Karen Underwood, vocalist, is affectionately known in her adopted home of Cork as 'The Chicago Diva'. Hailing from the Windy City, Karen always had a big voice, but her vocal talents were never encouraged due to a strict religious conservative home life and the pressures of academic achievement. That all changed when Karen escaped to Cork in 1997. One house party later, the obligatory sing-song broke out and Karen was hooked. She recalls the experience in epiphany like tones, the moment when the reserved Chicago Karen faded and the Diva Karen stepped up.

A friend suggested she should give the singing lark a go and she soon found herself performing at a club night in Cork's Opera House. Steadily her reputation as a charismatic vocalist grew and as lead singer with Cork band, The Flying Monkeys, her vocal talents and her confidence exploded. Karen was soon providing the vocals on Cork's live house collective Cartoons first EP release, while also finding time to build on her blossoming acting reputation.

So, all considered, expect great things when the Chicago Diva gets all high on the Priestess of Soul in her new one-woman show. The Nina in Me see's Karen interweave the story of her own life with the incredible songs of Nina Simone, highlighting the heartache, pain, joy and empowerment that she has experienced growing up black in America. She will perform Nina's timeless songs including 'Aint got No', 'My Baby Just Cares for Me', 'Here Comes the Sun', and 'Feeling Good'. The show returns to the Half Moon after a successful summer run from Saturday, October 18.

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