Escape from the pandemic at this online Disney concert

Krista Cassidy is tapping into the magic Disney holds for many of us at a time when we need it most.

A mezzo soprano, Cassidy will sing Disney favorites from film and Broadway — including “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Little Mermaid” and “Frozen” — at 7 p.m. Nov. 4 for the Northshore Performing Arts Foundation in Bothell via Facebook.

Songs from Cassidy’s Disney classics concert will include “Part of Your World” from the 1989’s “The Little Mermaid,” “Home” from Broadway’s “Beauty and the Beast” (1994-2007), “Monster” from Broadway’s “Frozen” (2018-2020) and “God Help the Outcasts” from 1996’s “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.”

Cassidy’s favorite Disney princess is Aurora from 1959’s “The Sleeping Beauty,” so she’ll also be singing “Once Upon a Dream.”

“So there’s a couple where it’s like, ‘Oh, yeah, I totally remember this from my childhood,’ and then there’s a couple that are adapted through the Broadway show,” she said. “It’s a mishmash of some old Disney tunes and stuff that has been revived quite a bit.”

Cassidy’s concert kicks off November’s Mid-Week Mash-Up series presented by Northshore. Watch all of the shows — scheduled from Oct. 7 to through Dec. 2 — at www.facebook.com/NPAFoundation. New shows stream Wednesdays at 7 p.m.

“We reached out to some local performers we had been thinking of having in a summer series, and so we’re featuring them now in weekly performances online,” said John Lehrack, managing director of the Northshore Performing Arts Foundation, adding that he borrowed the idea from the Kirkland Performance Center.

“As an organization, we’re usually focused on bringing in national names — but we also have such great local talent here.”

There are no tickets to purchase for the Mid-Week Mash-Up, but you can still support the Northshore Performing Arts Foundation with a donation via PayPal. Or donate to the musicians’ virtual tip jars. Links are provided with each performance.

“Musicians, quite frankly, are starving for chances to perform at this point, because all of the venues are closed,” Lehrack said, “so not only do we get to feature local musicians, but we’re giving them an opportunity to perform.”

Cassidy, 24, earned a bachelor’s degree in music and theater from Western Washington University, followed by acting certificates from the Open Jar Institute in New York City and Studio East in Kirkland.

She got her start with Village Theatre’s KIDSTAGE in Everett. She was in the ensemble for 2014’s “Tarzan,” played Enid Hoopes in “Legally Blonde” in 2015 and starred as Roz in “9 to 5” in 2016. She has been working as a music instructor for Village Theatre KIDSTAGE for five years.

In addition to Village Theatre, Cassidy also has performed with Studio East and Cascade Community Theatre in Kirkland and for the Seattle Repertory Theatre. Most recently, she played the title role in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella” at Cascade Community Theatre.

“Even though it’s not Disney, it’s still the same wonderful story,” Cassidy said. “It was still very exciting and a big deal. I was like, ‘What?! I get to be a princess?!’”

Cassidy was in rehearsals to portray Tricia in Somniterum’s production of “Dog Sees God” in Seattle when COVID-19 hit.

“That was a huge bummer,” she said. “We had done all of these rehearsals, and then we were forced to call it off.”

A voice and piano instructor, Cassidy has been teaching private lessons for about seven years. Without stage performances to take up her time, she’s been offering more lessons through the Art Club of Snoqualmie Valley.

Cassidy said she is looking forward to having Lehrack accompany her on piano for her Nov. 4 concert. She’s performed for him a few times at Dorothy’s Piano Bar and Cabaret, which Lehrack owns and operates. Lehrack also plays the accompanying piano for Dorothy’s pop-up shows.

“When the pandemic hit, I was trying to figure out when I could do another show with him,” Cassidy said. “I was like, ‘Wow, I miss performing so very much,’ and so he scheduled me.”

Cassidy said she’s been drawn to Disney classics during the pandemic because they provide an escape. When she rewatches these films, they transport her back to her childhood — back to a time when she happily embraced fantasy and imagination.

“I remember watching these on VHS and being so inspired,” she said. “I had so much fun dancing around my living room and singing along. It was such a huge part of my life, that I’ll always have a special spot for Disney in my heart.”

If Disney helps her cope with COVID-19, Cassidy figures she can share that magic by singing some songs.

“It fills me with hope and wonder,” she said. “It reminds me that there is good in this world — and it’s worth fighting for.”

If you stream

The Northshore Performing Arts Foundation in Bothell presents Krista Cassidy’s Disney classics concert 7 p.m. Nov. 4 via Facebook. The mezzo soprano will sing favorite songs from Disney films and Broadway shows, including “Beauty and the Beast,” “The Little Mermaid” and “Frozen.” This live-stream show is part of Northshore’s Mid-Week Mash-Up series. Watch the show for free at www.facebook.com/NPAFoundation. Go to www.npacf.org for more information.

Mid-Week Mash-Up

Here is the schedule for Northshore Performing Arts Foundation’s Mid-Week Mash-Up series. Watch all of the concerts — scheduled from Oct. 7 to through Dec. 2 — at www.facebook.com/NPAFoundation. New shows stream Wednesdays at 7 p.m.

Oct. 7 — Skid Rogues

Oct. 14 — David Duvall

Oct. 21 — Bodacious Ladyhood

Oct. 28 — The Ward Collective

Nov. 4 — Krista Cassidy

Nov. 11 — Chloe Cavander and Kristie Werner’s “For the Sake of Dressing Up”

Nov. 18 — Mercedes Nicole

Dec. 2 — Marina and the Dreamboats