Gretchen Reinhagen

Gretchen Reinhagen first hit the professional music scene at the tender age of five, fronting for her father's band at the Cape Cod nightclub, The Farm, singing a cover of Karen Carpenter's “Sing” as well as that classic standard “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”. Yes, Gretchen delighted employees and their families at The Farm's annual staff holiday party, and a Christmas ham was truly in the making. The highlight of the evening for keyboardist Bill Deechan (aka Uncle Billy), was when Gretchen turned to him mid-song and said “TAKE IT!” The highlight of the evening for Gretchen was standing outside with Dad between sets, watching for Santa's sleigh.
Ok…maybe she wasn’t exactly a pro back then…and maybe she wasn’t quite ready to be singing in bars (that would come much later and there would be alcohol involved…and dancing...) but anyway…she certainly loved the spotlight. But after those bold days as a 5 year old, she decided singing was embarrassing and uncool so turned to the flute instead. (cause that’s hip) It wasn’t until junior high, when she came home and announced that she was going to audition on flute for a state regional junior high school concert band, that her father responded by saying he thought she’d stand a better chance auditioning for the chorus. “Huh?” she said. “Trust me”, he said, “you’re a singer.” And the rest as they say…was high school and we don’t need to discuss any of that. But she does credit her father with at least getting that one thing right. She would have NEVER gotten into that concert band.
As a singer and actress, Gretchen has performed in a broad range of theaters and concert halls from the House of Blues in New Orleans to the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh, Scotland. Favorite musical theater credits include Nancy in “Oliver!”, Janis Joplin in “Beehive” the Narrator in “Joseph” and multiple performances of Miss Hannigan in “Annie”.
In recent years, Gretchen launched a career in Cabaret, having produced three new shows in New York. Cabaret Scenes calls her "an unusually animated performer, ready willing and able to torch a number, parody it or belt it." Cabaret Hotline Online said "Lots of laughs and a lady who will make a big mark on cabaret as time goes on."
She currently makes her home in New York where she lives with her long-time partner Deborah Meyers, a jewelry designer and owner of DK Meyers Art Jewelry. Which means…you guessed it…she's the best accessorized cabaret singer in New York!
Clips from Gretchen's performance with the John Salerno Big Band at Tilden Center for the Arts on Cape Cod. September 2006
Gretchen sings Michael John LaChiusa's "There Will Be A Miracle" in her solo show "Back tp Basics" at Don't Tell Mama NYC - October 2007