Karen Akers - Water Under the Bridge

One of the world's most celebrated cabaret performers makes her Playhouse debut!

1 show only!

NOTE: This concert is cabaret-style seating in the new Playhouse Barn.
There is a cover charge of $90 per person +$5 fee to be paid in advance, plus a $25 per person minimum beverage purchase the night of the event.

Karent Akers in “Water Under the Bridge”
With Alex Rybeck on piano

In her show, which she premiered at New York’s famed Birdland in 2023, Akers looks back at her life and career through story and song with musical director Alex Rybeck. When it premiered, “Water Under the Bridge” was hailed as “a masterclass in intimate storytelling that left the listener emotionally spent, in the best possible way. ” Bart Greenberg from Cabaret Scenes noted the show was “the gold standard of a cabaret show.”

Akers has appeared at Carnegie Hall and The Hollywood Bowl, as well as New York’s Cafe Carlyle and The Oak Room at The Algonquin Hotel. She has performed in the south of France, Russia, Barcelona’s Liceu Opera House and The Crazy Coqs in London. She appeared at the Martin Beck Theatre on Broadway as one of the original stars of the Tony Award-winning musical “Grand Hotel,” directed by Tommy Tune. She made her debut on Broadway in the original production of “Nine”, also directed by Tommy Tune, receiving a Tony nomination and a Theatre World Award. Her television appearances include two of her own PBS specials, “Presenting Karen Akers” and “Karen Akers: On Stage at Wolf Trap.” Film roles include the femme fatale in Mike Nichol’s “Heartburn,” Woody Allen’s “The Purple Rose of Cairo,” and Vibes. CDs include: “If We Only Have Love,” “Feels Like Home,’ “Live From Rainbow and Stars,” and more.

Reviews of “Water Under the Bridge”!

“A masterclass in intimate storytelling that left the listener emotionally spent, in the best possible way.” –theaterpizzaz.com

“An exploration of her life so far, this is her most personal show to date. She is, as always, regal on stage, able with both innuendo and comic truth.” – womanaroundtown.com

“Her delivery of the lyrics is as lucid and specific as ever, whether in wry humor or deep emotion. Her voice (is) still the wonderful contralto that has always been able to switch from warm embrace to devastation with no apparent break. Given the support of her musical director, Alex Rybeck… and guided by director Sara Louise Lazarus, this presentation is the gold standard of a cabaret show.” – cabaret scenes.org
“Kander & Ebb, Amanda McBroom, Craig Carnelia, Joni Mitchell, and Stephen Sondheim are a few of the composers through whom she takes us into her inner world so candidly as to take one’s breath away.” – theaterpizzazz.com


Estimated runtime: 1 hour. Table seating to be assigned by host. Doors open 30 minutes prior to concert.