Billie Brouse

Thinking Out Loud

Don’t Tell Mama, NYC, February 11, 2026

Reviewed by Shannon Hunt

From the moment she sang her first note, it was obvious why Billie Brouse’s cabaret debut Thinking Out Loud, needed four encore performances. As directed by the legendary Lennie Watts, the show made perfect use of Brouse’s crystal-clear vocals and approachable stage presence and propelled the audience to its feet.

The songs choices were eclectic, ranging from Broadway favorites such as Stephen Schwartz’s “Corner of the Sky” to pop hits such as Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club” (co-written with Dan Nigro). She also sang country-tinged selections by Mary Chapin Carpenter (“I Take My Chances”) and by Maren Morris (“My Church”), in which she revealed a subtle Southern twang.

Brouse moved to New York from Canada in the 1970s to pursue singing, and her look back at an earlier, grittier New York resonated with the audience. Her recollections included a gun-toting landlord and nostalgic nods to The Village Voice and the old meatpacking district. She also told of a life-changing meeting with the eccentric songwriter Moogy Klingman, who became her friend and vocal teacher, and she paid tribute to him with a heartfelt rendition of his “Let Me Just Follow Behind.” She also first fell in love during that time, she said, playfully adding that “it was a woman.” This revelation launched a stirring performance of “Me and Mrs. Jones” (Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, and Cary Gilbert).

She was skillfully backed by bassist Matt Scharfglass, drummer Eric Hart, and pianist/music director John Fischer, who played with remarkable coherencen, particularly in the “Working” medley that weaved together Elvis Costello’s “Welcome to My Working Week,” Donna Summer and Michael Omartian’s “She Works Hard for the Money,” Cyndi Lauper’s “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” and Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5.” During that number, Brouse amusingly shared some of her most unusual jobs, which included a stint as a “carny.” As the show drew to a close, she shifted into a more tender register. She turned sentimental and she introduced her longtime love, who was sitting in the audience. After spending nearly three decades together, she said, they finally decided to finally tie the knot this past fall. With loving eyes, she sweetly serenaded her new wife with “I’ll Be There” (Jess Glynne) and “Inseparable” (Chuck Jackson/Marvin Yancy). The result was a deeply personal, musically rich program, one that made it abundantly clear why Brouse’s audiences have been so eager for more.