BETINA THE SONGSTRESS
Betina's musical talents and tastes as a performer and writer are too varied to be hemmed in. She co-leads two bands with her husband Nick Russo (Banjo Nickaru), a widely sought after multi-string instrumentalist.
THE SCOOCHES (formerly Banjo Nickaru & Western Scooches) latest album features Betina's original songs inspired by flavors of New Orleans, Gullah Geechee rhythms, folk, bluegrass and Americana. "Get Us Out Of Fearland" was #2 album on the International Folk DJ Charts (right under John Prine).
"Hotter than hot, and oh-so-hip," (--The Classical Arts) HOT JAZZ JUMPERS celebrate the music of the Roaring 20's, Ragtime, Blues, Swing, New Orleans, and more. Recent appearances include Live on the Levee, Pocahontas Opera House, and is a favorite at NYC's famed vintage train event.
The First Official Album
I Wish I Could Stay, Betina's first album released 2001, produced by Lowell Hershey, was a collection of songs written while on tour with Phantom of the Opera and while living in San Francisco. It's a beautiful album full of quirky songs and top notch NYC Broadway musicians her father, Lowell Hershey, knew well. Her father and brother both play trumpet on the album. Check out "Burnt Butter Sky" for Shawn Hershey's improv. Check out "Forever Eyes" for Lowell Hershey's trumpet playing and arrangements. And check out "Body Being Here" for those quirky harmonies. For the gorgeous vocals and melody, check out "Love Me Free."
Available on Apple Music, Spotify, and for purchase directly from Betina.
BETINA THE DANCER
Betina has toured the USA and the world as a dancer in musicals, performed in NYC in tap and modern dance companies, and choreographed original works. She has choreographed and performed as a swing dancer and many partner dance styles at home in NYC and as far away as Tokyo, Japan. In feature films, she has appeared as a principle dancer in Julia Roberts’ “Mona Lisa Smile” and the Disney’s “Enchanted.”
BETINA ON STAGE
As a musical theater performer her credits include: Meg in the National Broadway tour of “Phantom of the Opera”, Anybodys in the LaScala (Italy) production of “West Side Story,” Fleta in "Iolanthe" and Isabel in the "Pirates of Penzance" at NYC's City Center. Favorite role: Luisa in "The Fantasticks" at Jenny Wiley Theatre. Just for her: Jackson was turned into Jacky at New Harmony so Betina could play a "pump boy" and lead guitar in "Pump Boys and Dinettes." Bringing swing dancing and musical theater together: Betina danced the Lindy Feature with Mark Eckstein in "Swing, The Musical."
BETINA AS ARTISTIC DIRECTOR AND EDUCATOR
Betina's theatrical experience inspired the next iteration of herself as artistic director of The Garden Players, a musical theater program in NYC for grades 1-9. As artistic director and lead teacher of the program, Betina develops new original works inspired by and performed by kids. She teaches musical theater techniques, acting improvisation, solfège. She imbues her students with creativity, courage, and the skills to cooperate as they rehearse and participate in the process of creating and rehearse a completely original musical theater show. Actors learn to play with confidence, eloquence and poise in a family-like safe, loving, and nurturing environment.
MUSICAL THEATER LYRICIST, COMPOSER, BOOKWRITER
Betina writes an original musical for kids each year. She is an alum of the Lehman Engle BMI Musical Theater Workshop. With over 2,500 productions and counting, since 2011, communities in 65 countries and nearly every U.S. state have discovered the joy of producing a musical written by Betina Hershey & Denver Casado, published and available at Beat by Beat Press. Keep an eye out for Betina's most recent works at Garden Players Publishing (socially conscious musicals to help kids grow).
POET, EDITOR & DESIGNER
Betina has always loved poetry, written poetry, and edited poetry magazines as well as created graphic design. When she applied to high school she was accepted into La Guardia H.S. of Performing Arts as a dancer and into another high school as a Graphic Design major. She chose dance, but she has always been interested in both written word and graphic design. Her poems have appeared in poetry reviews starting the poetry magazine at La Guardia H.S. of Performing Arts and the Marymount Manhattan Review.
Carol's Art, Betina's Poetry
After Betina's Mom, Carol Hershey, passed away, Betina wrote a poem every single day for 6 months. She looked through her Mom's collection of original drawings and chose one that spoke to her. She didn't miss a day, and six months later, she created a book of love and loss... Carol's Art, Betina's Poetry, available on Blurb.
Love this Earth, write songs that matter, and create positive change through art.
