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She was an adorable little four year old, whose parents took her to 60s and 70s pop icon B.J. Thomas’ concert. As she sat in the audience belting out all his tunes, the legendary singer invited her on stage to sing with him. From that moment on, it was no surprise that Sara Niemietz, was destined to be a star.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, Sara came from a musical family. Her dad performed in various bands, and her mother played the accordion and sang in church. “I grew up around music, listening to the Beatles, the Stones, the Who, Bob Dylan, and Carly Simon, to name a few” states Sara. “We also listened to a lot of jazz, like Ella Fitzgerald and Bill Evans.”
Sara took her love for the art and at the age of seven, she and her family made their way west to Los Angeles. Stardom didn’t take too long for the young talent, as Sara, at the age of 9, landed the role of the young Carol Burnett in Hollywood Arms. “I didn’t know anything about theatre!” states Sara. “It was such an immersion…the director would say, ‘Stage Left, Stage Right’. It was a learn as you go experience, a crash course in art, professionalism, and life, and it truly shaped who I am.” Hollywood Arms was written by Carol Burnett and her daughter Carrie Hamilton and was directed by Hal Prince. In April of 2002, the production hit the Goodman Theatre in Chicago and later that year at the Cort Theatre on Broadway. While in New York, Sara also took a lead role in Pamela’s First Musical at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. In 2007, Sara landed the role of Patrice in Jason Robert Brown’s musical, 13, performed at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles. She was the talk of the town as the local press praised her performances in 13. “I was constantly busy during this time, but I liked it. It was an incredible experience.”
In addition to theatre, Sara has made appearances on television and film, including NBC’s Providence, CBS’s First Monday, and the WB’s Gilmore Girls. She also played Polly in the film Akeelah and the Bee. You may even recognize Sara as she is the onscreen guitarist for the hit television series, Glee. Adding to her list of credits, Sara was hired by Christopher Young to play the lead voice in his score for The Exorcism of Emily Rose. Her vocals were featured in The Uninvited as well.
And despite the success in theatre and acting, Sara’s first love always brings her back to music. “One of my favorite things is just sitting down, with a mic, guitar, bass or piano, and creating a new world…I love playing and writing lyrics, and there’s something so natural about music as a medium for expression.” She released her first CD, Live at the Cat Club, along with two EP’s, her latest, which was released on June 14, titled Push Play.
Just last year, the pop/rock singer, songwriter and musician Richard Marx invited Sara to be a part of his music special A Night Out With Friends. Together, they sang Keep Coming Back. Sara’s performance was spectacular, and the DVD/CD set was released last month. “Richard saw my video on YouTube and asked me to perform with him. He is such a talented writer and cool guy.” Sara also made an appearance on The Ellen Show. Ellen saw her talent on YouTube and invited the budding singer to perform on her show last year.
This summer, Sara will be headed to Nashville, Tennessee to record with legendary singer B.J. Thomas, the very talent who introduced her to the stage. “I am so excited! I have never been to Nashville, and to work with B.J. Thomas nearly 16 years later is awesome!”
Sara’s beauty shines when she sings, and audiences are mesmerized by her soothing soulful voice. The talented musician’s smile lights up the room and her melodies continue to captivate audiences world wide. “Success, for me, is about being true to your artistry, and connecting with as many people as possible. Be true to what the music means to you, and keep doing it.”
Sara will be performing at Route 66 in Canyon Country on August 17. To learn more about Sara, upcoming performances or to listen to her music, visit www.saraniemietz.com. |
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