Bartha's Whirlwind Life

My years at IU were filled with many extracurricular activities, which included writing and performing IU Sing acts, performing with the Belles of Indiana in the US, Europe and for the Indy 500. During my time in the Singing Hoosiers, I was a featured soloist in Peter Nero's "Annie Frank" concert with the Cincinnati Pops and the lead in the silent movie with Dennis James tour. I was a featured dancer and soloist at many performances and starred in many plays and musicals. My summer jobs included Six Flags, Opryland and working as a swimming counselor at a health camp. After graduation, I went on the road doing dinner theater before returning to Indiana to be the PR Director of the Arts & Special Programs at the City of Indianapolis Parks & Recreation.

Feeling the urge to expand my talents, I moved to Florida, where I performed with Musicana and starred in the Walt Disney World Hoop Dee Doo Revue and Diamond Horseshoe Revue. While in Florida, I joined the Serendipity Singers and began a whirl wind tour of Thailand, Singapore and Hong Kong, where I did a TV special and commercial for Britannia Jeans. We returned to tour the US and Canada, then we were off for four months to Australia, where we did another TV special and commercials for SeaWorld, Bird Life Park and an appearance on the Don Lane Show and Reg Lindsey's Country Show. We returned to do a four month tour of the Playboy clubs and numerous convention shows with such stars as Bill Cosby, Bob Hope, Mickey Gilley and Helen Reddy. During these years, we did another TV Special, commercials for White Castle Hamburgers, and recorded an album. After three years on the road, I settled in LA, where I did the Pecos Bill Wild West Revue at Disneyland, Hello Dolly at the Grand Dinner Theater and played the Lois/Bianca role at the Old Globe Theater in San Diego. During my years in LA, I did numerous commercials, market shows, game show pilots, recorded demo songs for local song writers and went to Japan to sing jazz.

In 1984, my world changed when I went to sing at a club in the Yukon of Canada. There, I met my now husband and have been living in Canada since, but it has not stopped me from performing. While here, I have starred in musicals and plays as well as choreographed, and directed. I contracted to write, direct and star in summer tourism shows, as well as be the comptroller of a local sporting goods store. In 2000 we moved to St Albert, Alberta. Here, I have continued performing in shows and began to teach voice and piano and am called on to adjudicate at local music competitions. I have been featured in two movies and many instructional videos and commercials, which have been nominated for local awards. Because I am a dual citizen, I am asked to sing both national anthems for sporting events.

My latest endeavor is busking at local markets, either playing piano and singing or the most fun is my "HUMAN JUKEBOX". Like my page on Facebook to see how much fun I have singing and bringing joy to kids and adults. When I am not performing, I am doing taxes or bookkeeping as an administrative assistant for a local financial services company. I am proud to have a son who is a talented singer, songwriter, and recording artist. Now his focus is on doing movies and learning marketing at a business college in Toronto. I have loved living in Canada, but I am hoping to move back to the US (hopefully some place warm - the cold is the only downside to Alberta winters!!!!)

Name: Bartha Hartman
Hometown: Rushville, Indiana
Degree and Major: Radio/ TV/ Journalism
Graduation Year: 1975