The Makings ofA Lady
WELCOME to an evening unlike any you have attended before.
ABOUT THE SHOW
it is something rarer and more honest than either.
It is not a tribute.
it is not an impersonation.
.
Throughout the evening, archival recordings of Lena Horne's speaking voice are woven between performances — her own words, in her own voice, describing the many women she contained. The rebel who refused to perform for segregated audiences. The ingenue who arrived in Hollywood and refused to disappear. The legend who outlasted every industry that tried to diminish her. The woman who was, above all else, entirely and defiantly herself. After each recording, the lights shift and one of nine Ladies steps into the spotlight.
These Ladies are not Lena Horne. They are Syndee Winters — every facet of her, every version of herself she has ever been or fought to become. Each one a distinct archetype. Each one a woman every woman in the audience has met — in the mirror, in her history, in her dreams and her doubts. Each Lady performs a vignette — a song, a moment, a truth — that answers what Lena just spoke. Not literally. Emotionally. The way music answers what words begin. The way one generation answers another across decades. Lena speaks of the cost of perfection. Pure Perfection takes the stage. Lena speaks of the fire that never went out. Storm answers with everything she has. Lena speaks of reinvention. MOD moves through the space like art made visible. Lena speaks of refusing to be contained. The Rebel doesn't ask permission. Lena speaks of arrival — of walking into rooms that weren't built for you and changing the architecture just by being there. The New Girl walks in anyway. Lena speaks of legacy. The Legend reaches toward her own reflection and finds something infinite. Lena speaks of authenticity. The Original stands at the intersection of everything she was made of and claims it all. Lena speaks of the woman behind the work. The Producer — the one who built all of this — steps forward at last.
STORM
MOD
the rebel
the original
pure perfection
fresh faced kid
the legend
The Makings of a Lady is a love letter written across generations. From Lena to Syndee. From Syndee to every woman in the room. From the woman who broke the door down to the woman who walked through it. From the past that shaped us to the present we are becoming. It asks one question and answers it nine different ways: What does it take to become yourself?
The Makings of a Lady Conceived, Written, and Performed by Syndee Winters Featuring archival recordings of Lena Horne Original Music Direction and Arrangements Running time: approximately 90 minutes, no intermission
Through lush arrangements from Syndee’s critically acclaimed JazzWeek charted vocal album, Syndee Winters Sings Lena Horne with classics like “Stormy Weather,” “If You Believe,” “The Rules of The Road”, and more. The Makings of a Lady bridges Broadway brilliance with modern jazz sophistication, a musical tribute to courage, legacy, and womanhood.
Ideal venues and audience
Perfect for performing-arts centers, jazz series, cruise ships, and music festivals.
Appeals to audiences across Jazz, Broadway, and Black cultural heritage, and women’s history.
Flexible format: Instrumental track, trio, 5-piece band, big band, or orchestral arrangements.
An optional artist talkback or educational workshop is available.
About Syndee
Broadway Credits: The Lion King (as Nala), Hamilton, Motown the Musical, Pippin
Disney Performer: Featured in Disney Princess – The Concert (U.S. & international tour)
Jazz Recognition: 1st Runner-Up – 2024 Sarah Vaughan International Vocal Competition
Recording Artist: Syndee Winters Sings Lena Horne – currently #39 on JazzWeek Radio Charts, with regular airplay on Sirius XM Real Jazz.
Global Performer: Has graced stages, captivating audiences with Firdaus Orchestra, Boston Pops, and National Symphony Orchestra.
