Destined for the stage

Lura Maclise, who uses Laura Malone as her stage name, has been singing since she was a little girl. However, it hasn't been until recently that the former Lodi High French, Spanish and English language development teacher started to fulfill her dream as a professional singer. Maclise, who performs regularly in the Lodi area, will sing with Hong Kong's classical pianist Peter Ho at Watt's Winery's Hot August Art on Aug. 15 and 16. Maclise sat down to talk about her life and love of theater and how retirement has been great for her new career.

Q: How would you describe your style of music?

A: Mostly, it's popular standards and showtunes.

Q: Are they the songs you grew up listening to?

A: Yes, my father always took us to the music theater.

Q: What are some of your favorite plays?

A: "Guys and Dolls," "Sunday in the Park with George," "Chorus Line," "Chicago," "West Side Story," "Mame" and "Phantom of the Opera."

Q: Who are some of your musical inspirations?

A: Carol Lawrence, for one. When I was still in Illinois teaching, Barbra Streisand. Her voice was young and fresh. I sing one of her songs, "Songbird," and I knock people out with it.

I love musical comedy. Doris Day, Cyd Charisse, Debbie Reynolds — she was on stage in her sixties on a rope being swung around by Harve Presnell doing "Annie Get Your Gun." She still is amazing.

Q: How did you get your start in singing?

Hot August Art at Watts Winery

2 days of art, music and wine
When: Aug. 15 and 16
Time: Noon to 5 p.m.
Where: Watts Winery, 12470 Locke Road in Lockeford.
Cost: Free.

Lura Maclise at a glance

Performance name: Laura Malone, which is easier for people to say and spell.
Profession: Retired Lodi High teacher turned singer.
Where she lives: Lodi
Husband: Jim Maclise, retired Lodi High English teacher. They've been married 41 years.
Son: Dan Maclise, the main technician for Lodi Unified School District.
Number of songs she sings: About 45

A: I started when I was a child and I loved musical comedy. My mother was trained for opera and she always sang and played the piano. I especially remember when my dad was in World War II, she would sing lovely things like "Nature Boy" and "Unforgettable." As we were growing up, we studied dance. We watched "The Hit Parade." They would play the top seven and we used to dance around the living room and sing. That all lead to dance lessons.

I studied in Chicago with Edna MacRae — she was the dance trainer for Carol Lawrence — a very famous actress.

I sang (in high school). Through college, I didn't have time (to sing) because I put academics first.

Q: Do you regret not staying that extra year and going into theater?

A: I do. My parents discouraged me from doing the theater, which was really too bad for a lot of reasons. That's what I had always wanted ... I had the opportunity to join Teatro Maria at Marquette University (in Wisconsin).

(However,) my voice hadn't matured as much as it has in my elder years. That's highly unusual. I'm so lucky. I'm so excited. I'm so blessed. This doesn't happen to many people in retirement.

Q: You've had a lot of detours in your singing career. When did you get back into singing as you do now?

A: When we came to Lodi in 1972. My husband, Jim Maclise, got a job teaching English at Lodi High School. I (joined) the (Tokay Players).

Q: You also taught at Lodi High. When and what did you teach?

A: I was hired in 1982. I taught Spanish, French and English Language Development.

Q: Do you sing in other languages?

A: I sing in Spanish also. Many of our popular songs are originally Spanish and translated into English. I'm going to sing French and Spanish at the Watts Winery event, being as my pianist is bilingual (with) Chinese, he thinks it's just great I'm singing in more than one language.

Q: What do you want people to get out of your music now?

A: No. 1, enjoyment. Getting in touch with songs that they loved in the past and I want to promote and preserve the wonderful music that I grew up with and promote this with the young people. They don't get a chance to listen to it. I feel they're missing so much.

Q: What should people expect from the performance at Watt's Winery?

A: I think they're just going to enjoy seeing the works of art. (The winery) is expecting 450 people.

Q: How many songs do you sing?

A: I've counted 45.

Q: Do you have any rituals you do before you sing?

A: Mostly to prepare my voice, I take honey for my vocal cords. I take honey with me. There is a lozenges called Slippery Elm that singers use to clear throats. And water, water, water and more water.

Q: What do you do for fun?

A: Sing. Or go up to our family cabin at Kyburz, it's about 30 miles west of South Lake Tahoe.

Q: What's your favorite food?

A: Filet mignon. I am a steak eater. You know what — about five hours before I sing, I will have good steak, eggs and honey. It gives me enough strength and energy to get me through the gig. You don't want to eat heavily before because you don't get any air.

Q: Do you have any horror stories or a most embarrassing moment from a performance?

A: Not yet. It's like walking into the classroom — you've got to be prepared. Then it all works. As a teacher I always had plan A. If plan A didn't work, there was always Plan B. If Plan B didn't work, I had C — and it works.

Q: Do you always get dressed up before you leave the house?

A: I'm always dressed up and people love it. I wear hats — though not necessarily when I perform. I like to wear bright clothing, it goes with the red hair.

Q: What's your goal for the next stage of your singing career?

A: I want to continue singing in this general area. My husband loves to tease me: "You're not going to make it to Broadway." That's not what I want anyway.

Hopefully I can earn some money to pay for my expenses, voice coach. I have to buy music. And of course, there's hair, makeup, dresses and jewelry. You have to look good on stage or people will not want to come and listen to you. I love theater so much, I know that's true because that's what I'm looking for.

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