Tag: Mary Bridget Davies

Mary Bridget Davies Talks About Janis Joplin’s Contribution to the 60s Social Revolution

JTMP

OCT 28, 2012 – Mary Bridget Davies is currently singing as Janis Joplin in the "One Night With Janis Joplin" show, and JTMP caught up with her for an interview about Janis and the show. We wanted to get her feeling on Janis Joplin, and how she played a part in the culture of music and social revolution of the 1960s, and her activism, the interview is below.

JTMP asked Mary how she felt about Janis Joplin's influence on the 1960s social culture and revolution and she told us, "[Janis] definitely was one of the front runners, accidentally, for change and revolution. She was not super politically motivated, she wasn't out and rallying or anything like that but she was ingrained with mutual respect and equality. She grew up in Texas in a very, very strict oil refinery town, and there was racism everywhere; but she just wouldn't tolerate it. She was always preaching the message of equality and freedom in the arts. In Kris Kristofferson's song she literally sings about freedom. She was just a good human being and a good humanitarian, she wanted everyone to be equal, and she wanted everyone to express themselves." She added, "I really do think if she had lived longer and gotten more mature, because she was a very intellectual person, maybe she would have become a stronger voice. Not even just for women, but race issues were very important to her, she was very much about equality. With the music, the way she respected and revered all those other artists and strove to be like them, she wanted them to be just as equally treated as the males."

FOR MORE OF THE INTERVIEW CLICK READ MORE.

Mary Bridget Davies Brings Janis Joplin To Life On Stage

JTMP

OCT 26, 2012 – Janis Joplin's influences, talent and remarkable life are being put on stage by Cleveland native Mary Bridget Davies, along with Randy Johnson creating, writing and directing the "One Night With Janis Joplin" show. The Arena Stage, Cleveland Play House and Premiere Media put together a show to remember and honor one of rock's giants. The show will show the legends she was influenced by, from Bessie Smith, to Etta James, to Aretha Franklin and more; and of course TONS of awesome Janis Joplin music.

Mary Bridget Davies also starred as Janis Joplin in the national tour of Love, which was nominated for the Austin Circle of Theaters’ B. Iden Payne Award as well as voted “Best Moment in Theater” by Kansas City’s The Pitch newspaper. Ms.Davies has also received numerous awards for her voice and band, most recently winning second place at International Blues Challenge 2011. She tours internationally with Joplin’s original band, Big Brother & the Holding Company.

Janis Joplin exploded onto the music scene, and plowed her way to the top in a music scene dominated by men both in the studio and the stage. She sang her heart out, and touched millions of peoples' lives and the ripples from her life continue to this day. She was a centerpiece of the 1960's, and even sang at Woodstock, but she didn't let them use the footage because she said she "had a cold". To discover or RE-discover Janis Joplin, check out the official Janis Joplin website here. Check out more info about "One Night With Janis Joplin" on the Arena Stage show website here, and check out the awesome singer Davies who plays Janis on the Mary Bridget Davies website here. Below is a video of Janis' brother Michael who comments on the show and you can get a small taste of the show.