Page 40 - Allison's Magazine Issue #97
P. 40

Inspired by her military veteran
                                                                                                                                                                                                         father, singer-dancer Erinn Dearth
                                                                                                                                                                                                         found her true calling with Letters
                                                                                                                                                                                                         From Home, her USO-style show
                                                                                                                                                                                                         that travels across the country to
                                                                                                                                                                                                         honor those who have served.








                                                                                                                                                                                                         Were you always a fan of USO-style
                                                                                                                                                                                                         music and tap dance?
                                                                                                                                                                                                         Definitely. I still remember, after seeing
                                                                                                                                                                                                         a play at age three, declaring that I’d
                                                                                                                                                                                                         perform on stage and have my own
                                                                                                                                                                                                         theater one day. Tap dance was my first
                                                                                                                                                                                                         true love; I started taking lessons that
                                                                                                                                                                                                         same year. I took voice lessons when
                                                                                                                                                                                                         I was around eight. I always knew I
                    OUTSHINING                                                                                                                                                                           was going to perform and wanted to

                                                                                                                                                                                                         incorporate tap dance into it. I never
                                                                                                                                                                                                         wanted to do anything else.
                    THE SHADOWS                                                                                                                                                                          I’ve also never listened to pop music. I

                                                                                                                                                                                                         only know ‘40s, ‘50s, and ‘60s music
                                                                                                                                                                                                         and musical theater. My family was
                    interview with erinn dearth | written by matthew brady | photography by zimbro photography studios, unless noted
                                                                                                                                                                                                         always playing oldies and musicals. My
                                                                                                                                                                                                         grandparents listened to Frank Sinatra,
                                                                                                                                                                                                         the Andrews Sisters, and the McGuire
                                                                                                                                                                                                         Sisters, and my parents listened to
                                                                                                                                                                                                         Vietnam-era music but also all the
                                                                                                                                                                                                         standards like Eleanor Powell and
                                                                                                                                                                                                         crooners like the Rat Pack.


                                                                                                                                                                                                         Tell us about Letters From
                                                                                                                                                                                                         Home’s origins:
                                                                                                                                                                                                         I’d started a company called First in
                                                                                                                                                                                                         Flight Entertainment, and we were
                                                                                                                                                                                                         doing a lot of small, customized shows.
                                                                                                                                                                                                         One night, I told my dad I needed
                                                                                                                                                                                                         ideas for a new show. He said, “You’ve
                                                                                                                                                                                                         got to do a show for veterans.” He
                                                                                                                                                                                  Pictured:              was a veteran of the Coast Guard and
                                                                                                                                                                                  Erinn Dearth (back)
                                                                                                                                                                                  performing with        always spoke very highly of our service
                                                                                                                                                                                  Courtney Groves (front).
                                                                                                                                                                                                         members.



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