Meghan “Big Red” Murphy brings her powerful vocals, sassy personality and charming stories to “Live at the Orinda!” on March 1. Originally from the Bay Area, the tall redhead now spends most of her time performing around the world.
The month of March brings lots of excitement to Orinda as award-winning vocalist Meghan “Big Red” Murphy performs at the Live at the Orinda! concert series. Scheduled for March 1 at 5 p.m., Murphy will present her one-woman show “Adventures from a Broad” at the Orinda Theatre.
Described as a cross between Jessica Rabbit and Bette Midler, Murphy has traveled around the globe dazzling sold-out audiences everywhere with her phenomenal voice, sassy personality and charming stories from her travels.
“The show is sort of a chronicle of my global wanderlust and my songbird shenanigans on the road. I have met lots of people and, inevitably when I travel, something funny or crazy happens to me,” Murphy said. “I find myself in some hilarious situations, so I weave them together along with songs from a bunch of different genres of music. I like to say it’s everything from Broadway to Beyonce.”
Originally from San Jose, the now Chicago-based singer and actor has performed in such musicals as “Anything Goes,” “La Cage Aux Folles, “Spamalot” and “The Who’s Tommy.”
Concentrating on her one-woman show following the pandemic, Murphy satiates her wanderlust by singing on cruises around the world. She performed on 18 cruises during 2025, including ringing in the New Year with a cruise around the Hawaiian Islands.
“I’m perpetually on tour and the cruises are super fun,” said Murphy. “I love the travel aspect and seeing the world and meeting people from all over. And to be able to do what I love [singing] is just the cherry on top.”
As much as she loves cruises, Murphy is especially excited to bring her show to the Orinda Theatre.
“My dad and stepmom live about 30 seconds from the theater. Their kitchen window looks at the Orinda Theatre sign. They’ll be coming to the show with around 30 of their friends,” Murphy said. “It’s rather ironic that I’d be performing at Live at the Orinda! because two years ago, I was walking through Orinda with my dad and saw the roster for the concert series posted at the theater. I saw all these artists whom I adore and just had to find out who booked the series so I could be part of it.”
With her dad and friends in attendance, Murphy noted she would probably add some family stories to her performance.
Murphy will take a break from traveling and performing her one-woman show in mid-March to make her Broadway debut in “The Wild Party.” Murphy begins rehearsals following her appearance in Orinda, with the show opening March 18 as part of Broadway’s “Encores! Series.” Based on Joseph Moncure March’s notorious narrative poem, the jazz-infused musical adaptation features another Live at the Orinda! favorite, Claybourne Elder.
“The music is so interesting, such an amalgamation of 1920’s vaudeville and musical theater,” Murphy said. “Powerhouse composing by Michael John La Chiusa and book by La Chiusa and George C. Wolfe. I did this show in college, and I’m stunned that I now get to experience doing it on Broadway.”
Although Murphy’s show sold out in less than 24 hours, there is a waiting list. To be included, email Michael Williams at mdw500@gmail.com.
