Let's celebrate the genius of George
Let’s Do It Again: The Songs and Love Affairs of George Gershwin
We had so much fun at our first Gershwin show on May 10th. Thank you all who came and made it such a special night!
I've always loved George Gershwin’s music, and reading about him, I was amazed to discover his remarkable romances and the songs these loves inspired. From the adorable Adele Astaire, Broadway star and Fred’s sister, to married composer Kay Swift, and his last great love Paulette Goddard, (Charlie Chaplin’s wife), and many others (often at the same time), women and men found him irresistible. All the while his retiring brother Ira was watching and transformed George’s escapades into clever lyrics, blending words perfectly with George’s unforgettable melodies, to create some of the great love songs of the American Songbook.
I've been fascinated to find how many women in George's life were gifted musicians who inspired and helped him with his creative life!
I'm thrilled to have the amazing John Di Martino on piano and, a very special guest, the fabulous singer Deanna Kirk, share this adventure with me.
One more show! Book Online and Save!
Where: Pangea, 178 2nd Ave, (between 11th & 12th St) NYC
Date: Friday, June 7, 2024
Show time: 7:00pm
Doors open at 6:00
Tickets: Reserve online and save: $20/ $25 door/ $20 food/drink min
Enjoy a delicious dinner and drinks!
Free Event!
Creative Spirits: Celebrate Poetry and Song
Join us for an evening of inspiration and fun as we celebrate the power of creativity in shaping our lives and inspiring joy, friendship, and community.
Poet Dana Robbins and writer Lisa Faith Phillips will share excerpts of their latest works. Then we’ll invite others up to the mike who would like to share their writing, read a poem, or a short piece.
When: Thursday, May 16th from 6:00-8:00
Where: Chita-Chita Room, Michiko Rehearsal Studios, 15 W 39th St, 7th Floor, NYC
Wine, soft drinks and snacks will be served
Free! But seating is limited so please reserve.
About the writers: Dana Robbins is a widely published and prize-winning poet, and author of three books published by Moon Pie Press of Westbrook, Maine, The Left Side of My Life, After the Parade, and Frida's Boots. Her poem, To My Daughter Teaching Science, was featured on the Writers Almanac. On April 3, 2024, her poem River Study, With Hawk was read on the radio station WNYC. Dana is excited to read from her most recent book, Frida's Boots as well as poems from her upcoming book, Birds of the Bronx. Her books will be available for sale.
Lisa Faith Phillips is working on a new show about the songs of George and Ira Gershwin to celebrate the 100th anniversary of their first Broadway musical Lady Be Good. Between 1918 and 1937, they wrote over 700 songs, stopping only when George died tragically young at 38. Lisa will share stories about Ira, his clever lyrics and how they created some of their popular songs.
Free Event
When: Thursday, May 16th
Time: 6:00-8:00
Where: Chita-Chita Room, Michiko Rehearsal Studios, 15 W 39th St, 7th Floor, NYC
Wine, soft drinks and snacks will be served.
Free! But seating is limited so please reserve.
New Show!
Lessons Learned from Jobs I Can Never Put on My Resume
We had a wonderful time in July and August developing our new show and sharing the stage with the marvelous award-winning writer, performer, filmmaker, Jennifer Rawlings.
Now Ellen Mandel and I are excited to bring the full new show of comedy and song Lessons Learned from Jobs I Can Never Put on my Resume (Version 2.0). Laugh out loud at the lessons I learned from working as a stripper, performing phone sex, being a back-up dancer for Bette Midler and Mick Jagger, a night in jail and being sued for my comedy musical, 7 1/2 Habits of Highly Effective Mistresses. With the fabulous composer and songwriter Ellen Mandel on piano.
Please join us at Pangea, the charming East Village cabaret, for laughter, song and revelations!
Book online and save!
Join us for Songs of Love and Adultery
Where: Pangea, 178 2nd Ave, NYC
Date: Friday September 29th, 2023
Show time: 7:00pm
Doors open at 6:00 - come for a delicious dinner and drinks.
Tickets: Reserve online: $20/ $25 door/ $20 food/drink min
Back by popular demand!
Laughter without Borders
“Wildly entertaining” one special evening – two great shows by the “incredible storytellers” Jennifer Rawlings and Lisa Faith Phillips with Ellen Mandel on piano.
Award-winning writer, performer, filmmaker, Jennifer Rawlings, presents her hilarious new show AFTER THE WAR, COMES THE DISHES, True Stories from the Front Line and the Home Front.
Award-winning writer and performer Lisa Faith Phillips brings her new show of comedy and song LESSONS I LEARNED FROM JOBS NOT ON MY RESUME (Version 1.0). Laugh out loud at the lessons from working as a stripper, performing phone sex, being a back-up dancer for Bette Midler and Mick Jagger, a night in jail and being sued for her comedy musical, 7 1/2 Habits of Highly Effective Mistresses.
The marvelous composer and songwriter Ellen Mandel will be on piano.
2023
Join us for Songs of Love and Adultery
Where: Pangea, 178 2nd Ave, NYC
Date: Tuesday, July 18 & Thursday, August 24, 2023
Upcoming Show
Back by popular demand!
“Lisa is incredibly witty and clever and her delivery is spot on! She had me laughing all the way through, and I loved the song selection as well! Such a great night!”
Amanda Scalici, singer and star of A Sentimental Journey
Thank you all for coming and making my new show Songs of Love and Adultery on Saturday, February 25th, 2023 such a great night! I'll weave hilarious stories, songs and fascinating facts on the highs and lows of love and adultery.
My special guest is Lilla Crawford, a wonderful actress and singer, star of Annie on Broadway, Little Red Riding Hood in the film Into the Woods, now starring in Pretty Little Liars on HBO. With the terrific performer Sean Mahony on piano.
A great night of laughter, song and dish!
Recent Show
Songs of Love and Adultery, version 1.2
Thank you all for laughing and singing along with us at Songs of Love and Adultery at Pangea.
I’ll weave hilarious stories and songs on the highs and lows of love and adultery. From a Marlene Dietrich tribute “Falling in Love Again” (she had affairs with soooo many men and women!) to cheating classics from the queen Loretta Lynn "You Ain't Woman Enough to Take my Man" and the rarely performed “Other Lady” by Leslie Gore.
And I'll give the skinny on some dishy affairs! (Did you know “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” was written by English songwriter Ewan MacColl for his then mistress singer Peggy Seeger, half-sister of legendary folk singer Pete Seeger?)
For January 28th 2023 my special guest was the fabulous Mariah Bonner, with the gifted Sean Mahony on piano.
It was a delicious evening of laughter and musical joy. It was wonderful seeing you!
Thank you for making the evening such a success!
What a wonderful surprise to have a full house for my new show Songs of Love and Adultery on Thanksgiving weekend, Saturday, November 26th, 2022!
Thank you all for coming out to support me and Pangea, the charming East Village cabaret. (It has been thrilling to see how everyone wants to help them through these tough Covid times.) Pangea was so pleased I will be back withe next draft Saturdays, January 28, and February 25, 2023 at 7:00 pm.
It was great fun to try so much new material with the delightful help of the wonderful Susan Hwang, singer, musician and founder of Bushwick Book Club, with the marvelous Alberto Pibiri on piano.
It was a delicious evening of laughter and musical joy. We look forward to seeing you again in 2023!
Savvy Secrets of Successful Mistresses
Ellen Mandel and I had a terrific time developing the funny, musical, parody, self-help lecture 7 1/2 Habits of Highly Effective Mistresses. After a sold-out run at the Washington D.C. Capital Fringe Festival, I was sued for trademark infringement by the Franklin Covey Corporation, owner of the trademark for 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, of which it was a parody. Although all my lawyers said I could win the case based on the First Amendment, it would be expensive to try so I settled for a permanent injunction against me in Utah, where they are based. I reworked the show to Savvy Secrets of Successful Mistresses and on we went to a great run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival!
Praise for the show:
“A wildly funny play…Phillips mixes absurdism and social satire to hilarious results as guru extraordinaire Dr. Faith…The play retains a delightful burlesque quality from start to finish…and Mandel provides virtuoso accompaniment… Onstage (Phillips) is a force of nature and bubbly wit, confident in both body and brains.” The Huffington Post
Special Guest Appearance
Marvelous singer Mariah Bonner debuts new show at Pangea, NYC September 16th, 2022
Thank you for joining us - it was a great night! Gifted chanteuse Mariah Bonner debuted her first show Yours in Song to the East Village alt-cabaret supper club Pangea on Friday, September 16th, 2022, at 7:00.
I was delighted to join Mariah as a special guest for some duets!
Raised in France, her repertoire ranges from American standards and haunting French ballads to witty original material performed in a voice “reminiscent of Bette Midler’s impressive vocal range.” (Baltimore Jazz Alliance)
Mariah was accompanied by the dapper pianist, singer and composer Marcus Dagan on keys.
Praise for Mariah Bonner:
“The audience cheered with delight—another testament to how connected her fans are to her and to her skills in creating those connections… Her comfort level on stage and her ease in engaging with the audience, throughout song and dialogue, all attest to the truth that she was born to be a performer.” - Baltimore Jazz Alliance, May 2022
Special Guest Appearance
Jazz and the City: News from Ladybug's New York
I was delighted to be a special guest for the lovely Verena McBee! Thank you all who joined us on September 2nd for an exciting jazz tour through NYC with singer Verena McBee and her an incredible jazz band and her very special guest singers, Joanne Weaver, Gitesha Hernandez and Laura Campisi - and me - "the outrageously funny Lisa Faith Phillips with her NYC-artist-life arrest story"!
Friday, Sept 2nd, 2022 at 7PM
PANGEA East Village alt-cabaret supper club, 178 2nd Ave (between 11th and 12th St), NYC PangeaNYC.com
Make America Laugh and Sing Again was back by popular demand on July 19, 2022!
After our terrific show in May 2022, we were asked back for another evening of hilarity and song on July 19 at 7:00 at Pangea, the marvelous alt-cabaret club in the East Village!
We were thrilled to have the charming chanteuse Mariah Bonner with songwriter/pianist Marcus Dagan, the uber-talented composer, songwriter and pianist Ellen Mandel with amazing French mezzo soprano Emma Lavandier, and haunting singer/songwriter T. Spoon Phillips. I wove a funny new monologue “Lessons I Learned from Jobs Not on my Resume” through the show as I emceed.
Thank you all who came and made it such a fun night!
Past shows
Make America Laugh and Sing Again was back by popular demand on May 17, 2022!
With COVID finally lifting, a full house showed up for 2nd evening of Make America Laugh and Sing Again, and enjoyed a night of hilarity and song on May 17th at Pangea, the marvelous alt-cabaret club in the East Village!
We were delighted to have the marvelous chanteuse Mariah Bonner with songwriter/pianist Marcus Dagan, the uber-talented composer, songwriter and pianist Ellen Mandel, the haunting singer/songwriter T. Spoon Phillips, and storyteller and songwriter Robin Hirsch.
I wove through a funny new monologue “Lessons I Learned from Jobs Not on my Resume” as I emceed.
The postcard for the show by Pinpoint Design
Make America Laugh and Sing Again
On February 27, 2020, performers and friends came together for Make America Laugh and Sing Again, a sold-out "wildly entertaining" evening of hilarity and song to benefit CommonCause.org at Pangea, the East Village Alt-Cabaret Supper Club.
A big thank you to the performers who donated their time and talent to make it such a great show -- the hilarious Stan Baker, the charming chanteuse Mariah Bonner, legendary musician/songwriter/writer Michael Lydon, uber-talented composer and pianist Ellen Mandel. Natalie Smith was held up taping C.S.I! It was great fun producing, performing and emceeing.
The final night of performances at Cornelia Street Cafe Underground
I was honored to be invited to perform at the final night of the legendary Cornelia Street Cafe Underground on January 1, 2019.
Let's get a tent and put on show
From doing summer stock and writing and performing on a local cable show in my home town Findlay, Ohio, I always found my way back to live theater. I was a founding member of the Drama Society at the London School of Economics as well as the English Theater company in Barcelona, Spain.
When I moved to the East Village, I was delighted to find a number of musician and acting friends were already here. The downtown performance scene was hopping and every night was an adventure.
I did the stand-up for a few years but grew tired of the #MeToo moments. I was thrilled when my audition at The Comic Strip went well until the man who passed the talent kept me in a booth holding forth about how women weren't funny but he liked my material and I should come back and fine-tune my act there. He kept me there until everyone had left and it was time to close then he announced his wife didn't understand him and he was suffering from blue balls! I was stunned but pretended I hadn't heard him and said I had to get up early for work and hurried out the door into the pouring rain. I didn't feel comfortable going back.
As a Participating Artist at The Cherry Lane Theater and a member of Manhattan Punch Line’s Comedy Corp, I wrote and produced original plays. Then turned to creating one and two-person shows as they were easier to put on and have taken shows to the DC Capital Fringe Festival, Dublin, Ireland, and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Lisa Faith Phillips sings with Ellen Mandel on piano, Cornelia Street Cafe, NYC
Make America Laugh and Sing Again came back May 17, 2022!
Our May 17th show was such a success, so we are back by popular demand!
We're delighted to have the captivating chanteuse Mariah Bonner with songwriter/pianist Marcus Dagan, songwriter/guitarist T Spoon Phillips, gifted storyteller and songwriter Robin Hirsch and uber-talented composer and pianist Ellen Mandel. I had so much fun developing a new comic monologue “Lessons I Learned from Jobs Not on my Resume.”
Recent Shows
Our First Make America Laugh and Sing Again
On February 27, 2020, performers and friends came together for Make America Laugh and Sing Again, a sold-out "wildly entertaining" evening of hilarity and song to benefit CommonCause.org at Pangea, the East Village Alt-Cabaret Supper Club.
A big thank you to all who joined us the make the night such a success! And to the performers who donated their time and talent to make it such a great show: the hilarious Stan Baker, the charming chanteuse Mariah Bonner, legendary musician/songwriter/writer Michael Lydon, uber-talented composer and pianist Ellen Mandel. I had the pleasure of producing, performing and emceeing.
Thank you Jon Waldman for the excellent stills and video of the show. Thank you Todd Stuart Phillips for editing the video and titles.
Join us to keep MAKE AMERICA LAUGHING AND SINGING! It's needed now more than ever!
Back by popular demand!
Laughter without Borders
“Wildly entertaining” one special evening – two new great shows by the “incredible storytellers” Jennifer Rawlings and Lisa Faith Phillips with Ellen Mandel on piano.
I'm delighted to be working with award-winning writer, performer, filmmaker, Jennifer Rawlings as she develops her hilarious and moving new show AFTER THE WAR, COMES THE DISHES, True Stories from the Front Line and the Home Front.
I'm excited to Lisa Faith Phillips bring my new show of comedy and song LESSONS I LEARNED FROM JOBS NOT ON MY RESUME (Version 1.2). Laugh out loud at the lessons from working as a stripper, performing phone sex, being a back-up dancer for Bette Midler and Mick Jagger, a night in jail and being sued for my comedy musical, 7 1/2 Habits of Highly Effective Mistresses.
The marvelous composer and songwriter Ellen Mandel will be on piano.
2023
Where: Pangea, 178 2nd Ave, NYC
Past shows: Tuesday, July 18th & Thursday, August 24, 2023
2023 Show
Songs of Love and Adultery
“Lisa is incredibly witty and clever and her delivery is spot on! She had me laughing all the way through, and I loved the song selection as well! Such a great night!”
Amanda Scalici, singer and star of A Sentimental Journey
Thank you all for coming and making my new show Songs of Love and Adultery on Saturday, February 25th, 2023 such a great night! I'll weave hilarious stories, songs and fascinating facts on the highs and lows of love and adultery.
My special guest is Lilla Crawford, a wonderful actress and singer, star of Annie on Broadway, Little Red Riding Hood in the film Into the Woods, now starring in Pretty Little Liars on HBO. With the terrific performer Sean Mahony on piano.
A great night of laughter, song and dish!