Carly Ozard

A classically-trained mezzo-soprano, and no stranger to Bay Area musical theatre, Carly has played leads in The Golden Apple (42nd St. Moon), Carousel (Lamplighters), and was featured as Sally in Follies, opposite San Francisco Cabaret regulars Barry Lloyd, Lua Hadar, Russ Lorenson and Linda Kosut. She has performed with Foothill Music Theatre, Broadway by the Bay, Altarena Playhouse, Notre Dame de Namur and as a cantor for San Francisco's Most Holy Redeemer Church. She made her Plush Room debut in November 2007; was a member of The Bracebridge Dinner in Yosemite in 2007; and was honored to share the stage with Charles Strouse, Andrea McArdle, and Klea Blackhurst in You've Got Possibilities, the annual 42nd St. Moon Gala of 2008.

Carly celebrated her one-woman cabaret debut in 2008 with Bitter and Be Gay! Dubbed "The Kathy Griffin of Cabaret" by Chad Jones, her comic cabaret told about being the biggest "Fag Hag" in San Francisco. The show was co-created with Barry Lloyd and Shawn Ryan. In 2009, Carly was the lucky winner of the Cabaret Showcase Showdown, and named "Best New Cabaret Performer, 2009. She created her next gem, Bewitched Bothered and Bipolar, under the amazing musical direction of Joe Wicht. Bewitched shows the musical look at life's ups and downs. Ozard played to two full houses at Martuni's in 2009 and played to a sold out house at the Eureka Theatre in San Francisco in January 2010.

She is a strong supporter of the Richmond Ermet AIDS Foundation (REAF) and sang first in their Help is On The Way Gala in 2008, entertained for their Red Ribbon Cocktails for a Cure party, and made her debut as a featured performer in All You Need is Love 2, the 2010 Valentine's Day Benefit. Ozard performed alongside Leslie Jordan, Rita Moreno, La Toya London, Kim Nalley, Tim Hockenberry, and others.

Carly worked with Tom Orr and Russ Lorenson to produce Something C.O.O.L., the first ever San Francisco Cabaret Festival in the summer of 2010. The Festival featured solo shows and various themed cabarets, with artists from all over the Bay Area. In October, 2010, Ozard hosted Pardon Me Boys! an evening with the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus featuring music from the 1940's.

Carly's "baby" was a show called Somebody to Love: My Musical Tribute to Freddie Mercury, and the project was launched in October, 2010 at the Rrazz Room with musicians Joe Wicht, Kelly Park, Brendan Getzell and Dave Gursom. San Francisco cabaret director Mike Ward took on the show as his directorial debut on the east coast. On February 25, 2011, Somebody to Love debuted in New York City to a very well-attended audience at Don't Tell Mama. San Francisco's Joe Wicht and Brendan Getzell collaborated with New York City musicians Matt Sharfglass and David Silliman. On February 22nd, Ozard was honored to guest at the Iridium Jazz Club in Terese Genecco and her Little Big Band's show, the longest running night club act on Broadway!

In April 2011, Carly: Queen of the Desert debuted at Blame it On Midnight in Palm Springs! Also in April, Ozard joined many talented women in song for the Richmond Ermet AIDS Foundation fundraiser called One Night Only, Divas and Dames! Among the performers were Tony nominee Valarie Pettiford, Tony nominee Sharon McNight, Phantom of the Opera's Lisa Vroman, and incredible cabaret guests Connie Champagne, Matthew Martin, Maureen McVerry, Donna Sachet, B.O.O.B.S! (Soila Hughes and Jessica Coker) and latin singer, Carmen Milagro. In the same month, Carly emceed A Friend in Need, A Benefit for Mike Ward to honor a dear friend, supporter and director of musical theatre and cabaret shows in the San Francisco Bay Area. Sadly, Mike lost his battle with liver cancer in July 2011.

Carly studied classically through her college years at Notre Dame de Namur University; however she ultimately found her true calling for cabaret and continued her studies in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, at The Art of Cabaret program led by Andrea Marcovicci, Karen Mason, Barry Kleinbort, David Gaines, Chris Denny and Shelly Markham. Carly has coached with Barry Lloyd, Michael Lavine, and studies voice with Baker Peeples and trains in Alexander Technique and voice with Kathryn Armour in New York and Italy. On a recent trip to London, Ozard was introduced to cabaret sensation Paul L. Martin of Excess All Areas Ltd. and looks forward to working with him in the UK.

What's Next:

Something Wonderful? Ozard's newest show coming soon to the Rrazz Room on November 7, 8, and 9, at 8pm.

And she will be participating for a third year in Christmas in San Francisco with Russ Lorenson and Friends!! This year, sharing the stage with Lorenson, Wesla Whitfield and Tim Hockenberry.

MORE ABOUT CARLY...