Molly Ringwald, the teen icon of the ’80s who is known for seminal teen flicks such as Pretty in Pink, The Breakfast Club and Sixteen Candles performed at the Jewish Community Center in Irvine last January 21st. Long before she became an icon and a Golden Globe-nominated actress, she has always been singning with her pianist father’s jazz band. She started at the age of three.
Molly Ringwald and her 4-piece Orchestra
I always knew she could sing because I have been following Molly Ringwald’s career. In 2006, she joined a national tour of the Broadway revival “Sweet Charity”. Last weekend in Irvine I was up closed, front row and in the middle spot… finally witnessed her knack for singing jazz, her genre. The venue was amazing as the concept was cabaret style with round tables and chairs.
As she entered the stage, I was flabbergasted to see that the actress I grew up is now blonde. I always know her as the red hair gal but she looked stunningly beautiful and ageless with her real short blonde hair style with a swoop of long bangs in front. Clad in gold sequinned sleeveless dress, she sang songs from “The Great American Songbook”. Sandy Alvarado from Corona said, “She is a great singer. I had no idea. It’s quite surprising. Her voice is phenomenal….honestly. I really enjoyed it. I’m going to buy the cd.”
In addition, she sang in French, and performed soundtrack songs like “I Feel Pretty” from West Side Story, “On the Street Where You Live” from the My Fair Lady and “Don’t You Forget About Me” from The Breakfast Club with her own jazz arrangement. In the middle of the show, Ringwald mentioned that her daughter is giving her a hint signal to tell her to hold up the album. I thought that was really cute. But the highlight of the show was seeing her 11-year-old daughter Mathilda performed with her ukelele and Ringwald joined her for a duet.
Molly Ringwald and daughter Mathilda
Day Reynolds from Denver who was outspoken during the concert received the playlist from Ringwald. I asked her what she thought of the concert as we were in the same table and she said, “”It was amazing, it was spectacular. I didn’t have any idea what to expect, and it was fabulous. I am excited to have her sign my cd and also my playlist that she came in and handed it to me at the end of the show. I was struck.”
“I was Molly’s teacher in second grade at Citrus High School in the Sacramento area of California. I taught her in the gifted program once a week for a whole year. And I remember her as being very very bright and wonderful” – SylviaRosenzweig, Ringwald’s former elementary teacher
Molly Ringwald with former teacher Sylvia Rosenzweig
The most interesting part was when I met Ringwald’s teacher Sylvia Rosenzweig while waiting in line to have my cd signed. I chatted her for a bit and she mentioned “I was Molly’s teacher in second grade at Citrus High School in the Sacramento area of California. I taught her in the gifted program once a week for a whole year. And I remember her as being very very bright and wonderful”. Sylvia also added, “The concert was amazing. She takes a new twist on every song and changes it and makes it very special.”
What a great show that was! Really a treat!
Indeed Sandy 🙂
Thanks for including me in your blog post.
Of course 🙂
she is still BEAUTIFUL….
Agreed.