Powerhouse singer with large following coming to CSB

With over 35,000 followers on Facebook, Storm Large is a force to be reckoned with.

Large, the sensual and stunning powerhouse singer whom The New York Times calls “sensational,” will be performing “Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang,” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 12, at the Gorecki Family Theater, Benedicta Arts Center, College of Saint Benedict. Her concert is part of the 2018-19 Fine Arts Series at CSB and Saint John’s University.

Her fierce and fiery show includes the American songbook, Broadway tear-jerkers, rock goddess anthems and some of her own gorgeous originals.

Large began her career singing in clubs throughout the San Francisco area in the 1990s before moving to Portland, Oregon, to pursue a career as a chef. Due to a last-minute cancellation in 2002 at local Portland club, Large began singing again.

The musician, actor, playwright and author became nationally known when she appeared as a finalist on the TV show “Rock Star: Supernova.” After being eliminated the week before the finale on Sept. 6, 2006, Storm left the show with a fan base that follows her to this day.

Following the success of “Rock Star: Supernova,” Large starred in Portland Center Stage’s production of “Cabaret” with Wade McCollum in 2007. Large spent the next few years working on her autobiographical show, “Crazy Enough.” The one-woman show played to packed houses and sold out its 21-week run in Portland.

In 2012, “Crazy Enough” was released in book form by Simon and Schuster. It was named Oprah Winfrey’s Book of the Week, and was awarded the 2013 Oregon Book Award for Creative Nonfiction.

"We're in complete awe of the blunt, surprisingly memoir ... told in honest, poignant prose ... (Large shows) all of us how to let go -- not without fear and doubt, but with it," wrote O Magazine about the book.

In 2011, Large debuted as a guest vocalist with the band Pink Martini, performing four sold-out concerts with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. She continues to sing with Pink Martini, and she was featured on their CDs, “Get Happy” (2013) and “Je dis Oui!” (2016) and has also performed with Grammy winner k.d. Lang, singer/songwriter Rufus Wainwright and the funky George Clinton.

Large has since gone on to perform with the San Francisco, Pittsburgh, Phoenix, Vancouver and Jacksonville National Symphonies. Recently, Large has performed with the New York Pops, Louisville Orchestra and held performances at the Grant Park Music Festival in Chicago. Large also joined Michael Feinstein as a special guest on the Jazz at Lincoln Center Popular Song series, appearing with Liza Minnelli, Joel Grey and the Pasadena Pops. 

Her suggestive Innuendo, salty language and empowering expression is best for audience 18 years and older who will embrace a bold and audacious evening as this show contains mature content and language.

Tickets are $34 for adults, $31 for seniors, CSB and SJU staff $27, youth/student (with ID) $15, and CSB and SJU students $10.

For tickets, call the Benedicta Arts Center Box Office at 320-363-5777 or order online.

The event, which includes a post-show dance party, is sponsored in part by Revolver Studios.

In association with the performance, Scarlette Revolver - entertainer, entrepreneur, educator, body-positive enthusiast and owner of Revolver Studios and Revolver Productions - will present workshops on Body Positivity (Oct. 1) and Empowerment Through Movement (Oct. 8). These workshops are free and open to the public, but please call 320-363-5777 to reserve a spot.

The performance is made possible in part by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.