After a career that has taken her from Madison stages to international cruise lines and back again, vocalist Amanda Poulson returns to the area for a one-night-only performance, That’s Life, on Friday, April 24 at 7:30 p.m. at Capital City Theatre CORE (6120 University Ave, Middleton).
Blending classical training with a career that spans Broadway shows, arena performances, and featured entertainment on some of the world’s largest cruise ships, Poulson’s path is anything but linear. A University of Wisconsin–Madison–trained performer, she built her career across genres and continents—working her way from ensemble roles to lead performer, cruise director, and ultimately headliner.
That’s Life distills that four-decade journey into a single evening. The program moves fluidly from Italian arias to contemporary pop, reflecting both the range of Poulson’s voice and the scope of her career. The result is less a traditional recital and more a musical autobiography—one shaped by constant reinvention and a deep connection to live performance.
“This show is really about coming full circle,” Poulson says. “Madison is where so much of this began, and it feels meaningful to bring these songs—and this story—back here.”
Presented as part of Capital City Theatre’s Cabaret Soirée Series, the performance offers an intimate setting for a voice that has filled venues ranging from dinner theatres to amphitheaters to massive cruise ship stages.
