Sultry Nights & Broadway Lights: Leanne Borghese Live

Hello, friends and neighbors, you have reached Green Room on Air. I'm so glad you're here today. Ah, I was in Yosemite last week, beautiful Yosemite, and I had my second concussion in two months. So this video is a little late. I had wanted it to be out there earlier, but when you have post-concussion syndrome, Rome, you tend to not be able to be as productive as normal. So it is what it is, as the kids say today. And I'm going to get this out today. And I'm so glad you're here. Today, we have a wonderful guest. Her name is Leanne Borghese. And she is someone that I have actually worked with, I think like 15 years ago. We talk about that a little bit in the interview. And she's a remarkable talent. Let me just read from her bio for you so that you can get an idea of what you're going to be hearing today, who you're going to be hearing from. Leanne Borghese is a vividly fierce and award-winning singer, actress, film, and cabaret performer. She's captivated audiences from San Francisco to New York City in major concert halls, theaters, and nightclubs, venues with her brassy vocals and sultry siren style. style. Leanne has shined in lead roles in musical theaters, supporting performances in award-winning feature films, and created a string of originally critically acclaimed MAC award-winning theatrical cabaret and nightclub acts, including The Showbrods, Mood Swings, and Borghese's Back. Her bold, irrelevant artistry has garnered sold-out shows, and most recently, the New York Manhattan Association of Cabarets Award of Best Musical Comedy Performer for her smash comedic hit, Borghese's Back. And there's more, but I think you get the idea. And I thought what we do today is listen to a little bit of her singing. And if you're on YouTube, you can actually watch. Isn't that cool? Now, what's happening now in her life, and one of the reasons I'm doing this video, is for one night only, Monday, February 23rd, that's this coming Monday, 7.30 p.m., She will be singing in a benefit concert featuring cast members from the National Broadway Touring Company of The Notebook, celebrating the month of love. And the show is called If This Is Love. It's going to benefit the Richmond Hermit Aid Foundation and Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS. Two very, very wonderful organizations, and they need your support. Monday, February 23rd, 2026, 7.30 p.m. At the Marines Memorial Theater on 609 Sutter Street in San Francisco, California. And it's not only going to be Leanne and the cast of The Notebook singing, but also Jason Brock. Many of you may know him. He was an X-Factor top 10 finisher. And also, Dan Ashley The Dan Ashley If you watch Channel 7 News here in San Francisco He is the anchor news guy On Channel 7, You can get tickets At ono-thenotebook.eventbrite.com. I think if you go to Eventbrite and search on If This Is Love, you'll find it. But I will also put the link in the show notes so you can just click on it, get your tickets for the show this Monday, February 23rd at 7.30 p.m. At Marines Memorial Theater. Now let's take a quick look at the wonderful Leanne Borghese singing a song in a club in New York. . Their feet are. I'm there when he calls me the trusted girl Friday. All right. But what good? Always count on me. All right. Well, I think you get the idea there. The sultry voice of Leanne Borghese. All right. Hey, without further ado, let's let you meet Leanne. Well, thanks for coming on today, Leanne. Thank you, Ray. It's good to see you. It's been a while. Yeah. I think we were in a show together at some point, weren't we? Many moons ago, Ray. At 42nd Street Moon? Yeah, it was. It was a fine and dandy production. It was a fond memory. I don't even remember what it was. What was it? Oh, my goodness. Silk Stockings? No, no, no. Oh, that would have been maybe a little bit more vavum. It was nymph errant. Oh, yes, nymph errant. I loved that. Yeah. What a wacky. I played a German schoolgirl. You know, it was quite in my range. The things we do for our art, Ray. And here we are again. I remember that. I think last year I was a member of the Italian-American. Athletic club? Yeah. Yeah, and I saw you were performing there one night. I did. Yeah. Different events. Yeah. But you're in New York City now, right? I am. Yeah, I've been traveling from San Francisco to New York for the last 14 years, going on almost 15. Wow. And so just got back to the city, and it's beautiful outside. It's snow, it's cold, but, you know, it ignites like the city only can. Yeah. So I'm happy to be here. But I'm more happy to come back to San Francisco because we have a big gig coming up. Tell us about it. What's happening? Well, you know, it's the Richmond Intermed Aid Foundation. They're coming back for one of their big help is on the way benefits. But tonight is the 20th. Hold on. Let's see. Let me get my facts straight. It's a one night only cabaret with the Broadway touring cast of The Notebook, the musical. So it will be an evening of song and... A song in love just in time for Valentine Day. And I will be performing alongside with a couple other local friends. We've got Jason Brock and the newscaster who just joined the show. Yeah, I saw that. He's the anchor on Channel 7 News, isn't he? I know. I didn't know he could sing. Me either. I'm excited for him to be there. I forget his name. What is his name? Well, it doesn't matter, does it? You know, he's wonderful. Yeah, he's wonderful. And Jason Brock from, I guess people may know him from American Idol. And then there's you who's been in Carnegie Hall and all these wonderful places, right? My goodness. Over the years, different opportunities through cabaret and art. I'm excited to be able to keep bringing things that I keep learning back to our stages in San Francisco for such a great cause. And the Richmond Hermitage Foundation from Broadway Bears to help us on the way to these one-night touring casts. Of Broadway shows that come in. It's really great that they put this on for our community, and they create a lot of funds for people in need, and that's the reason why I've been working with them for over 20 years. Yeah, and it's called the Reef Benefit. That's right, Reef Benefit? And they benefit AIDS and other... Different social services, yeah, different needs for individual people, people going through treatment, people who need of aid in our queer community and beyond. So they just really help the community and have for so many years, Ken and Joe, tirelessly with so many volunteers from San Francisco to now the Palm Springs and the benefits. I love that after almost 30 years, they're still doing this. 30 years, wow. Almost, yeah. I remember when it first started, I can't believe that's 30 years. Wow. Getting there, I know. It's amazing. It does. It does. And so we're going to have the, so the notebook cast is going to be here in this city doing the show, right? And so they're going to be performing alongside you and Jason and Dan, that's his name, Dan Ashley. Yeah. And so do you know what, like, how does that work? Do you have to rehearse, or do you work on it on your own, or do you come out here and work with them? Well, you know, these are pros. These are Broadway performers. So they come out. Yeah, well, they pick a song that really speaks to them, so it's a cabaret. So they have that theme of love, and they come equipped with what songs inspire them. So it was really a time to see these great performers on stage in a different capacity in cabaret doing what they love. So it's a wonderful opportunity to really get to know the performers. So it's a cabaret format, so people come up and sing the songs that mean something to them. Yeah, around theme. And we got there and sing, and then we party. And we give back. So it's a wonderful gala event. Speaking of partying, if you get the VIB tickets, you get to party afterward with the cast, right? You do. You get to see the cast. You get to have some sparkling. and Steve Montez has always put on the after parties and this one will be in the lobby of the Marines Memorial, which is a fabulous location. So you'll get to meet members of the Broadway national touring cast of The Notebook and you'll get to see Dan and Jason and I and get to talk to us. And it's wonderful throughout all the years that I've been doing the Reef Benefits and so grateful to give my time for these causes that the community that we've built, It's really wonderful to see everyone again. It's a definite family and the new family of people coming in and finding out about Reef. So we really want to get the word out there. It's a wonderful organization. Do you know some of the people in the Notebook cast? Or are these all? Not in this Notebook cast. It's in the Broadway. But if you're wonderful things, it's a touring company. Yeah, I'd like to see that show myself. You should come. It's the 23rd of February. I am going to come. I usually come to everybody I interview on here. I usually go to the shows. Good. Yeah. Good. We have to keep supporting live art in San Francisco, everywhere we are. And we need it the most now. We need it the most. For sure. Absolutely. And to connect face to face, right? Yeah. I mean, we get to connect computer to computer here. But to really be in presence, heart to heart is different. Absolutely. You know, the COVID crisis, you know, we got Zoom out of it, which is a good thing, or whatever modem you're using. But at the same time, so many arts organizations in the Bay Area. Especially performing arts organizations, have really suffered since COVID. And... It's great that we are continuing to do these things, and hopefully it'll come back to the way it was before. Or different. Or different, yeah. Or better. Or better. Everything's got to evolve, and I believe the more that people are on their screens, getting out and being in a live audience with other people to have that live experience. We're going back to, like, basic Greek theater, right? Bringing communities together. And this is where we go to to have it be something that's different and to let the audiences know we're connected. We have to have that visceral connection. Yeah. And that's what I like to thrive on. And I commit myself to keep putting myself in live venues and not only on, you know, on video. Yes. Is it called video? Tape. Online. If you decide to go to the show, which I hope people do, I really encourage getting the VIP ticket. It costs a little more, but it is so much fun to be able to meet with the people in the show afterwards and talk with them. It's a time to get dressed up. Yeah. I think Jason, I think the last time I went and Jason was in, or it was some benefit, and I had a wonderful conversation with him. He's a great performer, a great person. Each one of the, you'll get to meet the cast, which is great, and then go see the show. But it's time to get dressed up. It's a special event. It's a gala. Get out and put on your sexy clothes, something that makes you feel good, and come out and support a great cause. And that's why I do it. I love to wear, I mean, it's all about the gowns and feathers and dresses. Well, you're always dressed fabulous way. Because it makes me feel good, and it's fun. It's fun just for that moment. And then we get back to our day-to-day, so it's special. Do you know what you're going to be singing yet? I do. Yeah, is it a surprise? Well, everything works out the way that I'm looking at it. I'm working on a new show that I'll be debuting in August in Nebraska. So I'm Nebraska at the Brownville Performing Arts Center. So it is brassy, bassy, and Broadway. So I'm working on a lot of the Shirley Bassey-inspired tunes because she's one of my idols. And I love who she is and what she represents and the individuality that she brings to her work and her boldness. So it will be a compilation of Diamonds Are Forever and Goldfinger. Oh, wow. How neat. People will know those from the James Bond movies. You know, art is art, though. Don't hold me to it. I may switch it up at the last minute. That's the fun. You never know. Yeah. Yeah. And again, this is February 23rd, right? It is. 7.30 p.m. It's at the St. Francis? Is that right? No, it's the Marines Memorial? Marines Memorial, sorry. Yeah. Marines Memorial. Marines Memorial Theater. It's a beautiful theater. Have you ever been there? I have. Yes, I have. It is beautiful. It's one of our great theaters with the double tiers. And it's just grand. And it's right in downtown San Francisco. And there's a wonderful Italian restaurant next door. And there's other restaurants. So come and make a night out of it. Go to dinner. Come to the gala. See some great Broadway performers in San Francisco. And I look forward to saying hello to all of my friends that I know before and making new ones. Yeah. How often do you come out to San Francisco now or the Bay Area? Well, it's my primary home. I grew up in the Bay Area. So I've had the joy of being able to travel back and forth. So it's about half of the year. Oh, okay. I'll be here for different projects and come back when I need to. So it works out to half and half, half my time. So a lot of travel. Yeah, I know. Wow. But hey, you got to do it. It's worth it. Which you love doing. It's great for my soul. It's important to get out into the world. And you can do that in San Francisco. You walk out your door and you're in the world. Yes. You don't need to have a car per se. So it just gives a different heartbeat to inspiration. It's like the biggest small city in the world it is it's like a big city but it's small. And san francisco has that same feeling yeah the city proper yeah so when you're in the city you know it's something great and we have to keep revitalizing the arts in san francisco we have to keep. A live performance. Yeah. So we have the Richard Ehrmatt Foundation. Richmond Ehrmatt. Richmond. Jeez, sorry. Richmond Ehrmatt. Aid Foundation. Aid Foundation. One night only. Yes. The Notebook celebrating the month of love. Yes. And it's going to be featuring. Give us the title of the show. If This Is Love. If This Is Love. Yeah. So the theme will be centered around that. if this is love. Many, many, many incarnations of what you can do with that. We have the cast of The Notebook and Jason Brock and Leanne Borghese. The wonderful Leanne Borghese here. And Dan Ashley from the ABC News. I can't wait. I'm so excited. I'm so excited. Yeah, I look forward to these. I'm really excited to come home and do this. Great. Well, thanks so much for being here today. You are so welcome. Thanks for making all this happen. Good to see you and talk to you after so many years. It's been many, many years. Ray, I'd have to say it's probably been like 18 years. What? Yes. It's been that long. I mean, I've seen you on social media. Yeah, I mean, we've talked on Messenger and stuff a few times. But we haven't had a chat. So if it takes a Zoom to connect us like this, that's a good thing that came out of all this. Yeah. So everybody come see the show. Yes, please come. You will have fun. You're not going to be sad. I guarantee it. Yes. And let us wrap our arms around you with some love and come and say hello. Yeah. All right. All right. Thank you. Thank you so much. Okay. Thank you. Take care. You too. Cheers.