Lisa Rock

has been performing to sold-out crowds for years. She’s written more than 25 original concerts and cabarets that have been seen across the country, including Close to You: The Music of the Carpenters and A Carpenters’ Christmas. Now, she has arranged a six-piece band and together they are dedicated to creating a Carpenters’ experience like no other. Rock’s amazing four octave range allows her to sing the hits like, We’ve Only Just Begun and Close to You in their original key, keeping the songs genuine and more recognizable for the audience.

“When she hits the lower range of her marvelous voice,” notes critic Alan Bresloff, “if you close your eyes, you can see Karen Carpenter’s face.”

Since starting the Close to You show in 2010, the band has been seen by over 250,000 people in 41 states and they have played over 400 shows together. They continue to give back to each local community through donations to local food banks and pantries and have proudly donated over 150,000 meals. She is also the proud owner of Lisa Rock Entertainment (www.lisarockentertainment.com) booking and managing hers and four other national touring bands. For Karen.

Ken McMullen

is a professional musician in the Chicago area performing theatre and cabaret shows for numerous venues such as Theatre at the Center, Drury Lane Oakbrook, the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, Davenports and various other theatres. He is also the principle pianist at the Lincolnshire Academy of Dance, and teaches private piano and voice. He is honored to be part of this great band.

Ashlyn Seehafer

is a Chicago-based actor/singer/all-around rascal. She received a BA in theatre performance from North Central College in 2016 and has been performing with various theatre companies in Chicago since. She absolutely loves singing vocals for Close to You: The Music of the Carpenters, and is so grateful to share in the magic and nostalgia that C2U brings to so many faithful Carpenters fans. You can also catch her in Tapestry Unraveled: A Carole King Tribute.

Currently, Seehafer is revisiting the show that first inspired her to pursue a career in musical theatre by making her debut as Cogsworth at Chicago’s Beverly Arts Center in Beauty and the Beast. When she is not acting, she loves winding down at a local brewery with her dog, Josie.

Notable credits include Maria (The Sound of Music) at the Paramount Theatre, Juice/Mike (Strangest Things! The Musical) with Random Acts Theatre, a 2017 Chicago Theatre Award Winner by The Hawk Chicago, Top 5 Shows of 2017-rated Musical Therapy for her original role of Beth, and Signora Nacarelli (The Light in The Piazza) at North Central College

Brad Kemp

currently works in Chicago as a composer and producer by day and music director and teacher by night. After graduating from Columbia College with a degree in music composition, he started his own studio to make music full time. He currently works with upcoming Chicago artists such as Chore Boy, Glitter Moneyyy (No Trend Records) and Vagabond Maurice, and has collaborated on projects with Chris Redd (SNL, Disjointed), MFnMelo (Pivot Gang), Femdot (Closed Sessions) and Fashawn (Mass Appeal Records). He has personally composed original music for numerous shows including Abduction [MTAP 2020, New York Musical Festival 2019], Tribulation [Chicago Musical Theatre Festival 2016, New York Fringe Festival 2016] and Tapped [Theater Wit, Winner Premier Premieres 2015]. Kemp is also 1/3 of Comedy Rap trio, Handsome Naked (NBC's Bring The Funny, Billboard Comedy top 10, #2 iTunes comedy chart). He loves the Packers, his dog Frankie, and his incredible, supporting wife.

Ian Letts

is an in demand saxophonist in the Chicagoland area. He graduated from Northern Illinois University with degrees in jazz performance and music education. He has had the privilege of studying with saxophone professors Stephen Duke, Rich Moore, and Geof Bradfield, as well as other jazz faculty members including Ron Carter, Art Davis, Kelly Sill, Fareed Haque, Willie Pickens, Tom Garling, and Rodrigo Villanueva. While attending NIU, Letts performed in the NIU Jazz Ensemble for two years where he had the fortune to perform with high caliber jazz artists such as Randy Brecker, Ernie Watts, Victor Lewis, Wycliffe Gordon, Steve Davis, Brian Lynch, Paquito D'Rivera, and Terrell Stafford. He is currently a member of the Pete Ellman Big Band and the Jose Valdez Mambo All-Stars.

Jeremy Montoto

is a much sought after bass player throughout the Chicagoland area. He has played for the national touring band Bella Cain as well as a variety of musical theatre projects.

Joey Zymonas

is a versatile musician having the distinction of playing piano, keyboard, drums, bass and guitar in both the Close to You show as well as A Carpenters’ Christmas. He performs on stage and in the pit for musical theater throughout the Chicago area, having most recently served as music director for Duke Ellington's Greatest Hits at Music Theater Works. He is also the house pianist for a 1920s-style speakeasy in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.