John Ondrasik, the Grammy-nominated, platinum-selling artist known as Five For Fighting, headlines an intimate Annapolis concert this weekend, bringing a touring string quartet of Broadway musicians to a room that seats just a few hundred people. The show lands Sunday, October 18, at 8 p.m., with doors opening at 7 p.m.
The concert is set for Rams Head On Stage at 33 West Street in downtown Annapolis, according to AXS. Ondrasik joined WBFF's FOX45 Mornings to discuss the quartet tour and a recent concert he performed in Manhattan, part of the lead-up to this weekend's date. The booking places a platinum-selling, Grammy-nominated touring act inside one of the smallest rooms on his schedule, a notable shift for a singer-songwriter whose biggest hits were built for much larger stages.
A Broadway-Caliber Quartet Reimagines the Hits
The string section backing Ondrasik is music-directed by violinist Katie Kresek, who won a 2020 Tony Award for Best Orchestrations as concertmaster and co-orchestrator of Broadway's Moulin Rouge! The Musical, as reported by BroadwayWorld. Kresek was the first American woman to win a Tony Award for Best Orchestrations. Rounding out the ensemble are fellow Broadway musicians Melissa Tong on violin, Chris Cardona on viola, and Peter Sachon on cello, per Entertaining Options. Tong previously toured as a featured string player with pop artist Post Malone in 2023, the outlet notes.
Opening the show is Lace & Lee, a folk-rock duo that includes Ondrasik's own daughter, Olivia Lee Ondrasik, alongside fellow NYU Tisch graduate Caroline Lace McPherson. The pair met while studying musical theater on Broadway at NYU Tisch and began co-writing together in 2024, according to the Appell Center For The Performing Arts. The family connection gives Sunday's bill a personal thread running alongside the Broadway pedigree of the backing musicians.
From Arena Anthems to a Cabaret Stage
Ondrasik built his career on piano-driven anthems that dominated radio in the 2000s. His 2001 breakout single, “Superman (It's Not Easy),” peaked at No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and earned a 2002 Grammy nomination for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals, a track that became a nationwide comfort anthem following the September 11 terrorist attacks, according to Wikipedia. His studio albums America Town and The Battle for Everything were both certified Platinum.
The Battle for Everything also produced “100 Years.”
Now those songs arrive at Rams Head On Stage, a cabaret-style listening room with roughly 300 to 312 seats, where tables are served food and drinks during the performance, according to Visit Annapolis. It is a far cry from the arenas where “Superman” once blasted through loudspeakers, putting a multi-platinum act within arm's reach of local fans.
The Artist Behind Five For Fighting
Ondrasik performs as Five For Fighting.
The Annapolis stop follows a recent appearance in Manhattan. Last month, Ondrasik took part in the 25th-anniversary Tribute in Light broadcast, as Hoodline previously reported. Ondrasik also performed at a benefit concert in 2001.
Annapolis's Busy Season for Intimate Shows
Five For Fighting's visit continues a steady run of national touring acts choosing Rams Head On Stage for close-quarters shows this fall. The venue recently hosted a Garrison Keillor performance bringing his Prairie Home Companion legacy to the same intimate room. For Annapolis audiences, Sunday offers a rare chance to hear Grammy-nominated material from just feet away, filtered through a string arrangement built by some of Broadway's most in-demand musicians.
