Professional singer-songwriter, pianist, vocal coach, and Minnetonka High School graduate Monica Livorsi is returning to Minnetonka Theatre this December. She will be performing her original concept album “All About Jane: The Eras of Jane Austen.” Performances are on December 12 and 13 in MHS’ Studio Theatre.
Monica has been playing piano since age 5, and started vocal lessons in middle school. She fully participated in the arts during her time here at MHS: she was a “huge choir kid” and regularly acted in shows. She explains that her favorite part was in “Evita” where she simply “walked on stage and sang a song.” Her favorite day of rehearsals was always the first with the full pit orchestra and cast. To follow her passion, she pursued a career in music, and in 2021, began publishing her original music, with her debut single “Come Back Around” and EP “Here and Now.”
After her two earlier releases, Monica Livorsi created her concept album “All About Jane.” It was when she was attempting to write her first love song that she decided to use her interest in literature as material. She wrote a piece from the eyes of the character Anne Elliot in Austen’s novel “Persuasion”. The song came surprisingly easily, and inspired eleven more songs from the perspective of Jane Austen characters. These came together into a complete album.
Monica describes her style as “theatrical pop”, inspired by the likes of Sara Bareilles, which made her transition to the stage smooth. December 2023 Monica first played “All About Jane” at The Hive Collaborative in St. Paul. This was when she decided to add a reference to “The Eras Tour” in the title. Monica shares that the Studio Theater is the “perfect-size venue” and helps make the show more theatrical. While it can still be described as a live performance of a concept album, she hopes it will feel right on the Minnetonka Theatre stage.
The Taylor Swift elements are ramping up for this production as she plans to connect each song with appropriate Swiftie lyrics. Monica said that her time with the concept album has been “an adventure,” and she plans to continue performing the piece. Tickets for this show can be found on the Minnetonka Theatre website. If you can’t make this show, those interested can check her website and socials for future developments.
