SOMA’s backing band, The Local Heroes, is thrilled to announce the fifth in a series of benefits: SOMA Rocks 5 – A Singer Showcase. The show will be Saturday night, January 25, 2025, at the Woodland in Maplewood, New Jersey.

January’s concert and party will feature the singing talents of Maplewood’s own Becky Gulsvig, Miguel Cervantes, Kate Baldwin, Jeiris Cook, Kevin Kern, Alex Jones, Manu Narayan, Graham Rowat, David Josefsberg, Allison Posner, and Joanna Young, along with The Local Heroes’ full-time lead singers, Diane Davis and Charlie Pollock. All vocalist bios are below.

Join us for an eclectic evening of live rock’n’roll with songs selected by the singers and arranged by, and performed with, The Local Heroes. 

Doors at 8:00. Adults only. Get there early. Have some drinks.

All proceeds will benefit the Columbia High School Music Parents Association (CHSMPA). 

The Local Heroes are SOMA’s own Charlie Pollock, Diane Davis, Matt Katz, David Pohl, Dave Shields, Mark Litwin, Marc Gidal (filling in for David Diamond), and special guest Mike Daleo.

Artwork by Sarah Gifford Design @sarahgdesign 

Becky Gulsvig

Becky (Fisher) Gulsvig most recently appeared on Broadway in A Beautiful Noise, The Neil Diamond Musical. Other Broadway credits include: Hairspray, Legally Blonde The Musical, School of Rock and Come From Away. She also starred in the 1st National Tours of Legally Blonde, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, and Come From Away. Becky is the creator and owner of Little Apple Arts, a children's theatre enrichment program in SOMA. She lives in Maplewood with her husband, daughter, and two dogs.





Miguel Cervantes

Miguel has starred in the role of Alexander Hamilton in the Chicago and Broadway productions of Hamilton.  Prior to Hamilton, Miguel performed in the Broadway casts of American Idiot and If/Then and the digital musical A Killer Party: A Murder Mystery Musical.  In addition to his stage career, Miguel has appeared on the tv shows, Madam Secretary,Person of Interest, and The Blacklist.

Miguel is also the co-owner of Dinger’s, Maplewood’s newest batting cage and training facility.  Miguel lives in Maplewood with his wife, Kelly, their children, and their two dogs.   

Kate Baldwin

KATE BALDWIN is a two-time Tony Award nominee and four-time Drama Desk nominee, having starred on Broadway as Irene Molloy in the revival of Hello, Dolly! and the 2009 revival of Finian's Rainbow as Sharon McLonergan. On Broadway, she originated the role of Sandra Bloom in Big Fish and appeared in The Full Monty, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Wonderful Town. Kate created the role of Leslie Lynnton Benedict in Giant at The Public Theatre and starred as Jen in Keen Company's revival of John & Jen. She garnered a Lucille Lortel Award nomination for Superhero at Second Stage. Other NY credits include Songbird at 59e59 and The Dead, 1904 at Irish Rep and Fiorello! at Encores. Kate has also starred in four productions at Paper Mill Playhouse.

On television, she has guest starred on “The Gilded Age,” (HBO) “Law & Order: SVU” (NBC) “Just Beyond”(Disney Plus) “First You Dream: The Music of Kander & Ebb” (PBS) “Live from Lincoln Center: Stephen Sondheim’s Passion” (PBS) Kate is an Emmy nominee for producing and starring in “Broadway Comes Home,” a love letter to her teachers in her hometown of Milwaukee, WI.

Jeiris Cook

Jeiris Cook, former warehouse manager & mattress salesman turned musician, started his professional journey around a campfire with his oldest son. It was on this fateful camping trip where he was inspired to learn to play guitar. He was further motivated by the fatigue of working a traditional corporate job. Deciding to gamble and strike out on his own, Jeiris pursed music as a full-time career with a young family in tow. 

Fast forward six years. Jeiris has performed at various music festivals (such as Musik Fest), showcases, and notable venues in the New York Metro area. He recently performed in Nashville at Studio Mama Supper Club and Daryl’s House (of Hall & Oats). 

Jeiris is a Columbia High School graduate.  For more info, videos, pictures and show dates, visit www.jeiriscook.com 

Kevin Kern

Kevin Kern starred as JM Barrie in the National Tour of Finding Neverland.  He performed this role over a hundred times in the Broadway production as a standby for Matthew Morrison, Alfie Boe, and Tony Yazbeck.

Other Broadway credits include Wicked (Fiyero), The Bridges of Madison County (Standby for Robert Kincaid), First Date (Standby), The Wedding Singer (Standby for Robbie Hart), and Les Miserables (Marius).  He has also performed in London where he was a part of the West End production of Hair.  

Closer to home, he was in the original Off-Broadway productions of Next To Normal at Second Stage Theater, played Woody in Finian's Rainbow at the Irish Repertory Theater, and was a swing in the original company of Altar Boyz, where he performed all five roles. Kevin has also performed at The Papermill Playhouse and the world famous Carnegie Hall.  

Kevin originally moved to New York City to attend New York University where he earned a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance. He and his wife, Megan Lawrence, have four crazy kids named Gus, Sunny Jo, Nolie, and Clover!

Alex Jones

Alex Jones is a local South Orange resident. He provides lead vocals for two local bands, Gravy Train, a three piece acoustic cover band that has been playing throughout SOMA and the Summer Concert Series at Floods Hill for the past couple of years and Water Towers, a 5 piece alternative band based out of South Orange. He is a high school guidance counselor by trade and is happy to be a part of the SOMA Rocks family.



Manu Narayan

Manu Narayan most recently co-starred on Broadway as Theo in the Tony Award-winning revival of Sondheim’s COMPANY.  Other Broadway credits include Lincoln Center’s revival of MY FAIR LADY, GETTIN’ THE BAND BACK TOGETHER, and the lead in A.R. Rahman’s BOMBAY DREAMS, the first South Asian musical on Broadway.  Off-Broadway highlights include Tobias in A DELICATE BALANCE (Transport Group), Charley Kringas in MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG (Roundabout / Fiasco Theater), Mike in THE LISBON TRAVIATA and Uncle Ernie in The Who’s TOMMY at the Kennedy Center, as well as numerous regional credits. Recent TV and film credits include ANYTHING’S POSSIBLE (AMAZON), AND JUST LIKE THAT (HBO), BULL (CBS), THE BLACKLIST (NBC), PRODIGAL SON (FOX), 99 HOMES, THE LOVE GURU, CINDERELLA STORY: ONCE UPON A SONG. Manu has sung around the world: for the Queen of England and her family in London, at the Jewish Singers’ festival in Warsaw, at the Jewish Cultural festival in Krakow, in Italy, Russia, India, and most recently at the Lyrics & Lyricists series at the 92nd street Y in New York City.  Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Manu lives with his family (both human and canine) in Maplewood, NJ.

Graham Rowat

Broadway: Dear Evan Hansen, Meteor Shower, Sunset Boulevard, Mamma Mia, Guys and Dolls, LoveMusik, Dracula, Beauty and the Beast. Off-Broadway: The Blue Flower (Second Stage), The Boys in the Band (Transport Group), The Minister's Wife (Lincoln Center Theater). TV: Evil, Madam Secretary, Elementary, Law and Order.  Recordings: LoveMusik (Broadway Cast Recording), Life Begins at 8:40, Sweet Bye and Bye (PS Classics). linktr.ee/grahamrowat

David Josefsberg

David Josefsberg is currently starring on Broadway in Back To The Future as Principal Strickland, and occasionally as Doc Brown. Broadway: Spamalot, Beetlejuice, The Prom, Waitress, An Act of God, Honeymoon in Vegas, Motown, Wedding Singer, Les Miserables, Grease. Other favorites: Altar Boyz (Original). Rated P. Comedy: The Stephen Lynch Tour. Signed to Comedy Central Records. TV: “The Mork and Mindy Story” (The Fonz). Ayyyyyyyyy!  Love to Lizzie, Cooper, Ben, Mom and Dad.  Instagram/Tiktok @Davidsjosefsberg. For health and wellness check out: broadwaybreathwork.com.

Allison Posner

Allison Posner is an actor, singer and voiceover artist. Selected credits: Theater: The Magnificent Seven, Volleygirls. Concerts:  54 Below,, Ars Nova, Joe’s Pub, Green Room 42, Symphony Space, Story Pirates, SOPAC. TV: John Mulaney and the Sack Lunch Bunch. VO: Numerous books, commercials, session singing. She is the co-president of SOMA Action (@soma_action), a grassroots organization focused on driving progressive change as well as a district leader with the Maplewood Democratic Committee. A Maplewood resident for 9 years, proud mom of Walter (10) and Harry (7). 

allisonposner.com @allisonjp23

Joanna Young Shubart

Joanna Young Shubart is happy to call Maplewood home! She is an actress who has performed on Broadway, Off-Broadway, National Tours and regional theatres across the country. She is currently on the voice faculty at Rider University and has a private voice studio in her home. Joanna is a mom of three boys, one in college and two involved in the music program at Columbia High School. She loves to sing with her SOMA friends and the Local Heroes and you might have spotted her last year dancing her totally eclipsed heart out on Fleischman Is in Trouble.

Diane Davis

Diane is the co-lead singer of The Local Heroes.  Best known for starring as Ginny Potter in the acclaimed Broadway production of "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child", Diane Davis previously appeared on Broadway in Golden Boy, Festen, and Old Acquaintance. Off-Broadway she has been seen in Nice Girl (LAByrinth), The Model Apartment, Regrets Only (Manhattan Theater Club), The Young Left (Cherry Lane). She has also worked regionally, most notably starring in An American Daughter at the Williamstown Theater Festival, The Qualms at Steppenwolf, and The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window at The Goodman Theater. Diane was nominated for both a Lucille Lortel and a Drama Desk award for “Outstanding Actress in a Play” for her portrayal of Debbie in The Model Apartment. Her work in Nice Girl was designated by the New York Times as “one of the Stage’s Best Moments of 2015.”

Charlie Pollock

Charlie Pollock is the co-lead singer of The Local Heroes band.  He is also a veteran of stage and screen.  Currently, Charlie is starring in the role of George Wilson in The Great Gatsby on Broadway.  Other Broadway credits include: Violet, Urinetown, 9 to 5.  Encores: The Wild Party, Really Rosie.  Shakespeare in the Park: Love’s Labour’s Lost. Off-Broadway: David Bowie’s Lazarus, Tick, Tick, Boom!, I love You, You’re Perfect... National Tours: Urinetown, The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber

T.V./Film: Jesus Christ Superstar Live! The Good Wife (recurring), The Good Fight (recurring) Elementary, As the World Turns (recurring), Law and Order, The Guiding Light, P.S. I Love You

The Local Heroes

The Local Heroes band hails from South Orange and Maplewood, NJ.  Featuring the powerhouse vocals of stars of stage and screen, Charlie Pollock and Diane Davis, the band typically performs a rousing mix of Americana, country and rock music and can be seen at various New Jersey venues throughout the year.  For more information and to join the band’s mailing list go to www.somalocalheroesband.com.

In addition to their regular performances, The Local Heroes are the backing band for SOMA Rocks - A Singer Showcase.  This annual event showcases the amazing singing talent from the South Orange and Maplewood community, while raising money for local causes.  For each SOMA Rocks event, The Local Heroes band invites its talented neighbors and members of the SOMA community to be guest vocalists.  The singers pick some of their favorite rock and pop songs to perform with the Local Heroes. All proceeds benefit the Columbia High School Music Parents Association (CHSMPA).

The Local Heroes Band is:

Charlie Pollock (vocals) Diane Davis (vocals) David Pohl (guitar) Matt Katz (drums and percussion) Dave Shields (keyboards) Mark Litwin (violin and viola) Marc Gidal (filling in on bass for David Diamond)

For SOMA Rocks, the band is joined by special guests Mike Daleo on keyboards / guitar, Fred Guterl on trumpet, Ray Patton on baritone sax, and Manu Narayan on alto sax.