Earning the title of “Best Broadway Female Vocalist” in the San Francisco Bay Area Cabaret 2000 Talent Competition, singer and actress Illana Zauderer blends her classically-trained soprano with her passion for dramatic storytelling. Audiences and critics from New York to San Francisco are wild about this saucy siren, her juicy, elegant voice, and her theatrical interpretations of American Song. In addition to her theatrical work, Illana maintains a solo cabaret and concert career as well as private recording engagements. 

Illana Zauderer began 2008 with the release of her solo recording, Hot in Here. Looking beyond her usual repertoire, Illana includes unique interpretations of jazz standards along with a few gems of the contemporary musical theatre, with works by Amanda McBroom, David Frishberg, Joni Mitchell, and Stephen Sondheim. She launched the CD at the 142 Throckmorton Theatre in Mill Valley, California, where she performed selections from the CD along with her customary repertoire of show-stopping musical theatre songs.

In 2002, Illana Zauderer debuted her cabaret show, Living in Color, matching her compelling storytelling skill with the great works of Broadway and emerging star composers.

On the theatrical stage, Illana Zauderer’s Off-Broadway credits include the 1998 revival of Howard Korder's Boys' Life as 'Maggie the Runner,' and 'Mona' in the original workshop of Broadway-bound A Class Act, by Lonny Price. A California native, Illana has appeared with 42nd Street Moon in San Francisco as naughty 'Venus' in the acclaimed production of Cole Porter's Out of this World and as 'Charlotte Goodhue' in Leave it to Me! (Cast recording released in spring, 2002.) Illana also enjoyed a year-long run in 1994 as 'Prudence' in Christopher Durang's Beyond Therapy at the renowned Plush Room in San Francisco. Also in 1994, Marin residents enjoyed Illana’s turn as 'Tzeitel' in Fiddler on the Roof for the Mountain Play, (nominated for a Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award for Best Production.) Additional roles include 'Margarita' in Miami Lights for TheatreWorks Palo Alto, 'Billie' in Born Yesterday, 'The Witch' in Into the Woods, 'Sally' in Cabaret, and 'Anita' in West Side Story. 

Illana Zauderer has also sung onstage at Alice Tully Hall in New York City and with the Arcadian Singers of Oxford University. Her film and television appearances include the indie films Phrenia and Dress Up, as well as One Life to Live. Illana studied with Ron Stetson at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City, (founded by Sanford Meisner,) and with Tony Award-winner Betty Buckley (Sunset Boulevard, Triumph of Love, Cats.) She earned her BA in Music and Voice at Stanford University. 

From her latest album - Double Dare - 

"I love it...she's that good, running away with it."
--Ronn Owens, KGO-Radio

"Off-Broadway's Most Promising Talents…Illana Zauderer of Howard Korder's Boys' Life at the Judith Anderson. Get there."
-- Peter Filichia, Playbill

"…a trenchant performance."
-- Jay Finkle, The Village Voice

"What looks easy in the theatre usually isn't. In shallow waters, you sink…but Illana Zauderer manages to keep her head entirely above water."

-- Fintan O'Toole, New York Daily News

"[A] terrific performance…Zauderer smiles as flirtatiously as any screen siren."

--Joe Mader, SF Weekly