Listen to Her Heart is an intimate and uplifting celebration of Nancy LaMott, one of the finest interpreters of American popular song.
Through the songs Nancy made unforgettable, Nicky Gayner and Tom Wakeley trace her journey from the clubs of San Francisco and New York to national recognition, performances at the White House and the success for which she had worked so long.
Nicky approaches the songs in her own voice, with warmth, emotional honesty and a deep respect for the lyric. Accompanied by Tom at the piano using Christopher Marlowe’s original arrangements, she honours Nancy’s artistry while offering her own interpretation of the music. This is a celebration, not an impersonation.
Nancy’s close friend, songwriter and record producer David Friedman is an essential creative collaborator on the production. His first-hand memories and personal insight are woven through the evening, bringing a personal perspective to Nancy’s story.
Nancy’s life contained illness, struggle and a tragically early death, but Listen to Her Heart is not defined by sadness. Filled with glorious music, humour and humanity, it celebrates her resilience, her wit and the joy she gave to everyone who heard her sing.
How the show began
Listen to Her Heart began with a shared love of Nancy LaMott’s music.
Nicky Gayner and Tom Wakeley first worked together on Nicky’s cabaret Musical Memories. Knowing how profoundly Nancy’s singing had affected Nicky, Tom approached her after the show with an idea: to create a celebration marking the 30th anniversary of Nancy’s death.
From the outset, they knew they needed the insight of someone who had truly known her. They approached David Friedman—Nancy’s close friend, record producer and the writer of many of her signature songs—and he became an essential creative collaborator.
Drawing on his personal memories, David worked closely with Nicky and Tom to write and shape the show, construct its dramatic arc and decide which songs were essential to telling Nancy’s story. Together, they created an evening that combines David’s first-hand recollections, Christopher Marlowe’s original arrangements and their shared determination to introduce Nancy’s remarkable legacy to new audiences.
