Lessons in Love

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Steph Shanks Photography

A close-up of Jen Farley.

Jen Farley

Jen Farley is one-third of Madison’s all-female power trio Gin, Chocolate & Bottle Rockets (with Beth Kille and Shawndell Marks). But she’s also a life coach with a theatrical background. Somehow, all of those talents will come together in her new cabaret show, Lessons in Love, featuring some of Farley's closest musical friends performing songs by the likes of Barbra Streisand, Bette Midler and The Beatles. As Farley explains: “I’m about to shower my audience with a fun, authentic and hilarious show. Why else would you come see a white, middle-age, Midwestern Jewish woman perform? Oh, and yes, there will be boas.” Comedian Vanessa (Pants) Tortolano will open the show.

media release: Life is a cabaret, old chum…Come to the cabaret… Are the days of classic cabaret gone? While we await a response from Liza Minnelli, Jen Farley is fluffing up her feathers and polishing her sequins. She’s ready to sashay into the heady world of cabarets, with not only her first plunge into the bawdy and bodacious art form, but also her first solo endeavor.

But wait a minute. Who is Jen Farley, you might be wondering, and what does she know about cabaret? We’ll let her answer that one.

“I’m about to shower my audience with a fun, authentic and hilarious show,” she says. “Why else would you come see a white, middle-age, midwestern Jewish woman perform? Oh, and yes, there will be boas.”  

Jen Farley’s foray into cabarets is titled Lessons in Love. But don’t worry, she’s not about to bore you with one sappy, syrupy number after the other. Jen is stitching together all the threads of love – love for self, love for partner, love for child, love for friends, loss of love, and everything in between – through songs by Barbra Streisand, Bette Midler, and the Beatles. She’s going to Broadway, to the local disco, and to the jazzy standards bar. There will be no lovelorn stone unturned.

Intrigued yet? We thought you would be. So, here’s all the pertinent information. The curtain goes up on Lessons in Love Starring Jen Farley Friday, March 31, 2023, at 8 p.m. (doors @ 7pm) at The Bur Oak, 2262 Winnebago Street, Madison. Comedian Vanessa (Pants) Tortolano opens the show. Tickets are $20 in advance, and $25 day of show. Get your tickets here.

Now, earlier we said this was Jen’s first solo endeavor. Well, solo is relative. Literally. Jen is joined by family and friends onstage. Special guests include Mike Farley, her husband and The Farleys singing partner, son Jonathan Farley, and Beth Kille and Shawndell Marks of Gin, Chocolate & Bottle Rockets, a Wisconsin trio of musically talented ladies that includes Jen on vocals and percussion. Lessons in Love also features Jenna Joanis on drums and Dan Kennedy on bass.

Lessons in Love is directed by Michael Bruno with music director Lizzie Haller. Bruno, a stellar figure in the Madison theater community, directly inspired Jen's cabaret debut. Michael and his husband Jim wanted to see Jen stretch her creative wings in a production that showcased her broader range of talents. It was also Bruno who connected Jen to Lizzie. So he was instrumental, indeed.

“Truth be told, I’m really excited and a little freaked out to be doing this show on my own,” Jen says. “But I’m not really on my own since my friends and family are helping and supporting me. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”  

Actually, it’s amazing that Jen Farley found the time to do a solo show, much less a cabaret. We already mentioned she’s a wife and mother. And you know she’s one-third of acclaimed power trio Gin, Chocolate & Bottle Rockets, whose tightly woven harmonies have been compared to Wilson Phillips and Wailin’ Jennys. Plus, how could we forget yet another side project as one-half of The Farleys with husband Mike. In addition to all of that, Jen Farley is also a life coach, speaker, and consultant with a mission to “help dreamers and seekers find and define their authentic voice to become the Rockstar in their lives.”

This Rockstar has her roots in theater. While growing up in Cleveland, Ohio, Jen found her artistic calling while performing in musical theater productions. That thirst for theater has, essentially, come full circle. Lessons in Love, which she likes to dub “A Very Jen Cabaret,” brings this multi-faceted lady back home with boas in tow.

Searching for more on Jen Farley? Check out the Gin, Chocolate & Bottle Rockets website. Also, take a look at the Coach Jen Farley Facebook page and YouTube channel.