Karen McGreer will be performing at the Medford Arts Center on Feb. 16.
By Melissa Riker
The Sun
“Marriage is about embracing the paradox that the person who drives you crazy is also a big part of what keeps you sane.”
Those are the words of Karen McGreer, marriage and family therapist since 1986.
McGreer will be performing a one-woman cabaret called “What’s so funny about love and marriage?” on Feb. 16 at 8 p.m. at the Medford Arts Center.
McGreer’s performance will incorporate jazz songs from the “American Songbook,” along with stories of one failed engagement and three marriages, two of which ended due to the passing of her husbands.
She has been singing all her life and started taking lessons regularly in 1993, singing at open mics, weddings, funerals and more.
“It’s my therapy in a way, I say it in my show — singing helps to thaw the ice around the human heart,” McGreer said.
McGreer began her performances about six years ago, after inspiration struck through her love of singing combined with her career as a therapist and marriage enrichment seminars she and her late husband would lead.
She will be accompanied by Joe Luca on the piano, who has been playing since he was 8 years old. He also teaches piano, guitar and voice lessons.
McGreer described her performance as “lively, musical and funny,” and a great night out for couples looking for Valentine’s Day plans.
The main message she wants people to know about marriage is that they aren’t unusual if they’re in gridlock in their marriage and they’re not unusual if they’re unhappy. She said that marriage isn’t supposed to make you happy, but rather make you grow — which in turn will lead to happiness.
She refers to marriage as the ultimate growing experience, through problem-solving and accepting, understanding and working through those problems.
As a regular attendee of the Medford Arts Center poetry workshops offered once a month, she expressed gratitude to be performing at an inclusive and appreciative facility of the arts.
“To have an opportunity to entertain and support and celebrate marriage, I really feel it’s kind of a calling for me,” McGreer said.
Tickets are $20 per person and are available at medfordarts.com/events. Proceeds benefit the Medford Arts Center.
