Who is Blanche?
Blanche the Jazzy Jewess of South Minneapolis has spent decades (according to her) performing for audiences of varying enthusiasm and success. Created by musician and music therapist Daniel Goldschmidt, Blanche draws on classic jazz vocalists, Jewish humor, and the tradition of cabaret storytelling to bring an old-school entertainer to life.
Whether performing solo or with her backing band, the Chosen, Blanche fills each show with jazz standards, Broadway favorites, an occasional original song, and stories from a wonderfully unreliable past. Along the way, audiences might learn the history behind a tune, sing along, laugh louder than expected, or end up dancing the hora before the night is over.
More than anything, Blanche hopes to create a room where people can laugh together, share their humanity, and leave feeling a little lighter than when they walked in.
The world is scary. Why not enjoy some high-quality weird art?
Blanche’s origin story
Blanche started as a joke that got a little out of hand. Daniel Goldschmidt wanted an excuse to sing jazz standards, wear fabulous dresses, and create the kind of show where people laugh together instead of sitting quietly in the dark. Somewhere along the way, Blanche became her own person.
Named after Daniel's grandmother, Blanche is a love letter to Jewish humor, cabaret, and the entertainers who could make a room feel like a living room. She carries stories from a gloriously embellished past, invites audiences to sing and dance, and isn't above giving a little unsolicited life advice.
Making art can feel frivolous in difficult times, but Blanche exists for exactly those moments. If we're all trying to survive this capitalist hellscape, then spending an evening making joyful, high-quality weird art together feels like time well spent.