Shayna Steele

ArtYard and the Frenchtown Bookshop are excited to announce that Shayna Steele, with a voice so big that it “unleashes enough voltage to light up the West End” will be bringing her quintet to Frenchtown in a performance at 8 PM on Friday, Sept. 8 at ArtYard’s McDonnell Theater.

When world-famous singers including Bette Midler, Rihanna, and Kelly Clarkson needed a blockbuster backup singer, they chose Shayna Steele. So did the Broadway producers of “Rent,” “Hairspray!,” and “Jesus Christ Superstar.” Steely Dan, Moby, and Chris Botti all sought her out for their records. She has been the guest soloist for more than 40 symphony orchestras. And, that’s Shayna Steele singing on the soundtracks of the films “Hairspray,” “The Bourne Identity,” and “Sex and the City 2.” She also made a guest appearance on “The Sopranos.”

Thankfully, Shayna has now stepped up to the spotlight as a headline artist. Her fourth solo album, “Gold Dust,” features her own songwriting, infused with soul, jazz, and blues, as well as eclectic covers including Cole Porter (“You’d Be So Nice to Come Home To”) and Stevie Nicks (“Gold Dust Woman”). Her performances showcase her mind-blowing vocal artistry, supremely soulful energy, and songwriting prowess. Her approach is summed up by the first words on her album “Watch Me Fly”: “I am outrageous. I am larger than life.”

Shayna will be accompanied by her high-energy quintet, led by her husband and musical director David Cook, who is also the keyboard player in Taylor Swift’s band.

Tickets are $30. For McDonnell Theater policies, please visit our FAQs.

This concert was originally scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 9.