Currently the Treasurer of MAC (Manhattan Association of Cabaret), Natasha Castillo is the producer and three-time MAC Award-nominated best emcee of the Three-time MAC Award-nominated best recurring series Spotlight On YOU Open Mic.
******************************
Natasha Castillo is one of three daughters of late superstar Dai Ling Chuang, who recorded multiple records with EMI/Decca who had her own TV/Radio show in Southeast Asia. Natasha's musical career started early in school plays, talent shows, and glee clubs. In high school, she experienced her Lincoln Center debut in her performance with the high school ACapella Chorus. Natasha performed as lead singer with an alternative rock band in college and later became the lead singer for the wedding band Eternity.
After some time off, Natasha reentered the music world when she joined the Blue Hill Troupe (BHT), an all for Charity off-Broadway Theater Troupe where she learned the in's and out's of theater production, from props to costumes to construction to utilizing her skills as a hair and make-up artist. She was elected new members entertainment committee chair the year after she joined the troupe, testimony to her diligence. She performed in the troupe's annual cabaret shows at the Triad and was cast in the leading role of Ronnette in the BHT's Fall production of Little Shop of Horrors.
Natasha discovered the world of cabaret through the Singers Forum where she met multiple award-winning director/artist/performer Lennie Watts and multiple award-winning musical director Steven Ray Watkins. She experienced her first break-through in the art of cabaret working with them in "Get Your Act Together" during her 35-minute cabaret show "Re-Evolution" at Don't Tell Mama in March 2012.
Having a naturally gifted mother was both good and bad. Natasha was always able to sing but she learned the benefits of vocal training. She started her metamorphosis with vocal coach Justin Stoney, followed by award-winning Eric Michael Gillett and later under the vocal coaching by the award winning vocalist Patrick DeGennaro and performance coaching by Lennie Watts and Steven Ray Watkins.
Natasha produced her first variety show "Parallel Moments with Natasha Castillo and friends" benefiting Tsunami victims in Japan May, 2011 and subsequently produced multiple variety shows at the Federal Reserve Bank of NY featuring amazing performers/directors: Lennie Watts, Steven Ray Watkins, Teri Ralston, Dan Furman and more... She also produces charity benefits throughout the year in partnership with Hearts and Voices and other charitable organizations. She co-hosted the Singers Forum bi-weekly open mic from 2013-2014, participated in the longest running show at the Metropolitan Room that is now in the Guinness Book of Records as well as multiple variety shows hosted by MAC award winning emcees Bobbie Horowitz and the late Dana Lorge.
Her solo debut show, "Anything But Ordinary" directed by Lennie Watts and musical direction by Steven Ray Watkins opened on November 10, 2012. The show had five successful runs, closing on March 1, 2013 with Lennie Watts her Director as guest star for her last show at the Duplex. The show received wonderful reviews:
"She sings nicely, smoothly, with warmth and zest... her enthusiasm, determination to share her material and refreshing modesty go a very long way to making her act endearing and engaging. I suspect that, because she appears to be industrious and motivated, with a will to please, that Natasha Castillo will grow and develop."
Rob Lester ~ Cabaret Exchange
"Ms. Castillo possesses a voice with a lovely lower register - one can hear influences of Karen Carpenter. There is also the presence of a nice country twang. A highlight of the show was a loving tribute to her mother. It was a pleasure to also get to hear Ms. Castillo sing in her native Chinese language. She is on her way to bringing something unique to the New York cabaret scene." Parker Scott ~ Cabaret Hotline
Her second show in 2014, "They've Only Just Begun... A Carpenters Tale" was a tribute to the Carpenters. Also directed by the award winning team, Lennie Watts and Steven Ray Watkins, the show had five successful runs and received wonderful endorsements by Broadway World Reviewer ~Billie Roe:
"If you love the Carpenters this is a wonderful tribute show, and Natasha does a great job! Steven Ray Watkins' arrangements are absolutely fantastic as is the insightful direction by Lennie Watts. Go see for yourself!"
***********************************************
Her latest solo show in 2015 "Feels Like Home" directed by Lennie Watts with musical direction by Steven Ray Watkins received a wonderful endorsement by Edge Media Network reviewer ~Kevin Scott Hall
Natasha Castillo will warm your heart with her terrific new show "Feels Like Home". Her musical versatility is quite striking, as she deftly handles rock ("Dream On"), country ("Sometimes Love Just Aint Enough") and standards ("The Best of Times"). There are even a few surprises in store with her takes on Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Free Bird". Natasha is a fearless artist, stretching and expanding, while firmly keeping her heart front and center. Well worth seeing.
************************************************
"Feels Like Home" also received a wonderful review by Cabaret Scenes Reviewer ~ Rob Lester
It's always a pleasure to report on cabaret singers who continue growing. Such a rewarding case is that of glowing Natasha Castillo, evidencing stronger and more assured chops and ever-increasing stage presence and command. Graciousness and determination were evident from her earliest (2012) solo appearances. Now she's in bloom. Working once again with the in-demand and decidedly dynamic duo director Lennie Watts and Musical Director Steven Ray Watkins at the spotlight now more and more Feels Like Home sweet home.
"Sweet", in its best, lower-sugar content sense does indeed fit this genial and genuine, gentle spirit with a sunny affect whose peppy "Put On a Happy Face" is no put-on. And, looking around the room, the power of suggestion worked. A follow-up mash-up of upbeat numbers about smiling featured one of the imaginative Watts/Watkins arrangements, was, perhaps redundant. Still, throughout the act, there was an ever-surprising variety of genres: a country medley; rock (a 1969 page from Page and Jones of Led Zeppelin, "Your Time Is Gonna Come", with blistering bitterness); and, switching languages, this Malaysia-born girl radiantly recreated something her professional singer mom crooned back in Southeast Asia, "Ting Hai" surely s-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g usual boundaries of the Great American Songbook selections. But it worked, sustaining attention... When she delivered the tales, they had impact.
Musical sounds were enriched by Matt Scharfglass, bassist with class; heavenly harmonies (Wendy A. Russell and Karen Mack, of vocal quartet Those Girls); and Watkins' solid additional vocals. In other news, Miss Castillo cast herself in the role of self-accompanying guitarist charmingly, albeit briefly. Also making cameos: rollicking humor, life lessons, and heartbreak in heartfelt performances. And a Chinese gong!