaching private vocal instruction since 2003, and coaches private and group theater classes emphasizing physical and vocal work. Wendy was the vocal instructor at Camp Jam in Lake Forest this past summer (2009) and taught both voice and acting at Virtuoso Performing Arts in Niles in 2008. She has recently been hired by Triple Threat Productions in South Barrington as a private voice instructor and to teach vocal workshops.
After participating in a year long residency workshop with Z. Cynkutis of Grotowski’s Teatr Laboratorium, she moved to Chicago, where she studied Meisner technique for several years with Kyle Donnelly and Eileen Vorbach at The Actor’s Center. She has appeared in many productions in the Chicago area including Court Theater, Victory Gardens, National Jewish Theater, Bailiwick Theater , and Prop Theater. Some of her favorite roles include Eliza in My Fair Lady, The Countess in The Marriage of Figaro, and Clover in Animal Farm, (the original Jeff award winning production).
Wendy has sung everything from opera to music theater to jazz/cabaret to rock. She is also a songwriter and has done many original performances in collaboration with various musicians and composers. See her resume below for more detail. Wendy and her husband, Ron Lowy, have a roots rock band called The Red Apples, that plays around the Chicago area, doing an eclectic mix of original and cover tunes including swing, country, rock and blues. They also perform as an acoustic duo at smaller venues. Check out the band's website at www.theredapples.com.
Wendy Parman: Bio
Teaching Philosophy
"As a classically trained singer I will instruct you in all aspects of singing technique, from breath control and support to improving your tone, range, flexibility and resonance. My familiarity with a variety of musical styles from pop/rock, R&B, and country, to musical theater, lounge and jazz makes me an ideal teacher for those interested in contemporary styles.
I have spent many years developing my own style of singing and instruction. I draw on my experiences and training not only in music, but theater and movement, to create a well rounded approach to singing and performing. As an instructor, I am most interested in helping students find their true voice and artistic style. I teach students to find expression through and with a foundation of technique, rather then in spite of it. I also am very interested in helping students deal with the mental/emotional aspects of performance, an all important area so frequently ignored by music teachers. My style is nurturing, yet disciplined, and sprinkled liberally with good-natured humor."
Resume
Education
MA, Interdisciplinary Arts, Columbia College Chicago, 2003
BFA, Theater/Voice, University of Kansas
Awards, Fellowships, Grants
McCounaughey Scholarship for Academic Excellence, Scholarship Committee, Atchison, KS
Theatre Department Scholarship for Acting, University of Kansas
Recipient of Jeff Awards for Ensemble work in The Threepenny Opera, and Animal Farm, (both at Bailiwick Repertory Theater)
Performing History
University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
The Marriage of Figaro, the Countess
The Old Maid and the Thief, Laetitia
Hotel Paradiso, Victoire
The Great Nebula in Orion, Louise
Woyzeck, Marie
The Love of Three Oranges, Romantic
Vassar Playhouse, Vassar KS /Kathryn Rogers Foundation for Arts, Osage City, KS
My Fair Lady, Eliza Doolittle
Grease, Marty
The Fantasticks, Luisa
You Can’t Take It with You, Alice
I Remember Mama, Aunt Trina
The Robber Bridegroom, Goat’s Mother
Our Town, Mrs. Soames
Ten Little Indians, Mrs. Rogers
Chicago Theater and Performance
Round and Round the Garden, Annie, Court Theater, Chicago
The Threepenny Opera, Ensemble, Bailiwick Repertory Theater, Chicago, Jeff award winning production directed by Kyle Donnelly
Chamber Music, Pearl White, Bailiwick Repertory Theater, Chicago
The Tylenol Project, Ensemble created original work, Huron Theater
Animal Farm, Clover, Bailiwick Repertory Theater, the original Jeff award winning production, directed by David Zak and the remount 1 year later ( 1986/87)
Minnie’s Boys, Mrs. McNish, National Jewish Theater, Skokie, IL
Reflections for the Stage, original performance featuring musical collaboration with Jaroslaw Golembiowski, and songs of Brecht/Weill, Jerzy Kenar’s Wooden Gallery
The Lulu Sex Tragedies, Countess Geschwitz, Prop Theater, directed by avant-garde South African director Christiaan Pretorious (Jeff recommended)
I’m a Stranger Here Myself, original performance featuring musical collaboration with Jaroslaw Golembiowski; mise-en-scene by Christiaan Pretorious, Jerzy Kenar’s Wooden Gallery
Six Characters in Search of an Author, Mother, Getz Theater, Columbia College; guest performer for this student production directed by Polish director Z. Zasadny
Unfinished Portrait of Ahkmatova, Anna Ahkmatova, Links Hall Performance Series, created and directed by Jill Daley (formerly Curious Theater) with original songs by Ilya Levinson based on the poetry of Ahkmatova
Mom and Dad, original solo performance, part of Ache for the Stage, Lunar Cabaret
root and bone and things unknown…, original musical performance in collaboration with Ilya Levinson, Ron Lowy, and Martine Benmann; Columbia College Chicago
Hollow, Original performance written and directed by Wendy Parman ; with original music performed by Wendy Parman and Ron Lowy; ArtMix One, an evening of performative art produced by Chicago InArts at St Patrick’s Fine Arts Center
In the Blink of an Eye, original performance with music, part of Source: An Exploration of Beginnings; Andersonville Arts Weekend, Edgewater Historical Society
The Red Apples, roots, swing, rock acoustic trio; we perform around the Chicago area playing an eclectic mix of original and cover material; www.theredapples.com ; www.myspace.com/redapplesband
Recent performance venues include: The Horseshoe Lounge, The Spot, The Randolph St. Market (regular gig last Sun. each month), Bernice’s Tavern, Sunset Bay Marina, The Red Line Tap, Cuephoria, The Winds Café, Goose Island Wrigleyville, The Nite Cap, and Lincoln Square Mayfest, and Gigfest at The Spot.
Wendy has been seen at many venues and private functions in the Chicago area as a singer doing both her own material and repertoire including theater and jazz standards, European cabaret (Weill, Brecht, Eisner, Piaf, Brel etc.) and music from the classical canon, including The Green Mill, Uncommon Ground, Sylvie’s, Café Lura, the Raccoon Club, etc.
Additional Training and Teaching Experience
2003-present, Teach private voice and acting instruction out of my home studio ; also a performance workshop for singers, www.vocalperformanceworkshop.com
Sept 2010-May 2012, Bloomingdale School of Music, Private Voice Instructor
June 2010-Sept 2011, Rock Academy of Dupage, Private Vocal Instructor and band consultant
Summer 2010, Girl's Rock Chicago, Workshop Leader
July 2008, Listed with Encore Music Lessons as Voice Instructor
October 2008-Virtuoso Performing Arts, Niles, IL Acting and Private Voice Instructor;
Substitute Group Voice Instructor
Summer 2009, Vocal Instructor for Camp Jam in Lake Forest, IL
Among a small group of actors selected to participate in yearlong residency workshop with Z. Cynkuitis, of Grotowski’s Teatr Laboratorium. This involved an intensive physical and vocal training as well as the creation of original experimental and paratheatrical works.
Private Voice, William Warfield, Kenneth Smith
Improvisation, Donna Blue Lachman
Actor’s Center, Kyle Donnelly and Eileen Vorbach; Sanford Meisner technique; also part of an experimental actor’s group formed by invitation only
Second Degree Reiki Usui System, Gwen Mitchell Reiki Master