About the Women's City Cabaret

The story of a woman's right to vote is the story of a woman fighting to be heard. Minnesota Public Radio celebrated the 90th Anniversary of the 19th amendment with the Women's City Cabaret. Host Jearlyn Steele lead us through an evening of outspoken music and audacious stories that our suffragist ancestors would be proud to hear.

Photos from the event:

All photos courtesy Eamon Coyne.

The event program will be aired on MPR News, August 22, 2010. The entire evening is available on archived, unedited audio here online.

Listen to Part 1:

Listen to Part 2:

About the event:

Host Jearlyn Steele was joined by her musical friends folk artist Andra Suchy, jazz/pop singers Connie Evingson and Debbie Duncan, Lori Dokken on piano, Nona Marie Invie of Dark Dark Dark, The Twin Cities Women's Choir. MPR News reporter Suzanne Pekow presented a field report on an issue related to women's history and we heard an audio postcard from Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar. More friends joined us such as World War II Women Airforce Service Pilots member (WASP) Elizabeth Strohfus, Saint Paul Poet Laureate Carol Connolly, poet Heid Erdrich, and Keesha Gaskins of the Minnesota Chapter of the League of Women Voters. Members of a local Girl Scout troupe greeted the audience and assisted them to their seats. As part of the celebration we gave special honors to the League of Women Voters as a toast to their 90 years as an American institution.

Women's City Cabaret Performance, Music and Publication Credits:

THE STAR SPANGLED BANNER
Music by John Stafford Smith
Lyrics by Francis Scott Key
Performed by The Twin Cities Women's Choir, directed by Mary Bussman

HEROES
Music and lyrics by Ann Reed
BMI/Turtecub Publishings, © 1991
Performed by Lori Dokken, piano

GEORGIANA
Music and Lyrics by Chuck Suchy
Chuck Suchy © 2008
Performed by Andra Suchy, vocals; Lori Dokken, piano; Cierra Hill, violin

DOWN TO THE RIVER TO PLAY
Music: Traditional Gospel
Performed and Arranged by Jearlyn Steele, Andra Suchy, Connie Evingson, Debbie Duncan on vocals; Lori Dokken, percussion

THE MUSIC
Poem by Carol Connolly
From "All This and More: New and Selected Poems," Nodin Press © 2009
Performed by Carol Connolly

THE PROMISED LAND
Music: Traditional from the song "Beulah Land"
Lyrics by Elizabeth Boynton Herbert
Performed by Nona Marie Invie, accordion and vocals

THIS WOMAN'S WORK
Music and Lyrics by Kate Bush
EMI © 1988
Performed and Arranged by Nona Marie Invie, vocals and piano; Annika Kaplan, Emily Temte and Aby Wolf, vocals

INTERVIEW: THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
Interview with Keesha Gaskins, Executive Director for The League of Women Voters Minnesota with Jearlyn Steele and Keesha Gaskins

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF
From the Soundtrack to "The Wiz"
MCA/Motown Productions © 1978
Performed by Debbie Duncan, vocals; Lori Dokken, piano

HOPE
Poem performed by Desdamona © 2010

AUDIO POSTCARD FROM MINNESOTA SENATOR AMY KLOBUCHAR

STAND
Music and lyrics by Sly Stone
Epic Records © 1969
Performed by Jearlyn Steele, vocals; Connie Evingson, vocals; Debbie Duncan, vocals; Andra Suchy, vocals; Lori Dokken, piano; Jane Aleckson, bass; Jendeen Forberg, drums
Arranged by Lori Dokken

SISTERS ARE DOING IT FOR THEMSELVES
Music and lyrics by Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart
RCA Records © 1985
Performed by Jearlyn Steele, vocals; Connie Evingson, vocals; Debbie Duncan, vocals; Lori Dokken, piano; Jane Aleckson, bass; Jendeen Forberg, drums
Arranged by Lori Dokken

AUDIO POSTCARD FROM MINNESOTA STATE REPRESENTATIVE MARY KIFFMEYER

I'M A W.O.M.A.N.
Words and Music by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, 1962
Performed by Connie Evingson, vocals; Debbie Duncan, vocals; Jearlyn Steele, vocals; Lori Dokken, piano; Jane Aleckson, bass; Jendeen Forberg, drums
Arranged by Lori Dokken

INTERVIEW WITH ELIZABETH STROHFUS, WWII W.A.S.P.
Interview with Jearlyn Steele and Elizabeth "Betty Wall" Strohfus

AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL
Music by Samuel A. Ward
Lyrics by Katherine Lee Bates
Performed by Connie Evingson, vocals; Lori Dokken, piano
Arranged by Lori Dokken and Connie Evingson

BUTTER MAIDEN AND MAIZE GIRL SURVIVE DEATH LEAP
Poem by Heid Erdrich
From "National Monuments," Michigan State University Press © 2008
Performed by Heid Erdrich

YOU RAISE ME UP
Music by Rolf Løvland
Lyrics by Brendan Graham
Performed by Jearlyn Steele, vocals; Lori Dokken, piano

STILL I RISE
Music: Traditional Spiritual
Choral Arrangement by Rosephanye Powell
Gentry Publications © 2004
Performed by The Twin Cities Women's Choir, Directed by Mary Bussman; Jearlyn Steele, vocals; Connie Evingson, vocals; Debbie Duncan, vocals; Lori Dokken, piano; Jane Aleckson, bass; Jendeen Forberg, drums
Arranged by Lori Dokken