The music of female artists from the 1960s is set to fill Portage High School East Auditorium.
Portage Township Live Entertainment Association presents “It’s My Party” by Girls Like Us on Sunday.
The show will include a mash-up of Carole King-written songs “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow” by the Shirelles and “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” by Aretha Franklin.
“We’ll be doing music from those girl groups of the 1960s, everybody from Dusty Springfield to the Supremes to Lesley Gore, Petula Clark and Janis Joplin,” said Laura Freeman, who comprises Girls Like Us with Beckie Menzie and Marianne Murphy Orland.
“We also do a small, little homage to the big singers from the 1950s that paved the way — Connie Francis, the McGuire Sisters, people like that.
“The audience will get obviously a sense of nostalgia to go back and listen to these amazing groups, but they’ll also learn a little bit more about these women and the paths laid for women in rock ‘n’ roll starting in the 1960s.”
Although Girls Like Us is Chicago-based, their members have ties to Indiana, including Freeman, originally from South Bend and attending school at Indiana University South Bend, and Menzie, born in Pierceton.
Menzie also performed with Tom Michael during Portage Township Live Entertainment Association’s 2015-16 season, and Girls Like Us have taken the Theatre at the Center stage in Munster a few times.
“We’ve been singing together for probably six years. Before that we all had our solo careers and were colleagues, for sure. We started singing together as a fluke and realized how well we blend together and how much fun it was,” said Freeman.
“They’re great ladies and super supportive. That’s also what’s nice for the audience. We’re singing all together, and you get to hear us all individually as well. It’s nice to hear many different sounds.”
Freeman’s fascination with music stemmed from what her mom, Terri, played during her childhood.
“Growing up with that rock ‘n’ roll sound in the house, it really appealed to me,” said Freeman, who also is president of Chicago Cabaret Professionals.
“My first concert was Lesley Gore at the Morris Performing Arts Center in South Bend. It was amazing to hear an entire audience singing along. I really liked that. I especially liked that so many women came to the forefront in the 1960s.”
Girls Like Us will open Portage Township Live Entertainment Association’s 2016-17 season.
Other shows include professional quintet North American Brass Company on Oct. 2, Latin-American violin and guitar in Duo Del Sol on Nov. 12, and Nashville, Tenn.-based singer-songwriter Jenn Bostic on March 11.
Jessi Virtusio is a freelance writer.
Girls Like Us
When: 3 p.m. Sunday
Where: Portage High School East Auditorium, 6450 U.S. 6, Portage
Tickets: $15 for adults; free for students
Information: 219-762-5025 (Linda Hardin) or www.portagemusic.com
