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About Raissa Katona Bennett

On Broadway, Raissa performed the role of “Christine Daae” in PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, and appeared in  CHESS, as a benefit for the Actor’s Fund.  Her First National Tour credits include: “Jellylorum/Griddlebone” and “Jennyanydots” in CATS, “Mother” in the National Theatre of the Deaf’s version of A CHILD’S CHRISTMAS IN WALES,  and  “Lizzie Phagan” in PARADE, where she worked with the original creative team of director Harold Prince, choreographer Patricia Birch, author Alfred Uhry, and composer Jason Robert Brown.

In NYC, Raissa has headlined at: Feinstein’s, Metropolitan Room, Iridium and The Laurie Beechman Theatre. She has guest starred at: The Supper Club, Rainbow Room, 88′s, Don’t Tell Mama, Chita’s, The Algonquin, and Radio City Music Hall. She has soloed with many symphony orchestras and was guest soloist at the estate of the legendary Cal Ripken, Jr. She was featured at the Lincoln Center Barnes and Noble in their Any Wednesday series, performing selections from her first CD, What I Was Dreaming Of.

Her newest CD, Another Kind of Light, is being released by LML Music, August, 2012.  On this new CD, three songs were written expressly for Raissa – 2 by Michael John LaChiusa:  “Torch Song for Raissa” and “Bye, Bye, Ingenue”, and 1 by David Caldwell: “i carry your heart”.  Two other songs receive their first commercial recording here:  Ron Abel and Chuck Steffan’s “Waiting for a Westbound Train," and  "How Could I Not?" is from the David Spencer/Alan Menken musical, THE APPRENTICESHIP OF DUDDY KRAVITZ.

Raissa was nominated for a 2009 MAC Award for Outstanding Female Vocalist and received the 2010 Bistro Award and 2011 MAC Award for Outstanding Achievement as the creator, producer and host of THE CONCERTS FOR CITY GREENS, which is dedicated to preserving city green spaces, while introducing new audiences to the artists of the cabaret and theater communities.  She writes a blog, “Raissa Recommends”, that highlights performances in the NYC cabaret and theater world, promotes animal rescue and a kinder, more verdant world.  She is also a Reiki Master, and Platform Assistant/Chaplain, at Unity Center for Practical Spirituality, in Norwalk, CT.

Raissa lives in New York City with her husband Dr. Garrett Bennett, a Facial Plastic and Sinus surgeon, and their 2 tiny rescue dogs, Phoebe (a 5 year old Toy Fox Terrier) and Otie (an 8 year old Chihuahua).

They live in Tudor City in Manhattan, and also enjoy a weekend home in Milford, CT.