Ann Kittredge is a lifelong performing artist whose career has illuminated stages from Broadway and Off Broadway to major venues across the country. Known for her luminous voice, emotional depth, and magnetic presence, she has worked with some of the most celebrated producers and directors in American theater. Beyond her own performances, Ann champions the next generation of artists as a member of the Advisory Board of The Capital Cabaret Organization and formerly as part of the Advisory and Executive Board of The American Songbook Association, which brings workshops to underprivileged NYC public school students. A proud and active member of Soka Gakkai International, a Buddhist NGO of the United Nations, Ann’s artistry is guided by gratitude, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to storytelling through song.
This October, Ann’s calendar overflowed with an extraordinary lineup of performances from the American Songbook Association Gala Honoring Ahrens & Flaherty at Merkin Hall, to the One Heart, One Cure Benefit Concert for Cancer Awareness at the Laurie Beechman Theatre, the Mabel Mercer Cabaret Convention Tribute to Cy Coleman at Jazz at Lincoln Center, and her own headlining show When In Love at Chelsea Table & Stage. In between rehearsals and benefit concerts, Ann sat down with us to reflect on her artistry, her latest album, and the joy of sharing music that truly connects.
Q: Ann, October has been a truly extraordinary month for you you’ve performing at the American Songbook Association Gala Honoring Ahrens & Flaherty at Merkin Hall, the One Heart, One Cure Benefit Concert for Cancer Awareness at the Laurie Beechman Theatre, the Mabel Mercer Cabaret Convention Tribute to Cy Coleman at Jazz at Lincoln Center, and of course, headlining your own show, When In Love, at Chelsea Table & Stage. How do you prepare for such a dynamic series of performances, and what does it feel like to bring your artistry to so many different stages in one month?
A: I love variety in my life, and boy is this fall full of variety. I don’t take any invitation or request for granted. I’m just as nervous before each performance, whether I’m doing something familiar or new, and the secret to enjoying that anxiety is to remember that it’s all about your audience. I’m serving them along with serving the story of the song. There’s nothing like feeling the energy shift in a room because of a phrase or note you can sense your audience changing right in front of you. It’s thrilling every time, in every place.
Q: Your new holiday album, You Sleigh Me, has such a fun and festive spirit while still showcasing your remarkable versatility as a vocalist. What inspired this project, and how did you choose the songs that made the final cut? And of course, tell us how that clever title came to be!
A: Well, I’ve got to credit Barry Kleinbort for that one. He directs my solo shows and was also a collaborator on the album. I wanted something light, something with a smileand he suggested You Sleigh Me. That was it. No close second! The title, along with the album graphic, really captures the energy of the music we chose. And honestly, it was incredibly therapeutic to sing all those fun and meaningful holiday tunes in the middle of springtime. My music director, Christopher Denny, even kept his Christmas tree up during that entire rehearsal period, which kept the mood perfectly festive.
Q: You recently received a Bistro Award, such a prestigious honor in the cabaret community. What does that recognition mean to you at this point in your career?
A: O.K., this was sooo unexpected and so welcomed! They recognized my second album, Romantic Notions, which is a very special project to me. There were a lot of life changes happening around that time, and getting to explore the many facets of romance through those songs was incredibly rewarding. To have that work acknowledged meant the world to me.
Q: You’ve performed everything from Broadway classics to jazz standards to original cabaret works. How do you approach storytelling through song across such a wide range of styles?
A: The storytelling is always the same. You find the best musical genre to communicate your story, work up an arrangement that supports it, and perform it with heart. Whether it’s a comedy number or a ballad, the key is the truth behind it. If you don’t connect with the truth of your story, it won’t resonate. Audiences can enjoy a pretty voice or pleasant personality, sure but if you want to reach their hearts, you have to take risks. My team and I never perform a song “as it’s been done before.” If I’m singing it, it’s because I have a fresh story to tell. Sometimes people want to hear a song exactly as they know it, but others appreciate hearing it through a new lens. Songs evolve—just like people do—and their meanings can shift with the times. That’s part of what keeps the work so exciting.
Q: Between your stage work, recording projects, and your advocacy for arts education through organizations like the American Songbook Association, what continues to drive your passion for performing and giving back to the arts community?
A: I took time off to raise my kids, and during that time I devoted hundreds of volunteer hours sharing my love of theater and music with children. Once they made it through middle school, I returned to performing—but after a few years, I realized how much I missed the teaching and mentoring side of it all. I can’t say one is more rewarding than the other. What’s truly fulfilling is that I can do both now—perform and give back. That balance feeds me creatively and spiritually.
As Ann Kittredge continues to captivate audiences from cabaret clubs to concert halls, her voice carries more than melody it carries joy, empathy, and a deep love for the power of song to connect hearts.
Whether she’s sleighing us with a holiday tune or stirring souls with a torch song, Ann reminds us that music, at its best, is both a gift and an act of service.
Learn More about Ann Kittredge at
or stream her new holiday album at: