My first solo cabaret show was an amalgam of the material I had prepared in workshops and group shows over the previous four years. It featured tributes to my parents and their world. The show title refers to a Stephen Sondheim parody of Antonio Carlos Jobim's "Girl from Ipanema." It showcased the many cabaret genres I studied, including jazz, pop, bossa, and novelty songs. The Girl From... debuted at the 700-seat Manor Club in Pelham, NY, and was later relocated to the Encore Club on West 46th Street, NYC. My life as a New York cabaret chanteuse had begun! I loved the makeup, the gowns, and - of course - the music.