BOTH SIDES NOW

“Two singer-songwriters sit on the edge of a cliff . . . “.

With these words, we are drawn into the world of Both Sides Now, a theatrical concert that

explores the music and lives of long-time friends and one-time lovers, Joni Mitchell and

Leonard Cohen. Created by, and starring Robbie Schaefer and Danielle Wertz, the cabaretstyle performance travels decades alongside songs such as A Case of You, Hallelujah, Big

Yellow Taxi, Suzanne, and many more. Both Sides Now is at once a piece of the 60’s and

70’s, and of right now--offering us a story about the messiness of being human, of lives

persistently lived at the edge of growth, and of finding the courage to turn toward one

another, again and again.

About the Artists:

Robbie Schaefer is a singer-songwriter, theatre/film artist and a rabbi. The guitarist and

songwriter for the indie folk band Eddie From Ohio has also recorded several solo albums,

including 2017′s Sounds Like Home: Songs From the Musical, Light Years.

In addition, Robbie is the founder of OneVoice, an international non-profit that unites and

empowers youth through music and the creative arts. The organization was active from

2011-2023 and completed projects in Tanzania, Nicaragua, India, Greece, and Israel.

Robbie has shared the stage with Jason Mraz, Sara Bareilles, Josh Groban, Keb ‘ Mo, and

Emmylou Harris, among others. His first work for musical theater, Light Years, saw its

world premiere at the Tony Award-winning Signature Theatre in 2018 and is now a feature

film entitled Burst The Silence, which is currently on the festival circuit and due for wider

release by Rolling Pictures in 2025. His newest work for theatre, The Blue Poppy, is an IrishJewish ghost story written in collaboration with Scottish playwright Grace Barnes. Also, he

likes olives. A lot.

Danielle Wertz. Described as, "untarnished by the politics of music" (Jazz Music Archives)

and "at home alongside more contemporary exponents of improvised singing"

(LoudMouth, AU) Danielle Wertz has rapidly gained national acclaim. An award-winning

artist on the rise, Danielle's compositions and arrangements weave together elements of

modern jazz, folk and the use of her voice as an instrumental texture to create an intimate

and personal musical world.

After being named a 2015 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocals Competition semifinalist, Danielle independently released her debut album, Intertwined. This collaboration

with pianist Tal Cohen ranked #4 on Capital Bop's list of "Best DC Jazz Albums of 2017" and

has continued to receive high praise since its release. That same year Danielle placed 2nd in

the Ella Fitzgerald Jazz Vocal Competition and 3rd in the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Vocal

Competition.

In 2022 Danielle co-created and co-starred in Signature Theatre’s production of Both Sides

Now: The Music and Lives of Joni Mitchell and Leonard Cohen. DC Theatre Arts called her

performance “enchanting and reverent.” In March, 2023 she released her sophomore

album, “Other Side” via Outside in Music and self-produced a national release tour

including venues such as Blues Alley Jazz in DC, Chris’ Jazz Cafe in Philadelphia and Sam First

in Los Angeles.