Meet the Artists: Showcase C

Showcase C: Tuesday, November 3, 2026 at 7:00 PM

Showcase # Artist Time*
Welcome NCPC Board Member
7:00-7:05 PM
C1 SEPTEMBER: A Earth, Wind & Fire Tribute
7:05-7:20 PM
C2 Lynnette Barber and Will Ellis Duo
7:25-7:40 PM
C3 Mike E. Winfield
7:45-8:00 PM
Virtual 1C HEDY! The Life & Inventions of Hedy Lamarr
8:00-8:05 PM
 C4 Good Shot Judy 8:05-8:20 PM
 C5 Roberta Lea 8:25-8:40 PM
 Virtual 2C Sarah Hagen - "Wonder Women!" 8:40-8:45 PM
C6  Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr. - Soul-and-Sinatra Singing Sensation 8:45-9:00 PM
C7 The Second City Touring Company
9:05-9:20 PM
 Virtual 3CPIANOMANIA! Rockin' the 1950s with Jared Freiburg9:20-9:25 PM
C8Champagne Sunday9:25-9:40 PM
C9 Voices of Rock - The Best of Arena Rock 9:45-10:00 PM

*Times are subject to change.

SEPTEMBER: A Earth, Wind & Fire Tribute

Main Stage  |  Showcase Spot C1

Photo of SEPTEMBER: A Earth, Wind & Fire Tribute

September: A Tribute to Earth, Wind & Fire is a vibrant and dynamic tribute band that pays homage to the legendary sound and spirit of the iconic group Earth, Wind & Fire. Formed by a group of passionate musicians and performers, September captures the essence of the original band, bringing their classic hits and electrifying performances to life.

With a repertoire that spans the decades, September features timeless songs like "September," "Shining Star" and "Reasons" each delivered with infectious energy and soulful harmonies. The band is dedicated to recreating the rich musical tapestry that Earth, Wind & Fire is known for, blending elements of R&B, funk, jazz, and disco to create an unforgettable experience for audiences of all ages.

Members of September come from diverse musical backgrounds, contributing their unique talents and styles to the ensemble. Their commitment to authenticity and showmanship ensures that every performance is a celebration of the original band's legacy. With dazzling choreography, colorful costumes, and a powerful live band, September invites fans to dance, sing along, and relive the magic of Earth, Wind & Fire.

Represented By: Tina Gibson | IMAGINE Music Group

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Lynnette Barber and Will Ellis Duo

Main Stage  |  Showcase Spot C2

Photo of Lynnette Barber and Will Ellis Duo

Photo Credit: Brett Chambers Media

Lynnette Barber, known as the North Carolina Queen of the Blues, is a dynamic vocalist whose performances celebrate the rich traditions of Blues, Soul, and R&B. Will Ellis is an accomplished keyboardist, music director, arranger, and producer whose musicianship brings every performance to life. Together, they were Finalists in the 2025 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, Tennessee, captivating audiences from North Carolina to Chicago with soulful storytelling, dynamic musicianship, and undeniable chemistry.

Together, Lynnette and Will offer a variety of professional programs for festivals, theaters, museums, schools, libraries, concert series, churches, corporate events, and private engagements. Booking options include the Lynnette Barber and Will Ellis Blues Duo, a full band concert experience featuring top regional musicians, Lynnette Barber's inspiring Mahalia Jackson Tribute Concert, Blues in Schools, an interactive educational program exploring the history, influence, and musical foundations of the blues, and Legacy in Motion: Black History's Storytelling Journey, an engaging educational program that celebrates African American history through live music, storytelling, movement, and audience participation.

Whether presenting an intimate concert, a full band performance, a tribute production, or an educational residency, Lynnette and Will deliver authentic, engaging experiences that entertain, educate, and inspire audiences of all ages with exceptional musicianship, professionalism, and a lasting connection.

Represented By: Will Ellis

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Mike E Winfield

Main Stage  |  Showcase Spot C3

Photo of Mike E Winfield

Mike's comedy revolves around how he fell in love & married an older woman with a child. He developed a bond with his stepson, whom he jokingly refers to as StepMAN because they're close in age. He takes his ups & downs in his life & marriage & turns them into jewels he releases on stage. He went all the way to the top 10 on the 2022 summer season of America's Got Talent. In January 2023, he performed on America's Got Talent All Stars where he was awarded the Golden Buzzer by Simon Cowell, the first time it's ever been given to a comedian.

Represented By: Kate Magill | Sophie K Entertainment

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HEDY! The Life & Inventions of Hedy Lamarr

Virtual  |  Showcase Spot V1C

Photo of HEDY! The Life & Inventions of Hedy Lamarr

Inspire your audiences with the 31x award-winning, internationally acclaimed Off-Broadway solo show celebrating women in science! A theatrical tour de force celebrating the Hollywood glamour & scientific genius of the Mother of Wi-Fi, Hedy Lamarr!

Hedy Lamarr, glamorous siren of the silver screen, was more than "The Most Beautiful Woman in the World." She was "The Mother of Wi-Fi," inventing Frequency-Hopping Spread Spectrum technology for torpedo guidance, which now makes the world of wireless communication tick. From Austria to Hollywood, WWII, torpedoes, ecstasy, and intrigue to the very cell phone in your pocket, Hedy Lamarr is there!

Fulbright Specialist Heather Massie enchants your audience as Hedy Lamarr, along with Jimmy Stewart, Bette Davis, Louis B Mayer and more. The 36-character solo play where the audience summons Hedy to unearth the truth behind how a glamorous Hollywood film star could create an invention which launched today's wireless technology revolution!

Mission: to inspire audiences, encourage young women in science and technology, and establish Hedy Lamarr as a role model for intelligence, ingenuity, and invention. As featured in 26 countries on 5 continents. Playing for ages 12 - 100+, in venues from 35-3000 seats. Public Shows, School Shows, Community Engagement. "Captivating" -- Huffington Post.

Represented By: Heather Massie

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Good Shot Judy

Main Stage  |  Showcase Spot C4

Photo of Good Shot Judy

Good Shot Judy has made a business of entertaining audiences with a high energy version of all the classic swing music you know and love. Whether it's their 8 piece band, 12 piece Christmas show, 20 person mini orchestra, or with your full regional orchestra, Good Shot Judy is all about breathing life into and bringing fun to the American Songbook and your venue! From all the classic Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald to the modern contemporaries, Good Shot Judy leaves it all on the stage night after night and never fails to leave audiences smiling!

Represented By: Brett Cahoon

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Roberta Lea

Main Stage  |  Showcase Spot C5

Photo of Roberta Lea

Photo Credit: AJ Elliott

As Roberta Lea excitedly approaches her chapter of age 40, she presents a new and interactive concert experience with her Girl Gone Missing Mystery Series. As a former teacher and current arts educator, Lea has created an engaging performance that is beyond the average singer/songwriter concert.  Covering themes that center women's empowerment and independence while navigating the rewarding and complex path of marriage and motherhood, Roberta's award-winning originals carry a powerful message about what it means to lose yourself and finding yourself again. Her performance not only includes the powerful storytelling she's becoming known for, but it's complete with mysteries, clues, and problem-solving adventures that are sure to keep you guessing, one song at a time.

Represented By: Nick Walters | Heaven Lea Entertainment

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Sarah Hagen - "Wonder Women!"

Virtual  |  Showcase Spot V2C

Photo of Sarah Hagen

Photo Credit: McKinnon Photography

Part recital, part storytelling, Wonder Women is a fresh reimagining of the classical concert experience—illuminating the brilliance of often overlooked female composers from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Acclaimed pianist Sarah Hagen leads audiences through a richly curated program, bringing to life the artistry and resilience of composers such as Amy Beach, Marianne von Auenbrugger, and Cécile Chaminade—voices too often overlooked in the classical canon. With virtuosic playing, razor-sharp wit, and a deeply personal connection to the material, Hagen creates an engaging and immediate connection to the music and the lives behind it.

Wonder Women invites audiences beyond passive listening into a vivid exploration of legacy, creativity, and recognition—offering a concert experience that is as thought-provoking as it is emotionally resonant.

"Her comic timing is as solid as her musical meter." — The Edmonton Journal

"…a piano concert beyond the norm." — The Guardian (Charlottetown)

Represented By: Genevieve DeMerchant | DeMerchant Artists Agency

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Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr. - soul-and-Sinatra singing sensation

Main Stage  |  Showcase Spot C6

Photo of Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr. - soul-and-Sinatra singing sensation

Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. is the Sinatra and soul-singing season six winner of NBC's "America's Got Talent"! This smooth crooner has captivated audiences around the world with his blend of heart, humor, and huge vocal chops, singing timeless classics from The Great American Songbook. Landau sings and swings his way through an energetic set of tunes that audiences of all ages know and love, including "Fly Me To The Moon", "My Way", "I've Got You Under My Skin", "New York, New York", "That's Life" and more with the Magic of Motown with hits like "My Girl", "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" and "Superstition." Landau is a nationwide spokesperson for Adult Education, having gone back to school during COVID to earn his high school diploma three decades after leaving school. Landau is also heavily involved in children's charities and in anti-bullying campaigns. He's always happy to visit schools, senior centers, and service organizations in his tour markets to raise awareness of local charities and lend a hand to great causes.

Find out why Landau Eugene Murphy Jr. won America's hearts with song and story-from poverty, homelessness, washing cars to becoming an inspiration to everyone who sees this once-in-a-lifetime performance!

Represented By: Gerri Abrahamsen | DCA Productions

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The Second City Touring Company

Main Stage  |  Showcase Spot C7

Photo of The Second City Touring Company

Photo Credit: Timothy B Schmidt

Chicago's legendary comedy theater, The Second City, has audiences laughing their faces off with their hilarious social satire, performed through scripted scenes, improvisation and music. It only takes a sample list of their alumni to recognize how much great talent starts at The Second City: John Belushi, Mike Myers, Martin Short, Bill Murray, Catharine O'Hara, Eugene Levy, Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Jack McBrayer, Keegan-Michael Key, Colin Mochrie, Jason Sudeikis, Bob Odenkirk, Adam McKay, Sam Richardson, Amber Ruffin, Jane Lynch, Steven Yeun, Cecily Strong, ER Fightmaster, Aidy Bryant, Tommy Brennan, and hundreds more.

The Touring Company's interactive shows are two 45-minute acts with two show options available each season, including a holiday production. Extensive workshop options are offered for theatrical and non-theatrical applications. Residencies and extended runs are also available. Ask ECE about Second City's additional touring productions: their Kids & Family Show, "No Grown-Ups Allowed," and their Black Excellence Revue, "Black and Highly Flavored."

"The Show was Fantastic! Booking the show was Fantastic! Advancing the show was Fantastic! Cast on tour were Fantastic! So good to have Second City back in Columbus!" – Columbus Association of Performing Arts (OH)

"Harvard of Improvisation" – The New York Times

Represented By: Kris Kaminski | ECE Touring - a division of EastCoast Entertainment

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PIANOMANIA! Rockin' the 1950s with Jared Freiburg

Virtual  |  Showcase Spot V3C

Photo of PIANOMANIA!: Rockin' the 1950s with Jared Freiburg

Take a Rock 'n' Roll rollercoaster ride through one of the most explosive and influential musical styles of the 20th Century in PIANOMANIA! – Jared Freiburg's high-energy celebration of the 1950s. Featuring music made famous by the most prolific piano entertainers from that era (including Little Richard, Ray Charles, and more) as well as many of the artists who influenced them and were influenced by them (Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley, Hank Williams, and even Billy Joel), this show has electrified audiences worldwide by showcasing Jared's incredible virtuosity on a cavalcade of rock-and-roll, blues, jazz, and country hits.

Jared's love for this music was cemented performing the role of Jerry Lee Lewis in multiple productions of the Tony Award-winning Broadway megahit MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, and his pedigree can be summed up most easily by the 'Wild One' himself: "I am humbled and grateful to be honored this way. God bless you, Jared, and KEEP ROCKIN'!"

Represented By: Ron DeStefano | EPIC Arts Management

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"Life Fantastic" featuring the music of Champagne Sunday

Main Stage  |  Showcase Spot C8

Photo of "Life Fantastic" featuring the music of Champagne Sunday

An uplifting evening of stories and songs highlighting the moments, connections, and emotions that make life extraordinary.

Jessi and Jared have spent the last twenty years turning their stories into relatable songs to be able to connect with their audiences. As our world gets smaller and more disparate with technology, social media, and the use of AI, it is easy to feel like we are further and further away from one another. Champagne Sunday's refreshing "Life Fantastic" show helps close that gap by leaving divisive topics like politics and religion at the door and engaging the crowd with music and stories that unite us and remind us of our shared human experience.

Represented By: Jared Fredeen

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Voices of Rock - The Best of Arena Rock

Main Stage  |  Showcase Spot C9

Photo of Voices of Rock - The Best of Arena Rock

With their incredible vocal talents and dynamic performances, Voices of Rock brings to life the iconic songs of bands like Styx, Boston, Kansas, Starship, Toto, Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, and many more. This unique musical experience showcases the power and versatility of rock music through the lens of exceptional vocal talent. Making this show unique is the incredibly solid musical performance supporting those vocals. The group's chemistry on stage is palpable, creating a sense of camaraderie and shared love for the music they are performing, creating an electrifying performance that captivates audiences and reminds us of the enduring appeal of rock music.

These incredibly talented vocalists are able to flawlessly recreate the distinctive sounds of the original rock bands but, by showcasing the raw vocal talent of each member, The Voices of Rock pay homage to the original artists while adding their own unique flair to the performances. This powerhouse musical ensemble celebrates the timeless classics of rock music with unmatched vocal talent and electrifying performances.

"Voices of Rock was amazing, the vocals are so good" – Dana Willits, The Stadium Theater

"These guys just blew me away, better than the originals in my opinion." – Debra Heath, York State Fair

Represented By: Jerry Ross | Harmony Artists

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Thank You To Our Event Sponsors!

Carolina Theatre of Durham         Audio & Light           alphagraphics | Downtown Raleigh

               


  

                  

          


Marcato Artists | The Virginia Somerville Sutton Theatre at Well-Spring The Singing Zoologist

The Reverend Shawn Amos Dynamo Productions | Fantexter Dave's Arts Management Network

         

ArtsMarket Benefactor Donation Made In Honor of Larrry Gilbert & Louisa Hart

This project was funded in part by a grant from the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, and South Arts in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts.

North Carolina Arts Council      South Arts     National Endowment for the Arts