About Me
"Looking at my life, the strongest memories I have are almost all associated with music. Music was the first thing I really knew in this world."Growing up in Portland, Oregon, Shoshana Bean's household was the antithesis of the song "Your Mama Don't Dance and Your Daddy Don't Rock-n-Roll." In fact, her mother was a dance teacher in an urban school district and Shoshana constantly found herself gravitating from the predictable confines of her suburban environment to the hugely influential sounds, moves and styles of the inner-city school that her mother taught in.Conversely, Shoshana's father was a perpetual rock-n-roller. "Dad and I still call each other when a blast from the past is playing on the radio. Anything from Tom Petty, Pat Benetar, Night Ranger. . . .those were our jams!!!" Even her grandmother took her love of music to the world as a singer in the USO Clubs during World War II, and was responsible for giving her Shoshana a deep appreciation for Jazz and Showtunes.Shoshana's earliest memories have today yielded a career that has dazzled audiences with her breathtaking and powerful vocal versatility. She combines technical accuracy with a soul and passion that virtually leaps out of every signature performance. From classical student, to Broadway performer, to singer/songwriter, she has evolved into a rich and diverse product of inspired talent.From a very early age, Shoshana studied dance and participated in local community theater productions. She began classical vocal training at age 13, and by age 17 had solidified her decision to pursue a career to exercise her singular passion: singing. She attended the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, graduated with a BFA in Musical Theater and wasted no time in heading to New York City. There she was cast in the Off-Broadway revival of GODSPELL and with the release of the cast album, which included her rousing rendition of "Bless the Lord," she had earned herself a spot on the musical theater map.Immediately following GODSPELL, she became increasingly interested in and involved with the pop music scene. Her first high-profile gig was singing back-up for a huge lineup of stars including Usher, Liza Minelli, Gloria Estefan and Luther Vandross, as well as her childhood idols Whitney Houston and Michael Jackson at Jackson's 30th anniversary concert celebration. The concert was a two-night sold out event at Madison Square Garden and Shoshana recalls it as "one of the most electrifying nights of my life." Inspired by this thrilling experience, she began focusing on writing, recording and performing her original music around the city. But the stage kept beckoning.She made her Broadway debut in the critically acclaimed, Tony Award-winning original cast of HAIRSPRAY. Leading man Harvey Fierstein said of her performance, "Shoshana explodes onstage in voice and verve like a 4th of July pyrotechnic extravaganza! This is a talent that will not be ignored!" Harvey's sentiments would soon be echoed. The New York Times ran a photo that Fierstein shot in his dressing room of Shoshana and stage and screen legend Shirley MacLaine. "You are a shining light on that stage," the Times quoted MacLaine, "You are going to be a star." Her words energized Shoshana onward.Following her two year run in HAIRSPRAY, she took over the role of the famed green witch, Elphaba, in the smash hit musical WICKED. Playing to sold out audiences for a solid year, her powerful performances earned her a loyal fan base and an opportunity to gain unexpected life wisdom. "Playing Elphaba taught me more about myself as a person, as a performer and as a vocalist than I ever imagined anything could," she explains.During her run at WICKED, she made multiple television appearances including performances on "The Today Show," "Good Morning America," "MTV's Made," "Martha," "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" and "Soul Train Christmas Starfest." She also sang the National Anthem for the New York Giants, New York Knicks and New Jersey Nets.Her most memorable moment to date was honoring legend Aretha Franklin at the "Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards." Shoshana sang Franklin's classic "Ain't No Way" alongside Brian McKnight for the nationally broadcast show. Their performance erupted into a standing ovation before the song was even over.Shoshana's work in the theater and behind a microphone may be her best known, but no less meaningful are her charitable efforts. She has donated her talents to perform at countless benefits, been actively involved with Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS, organized charity benefits for Quilts for Kids and the victims of Hurricane Katrina, and recently helped a class of 5th graders in Queens, NY raise funds to fulfill their hopes of seeing a Broadway show."It's important for me to use this voice I have, and not just to sing. If people are listening, if people connect to the messages I have the opportunity to support, then I'm going to lend my time and my efforts to spread the word about the things I feel strongly about."And that is precisely what she intends to do with her music as well. Harvesting her life experiences to date and her diverse background of musical influences, Shoshana is currently working on writing and recording her original music and through it, hopes to reach as many people as possible."I always try to be as raw and as honest as I can in my music. I think the human experience is a shared one, and if we open up about our own personal experiences, we'll see we all have a lot more in common than we think. If I can make someone feel stronger, less alone, less misunderstood, more inspired, more independent, more accepting of their feelings, both good and bad, through my music. . . even just one
person. . .then I'll have achieved everything I hoped for. Making that human connection is what makes this whole adventure so incredibly worthwhile."
