Dame and Denise: Together Again for the First Time

Denise McGowan Tracy and Elaine Dame come together for a night of celebration and song--an intimate evening of timeless standards, storytelling, and joyful musical camaraderie, blending jazz, cabaret, and theatrical flair as these two seasoned performers share musical moments in a program designed to delight longtime fans and new listeners alike.

Denise McGowan Tracy
A native Chicagoan now resident of Southwest Michigan since 2021, Denise brings decades of
entertainment and event-production experience to the stage. Her career began with Ice
Follies/Holiday on Ice and continued as the Talent Coordinator for Byfield’s nightclub in Chicago,
where she launched a path that led to creating and hosting the long-running Monday Night Live
at Petterino’s—showcasing hundreds of performers from the cabaret and musical-theatre world.
As Director of Entertainment at Navy Pier, Denise produced diverse year‐round programming
and, through her company DMT Entertainment & Events, directed high-profile events featuring
renowned talent. In 2019 she expanded into playwriting with the Chicago premiere of Eleanor’s
Very Merry Christmas Wish — The Musical, which received critical praise. Now enjoying life in
Michigan with her husband, Ed Tracy, Denise continues to follow her passion for the arts,
bringing theatrical warmth and savvy production to every performance.

Elaine Dame
Former Stevensville resident Elaine Dame is a commanding vocalist celebrated nationwide and
when she sings, people stop and listen. Hailed as “a jazz dynamo” by Time Out Chicago and
recognized as “a gem in the city’s vocal jazz scene,” Elaine has graced premier stages from
coast to coast. Her credits include memorable performances at New York City’s Rainbow Room
and 54 Below, headlining appearances at the Chicago Jazz Festival (2015 and 2025), and a
standout engagement at Herb Alpert’s Vibrato Jazz Grill in Los Angeles, to name but a few.
Elaine’s unique interpretations bridge modern standards and vintage vocal classics, melding a
chameleon-like vocal flexibility with deep emotional storytelling to captivate both jazz
aficionados and new audiences.