Press Kit
Linda Marie Smith
One-of-a-kind, original multimedia concerts featuring live music, storytelling, and cinematic projected imagery.
Now booking “Frida Kahlo ~ A Woman Who Dared” nationwide.
“Frida Kahlo ~ A Woman Who Dared” debuted on February 28, 2026, at Epiphany Center for the Arts in Chicago. The premiere performance oversold the venue and received a standing ovation.
At a glance
Artist: Linda Marie Smith
Genre: Singer/songwriter, Contemporary Acoustic, Cinematic Storytelling
Based in: Chicago, Illinois
For fans of: Natalie Merchant, Brandi Carlile, Sara Bareilles
Latest release: “Frida Kahlo ~ A Woman Who Dared” (February 2026)
Signature Performances:
Live formats: Full band
Additional Resources:
The “Frida Kahlo” experience
“Frida Kahlo ~ A Woman Who Dared” is an 80-minute multimedia concert event featuring original songs, intimate storytelling, a live instrumental ensemble, and vivid projected imagery.
Created by Chicago singer-songwriter and multimedia artist Linda Marie Smith, the production explores Frida Kahlo’s art, relationships, physical suffering, identity, resilience, and enduring cultural legacy.
A timeless story, told in an unforgettable way
“Frida Kahlo ~ A Woman Who Dared” explores the extraordinary life, art, and enduring spirit of one of the twentieth century’s most culturally significant artists.
Through a unique musical experience, Linda Marie Smith traces Frida’s journey from her childhood at the Blue House through the devastating accident that changed her life, her passionate and turbulent relationship with Diego Rivera, and her emergence as an artist of uncompromising honesty.
Together, the music, narrative, and imagery create an intimate portrait of a woman who transformed physical suffering and emotional upheaval into art, becoming an enduring symbol of courage, creativity, and self-determination.
Watch the Trailer
BIO
About Linda Marie Smith
Linda Marie Smith is a Chicago-based singer-songwriter, composer, performer, and multimedia artist whose work combines original music, storytelling, and visual art.
Classically trained in piano, Linda has spent more than three decades writing and performing music exploring resilience, identity, love, and the lives of consequential women.
Her work has received recognition from Billboard Music and the Illinois Arts Council. She is also an experienced music educator who has taught at Chicago’s Old Town School of Folk Music.
Her music serves as a bridge between the past and the present, the real and the imagined.
Whether she’s performing on stage or composing behind the scenes, Linda is driven by a singular goal: to create music that moves people, and to tell stories that matter.
The Band
Katherine Hughes
Katherine played violin, sang background vocals, collaborated on a few arrangements, and contracted strings for the production of “Frida Kahlo – A Woman Who Dared.” Katherine is a versatile musician known in the Chicago area for bridging many styles of music. She is also one of the directors of Third Coast Music, a nonprofit organization bringing the Midwest’s first music campus, complete with a scoring stage, to Chicago.
Neal Alger
Neal contributed acoustic and electric guitars to “A Woman Who Dared.” Alger’s flexibility in multiple music genres allowed him to navigate the folk, pop, and Latin American colors utilized in Smith’s unique score. Alger has toured internationally with jazz vocalist/pianist Patricia Barber and leads his original music quintet entitled Here and Now which performed at the Chicago Jazz Festival in 2025.
Robert Arendt
Robert is a multi-instrumentalist, audio expert, and technical director with more than 30 years of experience. He has served as technical director and musician for Linda Marie Smith’s productions, including “The Triumph of Artemisia” and “Mearra ~ Selkie from the Sea,” performing on bass and guitar while mixing sound and cueing video. Rob has also performed and recorded with renowned singer-songwriter Michael Peter Smith on his musical adaptations of Moby Dick, The Snow Queen, and The Grapes of Wrath: A Folk Opera, along with extensive recording, editing, and corporate event work.
Ensemble & Creative Team
Linda Marie Smith — Creator, composer, vocals, piano, guitar, and narration
Rob Arendt — Bass
Neal Alger — Guitar
Katherine Hughes — Violin
Evelyn Spear — Visual artist
Production Details
Running time: 80 minutes
Performers: Four musicians
Format: Live music, narration, and projected imagery
Basic venue needs: Professional sound system, tuned piano or high-quality keyboard, projector, and large screen
Photos
Performance Videos
What attendees are saying
“None will get you closer to feeling like you actually know Frida Kahlo than this multimedia concert.”
“Beautiful music, imagery, venue, and creator added up to an unforgettable experience.”
“The songs, storytelling, and projected imagery created a deeply moving portrait of Frida’s life.”
“I have had countless residents approach me to say how incredible your program was. Frida’s story struck a nerve with everyone.”
Book “Frida Kahlo ~ A Woman Who Dared” for your event
Frida Kahlo ~ A Woman Who Dared is available for museums, performing arts centers, colleges, libraries, cultural organizations, and special programming throughout the Chicago region and beyond.
To request more information and start the booking process, click below and we’ll be in touch!