Guest Artists – Portland’s Dreamgirls Cast

Friday, December 5
7:30 pm
Columbia Theatre

Ticket prices: $20 - $30, with discounts for students and seniors

"Julianne wowed audiences as Effie in Dreamgirls. I am entirely serious when I say Julianne Johnson-Weiss’ delivery of “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” is the most affecting musical performance of the season, period. She sings with enough emotional force to bring even the most reptilian critic to tears. The woman has the kind of voice that fills stadiums, and it’s actually a little frightening to sit just 10 feet away while she brings down the house without breaking a sweat." -- Ben Waterhouse, Willamette Week

Effie is key, of course, and Julianne Johnson brings power, control and charisma to role's vocal chores, especially on such show-stoppers as "I'm Not Going," the declaration of defiance that closes the first act, and "I Am Changing" and "One Night Only," Act 2's markers of perseverance and redemption.-- Marty Hughley, The Oregonian review of Dreamgirls

Julianne R. Johnson is a renaissance singer, moving easily among Broadway, Jazz, Gospel, Blues, ballads and everything in between. But what she most definitely is, is a consummate artist who enthralls her audience with her magical voice. Her singing is sublime, and when she steps on the Columbia stage—for the third time this December—she’ll captivate you with her delightful sense of humor and joy at sharing what she most loves to do: singing!

Julianne is also bringing a few friends along—members of the Dreamgirls cast to help her weave her spell—along with several local singers. It will be a magical, festive evening wrapped up in tinsel and bows. It will also be emotional with a touch of poignancy, because Friday, December 5 is the closing performance at the historic Columbia Theatre this season. The Theatre building will close for a year-long renovation, and the remaining shows of the 2008-09 Season will take place at the new Rose Center for the Arts at Lower Columbia College.

Julianne has the effect of becoming your friend immediately after meeting her. That’s why, after only two appearances at the Columbia Theatre, we feel like we’ve become her second home. It’s also why we approached her to create a special “closing performance” at the Columbia Theatre. She has literally cleared her schedule, which is always busy, to appear.

Julianne recently received the 88 Keys Foundation's most prestigious GOSPEL award. The award is for excellence in Gospel and Secular music and for her perseverance in the music field.

This Holiday Season, Julianne will appear with Michael Allen Harrison December 15-25 at the Old Church in Portland, Oregon and at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall on New Year’s Eve.  In 2009, she will star in two Stumptown Stages’ musicals: The Wiz with Eugene Blackmon in February and Gypsy next fall. Both shows’ performances will take place at the Robert Ford Auditorium at Jefferson High School in Portland, home of the world-class Jefferson Dancers. Julianne will also star as Billie Holiday in an original one-woman show, A Night with Day. Come to Portland and share the New Year with Julianne and her friends. Better still, stay in touch with her through her home site: http://www.siteskins.net/juliannerjohnson/ or www.mahrecords.com.

But the biggest event in Julianne’s life is personal. This past year, her name changed from Julianne Johnson to Julianne Johnson-Weiss, when she married her college sweetheart, Karl, The change has made her giddy with happiness. “Now all things are possible because there are two of us to conquer all obstacles. Sound fantasy-like? Well it should, because true love and happiness has an air of pixie-dust as part of its magic.”