Noce's Upcoming Shows

“ Monheit continues to dazzle!”

— Downbeat Magazine

Jane Monheit is a jazz and adult contemporary vocalist with a deep passion for the Great American Songbook. With many highly acclaimed solo albums, countless awards and accolades, and over two decades of international touring experience, Jane has not only been an extremely successful bandleader, but has had the privilege of making music with some of the greatest musicians, arrangers, and producers in jazz.

During her childhood, Jane studied woodwinds and piano, spent a decade performing in award winning choirs, and participated in community theater on Long Island. Throughout all of this, her focus remained on jazz, especially interpretation of the Songbook. At the age of 20, during her senior year at the prestigious Manhattan School Of Music, Jane placed second in the Thelonious Monk Competition, now known as the Hancock Competition. This led to an incredible career trajectory, catapulting Jane into the jazz stratosphere nearly overnight.

By 22, Jane was working with legends such as Tommy Flanagan, Ron Carter, and Kenny Barron, recording her first albums, and touring the planet. This led to collaborations with jazz luminaries such as Terence Blanchard, Ivan Lins, Tom Harrell, John Pizzarelli, Christian McBride, Vince Mendoza, Jorge Calandrelli, and many more. Countless television appearances followed, including David Letterman, Conan O’Brien, CBS Sunday Morning, Good Morning America, The Tonight Show, The View, and many popular international talk shows. Several successful film soundtracks have also included Jane’s music, including Sky Captain And The World Of Tomorrow and Never Let Me Go.

After more than twenty years, twelve studio albums and countless recorded guest appearances, Jane has continued to tour the world nearly nonstop, including playing iconic venues such as Carnegie Hall, The Hollywood Bowl, and headlining at nearly every legendary jazz club on the planet, most notably NY stalwarts such as the Village Vanguard and Birdland. In addition to touring, she also writes English lyrics for Ivan Lins, and uses the knowledge and experience she has gained both at Manhattan School Of Music and on the legendary bandstands of the world to educate and uplift students worldwide. Jane resides in Los Angeles with her husband of over twenty years, drummer Rick Montalbano, and their son.

“ Monheit continues to dazzle!”

— Downbeat Magazine

Jane Monheit is a jazz and adult contemporary vocalist with a deep passion for the Great American Songbook. With many highly acclaimed solo albums, countless awards and accolades, and over two decades of international touring experience, Jane has not only been an extremely successful bandleader, but has had the privilege of making music with some of the greatest musicians, arrangers, and producers in jazz.

During her childhood, Jane studied woodwinds and piano, spent a decade performing in award winning choirs, and participated in community theater on Long Island. Throughout all of this, her focus remained on jazz, especially interpretation of the Songbook. At the age of 20, during her senior year at the prestigious Manhattan School Of Music, Jane placed second in the Thelonious Monk Competition, now known as the Hancock Competition. This led to an incredible career trajectory, catapulting Jane into the jazz stratosphere nearly overnight.

By 22, Jane was working with legends such as Tommy Flanagan, Ron Carter, and Kenny Barron, recording her first albums, and touring the planet. This led to collaborations with jazz luminaries such as Terence Blanchard, Ivan Lins, Tom Harrell, John Pizzarelli, Christian McBride, Vince Mendoza, Jorge Calandrelli, and many more. Countless television appearances followed, including David Letterman, Conan O’Brien, CBS Sunday Morning, Good Morning America, The Tonight Show, The View, and many popular international talk shows. Several successful film soundtracks have also included Jane’s music, including Sky Captain And The World Of Tomorrow and Never Let Me Go.

After more than twenty years, twelve studio albums and countless recorded guest appearances, Jane has continued to tour the world nearly nonstop, including playing iconic venues such as Carnegie Hall, The Hollywood Bowl, and headlining at nearly every legendary jazz club on the planet, most notably NY stalwarts such as the Village Vanguard and Birdland. In addition to touring, she also writes English lyrics for Ivan Lins, and uses the knowledge and experience she has gained both at Manhattan School Of Music and on the legendary bandstands of the world to educate and uplift students worldwide. Jane resides in Los Angeles with her husband of over twenty years, drummer Rick Montalbano, and their son.

Noce is proud to present “Show Business: The Noce Folly,” an original ever-evolving cabaret produced by Max Wellman featuring arrangements spanning from the 1920s to the 2020s. A modernized creation inspired by the vaudeville shows that ushered in the Jazz Age, Show Business includes an elite jazz orchestra under the direction of Jason Danielson alongside drag & ballet professionals. The show opened in September of 2024 & will have an ongoing rotating cast of performers for a different show each week. Past shows have featured drag queens Tyona Diamond & Domita Sanchez, ballet professionals Amelia & Logan Hillman, Napoleon Douglas, & more.

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Amelia has called Iowa home since joining Ballet Des Moines as a company dancer in 2016. Originally from the Washington, D.C. area, she completed her training on scholarships at the Kirov Academy of Ballet and the Akhmedova Ballet Academy. In addition to her 10 year career with Ballet Des Moines, Amelia has performed nationally and internationally with National Choreographer’s Initiative, English National Ballet, Richmond Ballet, the Washington Ballet, and Columbia Classical Ballet. Some of her most cherished moments on stage have been in the role of Cinderella, Christopher Wheeldon’s Je Ne T’aime Pas, and performing as Juliet in Tom Mattingly’s Romeo & Juliet with her husband, Logan Hillman. 

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Originally from northern Virginia, this is Logan’s seventh season with Ballet Des Moines. After completing his training at the Kirov Academy of Ballet and Akhmedova Ballet Academy, he worked professionally for the Columbia Classical Ballet, Richmond Ballet, and Nashville Ballet before joining Ballet Des Moines in 2019. Favorite works include dancing in Who Cares? (Balanchine), Sech Tanze (Kylián), Sgt. Early's Dream (Bruce), Swipe and The Lottery (both Caniparoli), and as Romeo in Romeo & Juliet (Mattingly) with his wife, Amelia.

Noce is proud to present a new production featuring company artist Napoleon Douglas highlighting the works of great black singers in the world of jazz. From classics like "Unforgettable," "Nature Boy," & other Nat King Cole hits, to more modern records from the Gregory Porter songbook, & a dash of Sammy Davis Jr. thrown in, this show has a little bit of everything for vocal jazz fans. Douglas will be joined by a 10 piece jazz orchestra featuring the arrangements of Jason Danielson in this brand new Noce revue.

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Napoleon, an international actor, singer, and entrepreneur, holds a B.A. in Theatre Arts from Drake University and an M.B.A. in Entrepreneurship from Southern New Hampshire University. He holds a diverse background in the creative arts including roles as a Teaching Artist, Director, Choreographer, and Music Director for esteemed Theatres and Arts Organizations.

Institutionally, Napoleon serves as the Artistic Director for Pyramid Theatre Company, Iowa's sole black theatre. Napoleon has a rich background in Cabaret Programming - his expertise extends to managing specialty acts, including The Randy Andy's from New York City to leading Cabaret and Private Events programs at NOCE Jazz & Cabaret in Des Moines, IA. He now captivates audiences at NOCE with premier acts like "Bojangles," "Nap Sings Nat" (his Sammy Davis Jr. and Nat King Cole tribute shows), and others featuring Stevie Wonder, Luther Vandross, and more, including "For Once In My Life" and "Follies" – a review of Broadway's best.

Napoleon's recent stage appearances include "Louie" in the World Premiere of "Mr. Holland's Opus" at Ogunquit Playhouse in Ogunquit, ME, and "Bruce" at the Seattle Repertory Theatre. Notable roles in theatre encompass international performances like Simba in The Festival of the Lion King in Hong Kong, and national roles such as Louie in "Mr. Holland's Opus" (World Premiere & Dance Captain - Ogunquit Playhouse), and Joe Alves & Carl Gottlieb Cover in "BRUCE" (World Premiere - Seattle Repertory).

His extensive theatre portfolio includes standout performances as Jimmy Early in "Dreamgirls" (2018 Ostrander Winner - Best Supporting Actor in a Musical), Judas in "Jesus Christ Superstar" (Arvada Center), NoMax in "Five Guys Named Moe" (Westchester Broadway), as well as leading and supporting roles in productions like "Hairspray!," "Sister Act," "Superior Donuts," "A Christmas Carol," "Miss Saigon," "Romeo & Juliet," and "White Christmas." In the realm of TV and film, Napoleon's talents shine in Hulu's "Wu-Tang: An American Saga" (Co-Star) and "Oscar Micheaux" (Cannes Short Selection, Urban Film BET Short Premiere Selection - 2018). Formerly a prestigious Isiserettes Drill & Drum Corps member, which has graced both Inauguration Parades for President Barack Obama. Napoleon was part of that 2009 Drumline in Washington, DC.

Beyond his artistic pursuits, Napoleon has contributed as a Board Member for various creative companies, including City Voices, a community-centered music education organization.

Lauren Vilmain is back with a night of Broadway, baby! Noce is proud to present a new show featuring a full 10-piece jazz orchestra playing the arrangements of Brian Martin from some of Lauren's favorite showtunes spanning the entire history of theater on Broadway. This sensational new cabaret is a great addition to Lauren's wildly popular residency at Noce.

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Vocalist, Lauren Vilmain is a Minneapolis native and graduate of Drake University (Des Moines, Iowa). During her studies, she was trained in both opera and musical theatre. Currently, Lauren performs on stages across the state with both local and regional musicians . She has become best known for her jazz and theatre residencies at Noce (Des Moines, Iowa). Her voice has been described as both powerful yet warm and is known for her stage presence and wide ranging styles.