About

About Raissa in a glance:

On Broadway: “Christine Daae” in PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, and CHESS, as a benefit for the Actor’s Fund. First National Tours:  “Jellylorum/Griddlebone” and “Jennyanydots” in CATS, and as “Lizzie Phagan” in PARADE, where she worked with the original creative team of director Harold Prince, choreographer Patricia Birch, author Alfred Uhry, and composer Jason Robert Brown. 

In NYC, Raissa has performed at: Feinstein’s, Metropolitan Room, Iridium, Supper Club, Rainbow Room, The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 88′s, Don’t Tell Mama, Chita’s, The Algonquin, and Radio City Music Hall. She has soloed with many symphony orchestras and was guest soloist at the estate of the legendary Cal Ripken, Jr. She was featured at the Lincoln Center Barnes and Noble in their Any Wednesday series, performing selections from her CD, What I Was Dreaming Of.  Her newest CD, Another Kind of Light, will be released by PS Classics later this year.
 
Raissa was nominated for a 2009 MAC Award for Outstanding Female Vocalist and received the 2010 Bistro Award for Outstanding Achievement as the creator, producer and host of THE CONCERTS AT TUDOR CITY GREENS, which is dedicated to preserving the green spaces of  NYC, while introducing a whole new audience to the artists of the cabaret and theater communities.  This series has also been nominated for a 2010 MAC Award. She writes a blog, “Raissa Recommends”,(that can be found here, at www.raissa.info) that highlights performances in the NYC cabaret and theater, and promotes animal rescue.

Raissa lives in New York City with her husband Dr. Garrett Bennett, a Facial Plastic and Sinus surgeon, and their 2 tiny rescue dogs, Brandy  (a 16 year old Toy Fox Terrier)and Otie (a 6 year old Chihuahua).

They live in Tudor City in Manhattan, and also enjoy a weekend home in Milford, CT.