Irene Soderberg: Larger than life on and
off stage! She is the real thing!
 Irene
Soderberg is larger than life on and off stage. A bursting
super talent with a mesmerizing stage presence, artistic
originality, and vibrant love for life, all are part of her
craft and the fabric of her soul. This artist is something
else! A unique blend of a world-class artistry and bubbly
femme fatale aura. Irene Soderberg is pure magic. Don’t ever
miss her show. Revues include: “The best in the business,
had everyone in the room laughing and applauding”- Cabaret
Hotline.“Awesome...Indiana Jones in a sequin gown,”- LA
4-Front Magazine. “This mad-cap song and dance gal is a Big
entertainer”-NY Native. “This world class diva can steal any
show she’s in”-LA Odyssey. “Don't miss this SF legend…a big
girl with a big talent"- SF Bay Area Reporter. “Fireball
personality with a voice that won’t quit”- Boston Mirror.
“Riotous and bawdy blues singer-comedienne.” New York Daily
News. “A one Woman hurricane...Laugh riot.”- SF Odyssey .
“Smolders Mae West-Style.”- Honolulu Advertiser. Baby
Irene’s foundation in show business, began at a tap dancing
school in the Bronx, at the tender age of 3. “Black
patent leather shoes with black satin bows were my idea of
Heaven! Move over Shirley temple, my inner baby drag queen
had been born!” said Irene
Soderberg.
 But
her Finnish immigrant parents had other ideas, whisking her
off to Brush Prairie, Washington, a budding megalopolis of
110. Nowhere to tap but cowpies, I was plucked and stuck.
Adulthood couldn’t come too quickly (I’m still waiting) I
was going to be a STAR! and then I discovered men!! Yes
folks, entertaining was superseded by being entertained by
the indefinable, ever-present male of the species. I was
hooked, that’s why it took me so long to get back to my
first love, show business. Oh, I flirted with it, toyed with
it, dreamed of it, everything but did it! Who had time?”
Added Irene. Irene was a bartender at Hamburger Mary’s in
Waikiki, when she got offered an Equity contract to do
Godspell- the part of the tramp.
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It was a stretch, but she
managed, and she became a hit. This was the impetus to
propel her headlong into her dreams of torch singer,
comedienne, actress, and drag queen! “Yes, my inner
drag queen was screeching to get in on the act, how could
I say no?” said Irene Soderberg. And Irene moved to
San Francisco to begin a new career. Her very first
success was winning a Mae West look-a-like contest, much
to the chagrin of 13 other drag queens. Then she flew in
40 feet above the stage as a fairy godmother, another role
Irene has been rehearsing for her entire life. Irene
worked hard on stage and off stage, discovering songs,
memorizing tunes, learning to really sing and entertain,
and performing for hundreds of AIDS fundraisers, which
continues to be her most important work today. Irene said:
“I’ve been so blessed to know so many amazing people...
and I’ve lost many of them; but they’re in my heart
forever. I will always do what I can to help. I adore
entertaining...show business is my life! I’ve been so
lucky to live and sing in fabulous places across the
country, New York to Palm Springs, San Francisco to
Chicago, Key West to Portland, LA to Provincetown, San
Diego to Palm Springs…each a new home, ever
expanding to new horizons!” Irene continues to live her
dream, making her living with her music. Irene said: CD 1.
“Goodnight Irene” was the hardest thing I had ever done.
CD 2. “I’m gonna live, Live, Live!” showed up out of one
of my favorite sayings “rest when you’re dead; then you’ll
have plenty of time. Until then, live! CD 3. “A Song in my
heart” is all love songs. I hadn’t dared to sing only love
songs till I found true love. CD 4. “This is my life” came
out in 2006, and it’s a revelation. CD 5 is going
to be called “Family”. It’s about the families we Create
on our life’s journey. I’m excited to say it’s on the way.
Music videos, TV, film, are coming… all part of the
vision.”
Irene is listed in
the World Who's Who in Jazz, Cabaret, Music and
Entertainment.
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