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A CurtainUp Review
Summer Broadway Festival-- A 3-Part Review
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Created for The Town Hall by writer/director/host Scott Siegel, the star-studded Fourth Annual Summer Broadway Festival features three special musical shows on consecutive Monday nights. Subscription and individual tickets available at The Town Hall Box Office from noon to 6pm except Sun.and Ticketmaster.com or by phone 212.307.4100. .
The first show is Broadway Winners: The Award-Winning Music of Broadway on July 12. Broadway's Rising Stars is the title of the July 19 concert. All Singin' All Dancin' will be on July 26. These reviews are merged so that you can look up who appeared for which year without clicking beyond this page, with the most recent review at the top. Different performers, musical directors, and directors will be added in each review. The venue, creator/director/host remain the same throughout. For tickets and details about all these evenings: Town Hall at 123 W. 43rd Street Box office I'll be adding reviews as I see the shows. Shows Reviewed: Summer Broadway Festival: All Singin' - All Dancin' | Broadway's Rising Stars | Broadway Winners | |
Summer Broadway Festival: All Singin'- All Dancin'
Lanky and limber, Jeffry Denman strolled onstage and began strumming his ukulele to a catchy 20's tune, "Happy Feet." Casually, a few dancers joined him, feet began tapping, girls were twirling, guys leaping and soon the exuberant dancing ensemble filled the stage, promising that a spirited opener like "Happy Feet" would lead into a happy show.
Denman, director and choreographer of the Town Hall production of Scott Siegel's All Singin' - All Dancin' finale, had the entire stage for his terpsichorean creativity. He used it well, providing a couple of hours of multifaceted high-caliber entertainment. A sparkling example included Denman and Noah Racey, delivering the whimsical problems brought about by "Necessity." Also impressive were Denman and his wife/assistant choreographer and director, Erin Denman, as they performed a complex, steamy rendition of "Two Lost Souls."
Eye and ear catching was James Brown III's athletic and graceful rendition of "Blackbird" with vocal harmonics by Mark Ledbetter, Erin Denman, Kristen Beth Williams, and Denman. The imaginative Act One ending, "Murdered Men Tango" featured new lyrics by Denman siding with the victims of those merry murderesses of Chicago's "Cell Block Tango". James Brown III, J. Austin Eyer, Mark Ledbetter, Dennis Stowe, Noah Racey, and Jeremy Benton delivered their sad stories with "Pop! Six! Squish! Uh-Uh! Cicero! Lipschitz." Well, they had it coming.
Karen Akers, looking like a glamorous nightclub chanteuse and a Tony nominee in Nine , performed a song originally written for the male lead. With astute moves and vocal interpretation, she portrayed a sly temptress promising to remain "Only With You" gliding from Steve Schepsi to Jeremy Benton, then Dennis Stowe. Also from Nine, Akers delivered a forthright, "Be On Your Own" and a ballad from The New Yorkers , "Where Have You Been?" Authoritative baritone, Ron Raines, tenderly sang, "I Won't Send Roses" and was compelling with "September Song". With scarcely a half-hour's notice, Scott Coulter stepped in to perform a soaring "Promises, Promises" and looking at love from both sides, power singer Julia Murney, paired "The Man That Got Away" with "The Man I Love Man."
The necessities of dancing, unfortunately, left no space onstage for musical director and pianist Ross Patterson and his vigorous Little Big Band who were placed behind a side curtain. While we did not see the band, however, their musical presence was strong with Patterson's impressive arrangements and the group's unmistakable instrumental muscle.
In a killer end to the show, the full dance ensemble interpreted Richard Rodgers' dramatic, "Slaughter on Tenth Avenue".
Song List
Act One
Happy Feet-Jeffry Denman & the Dancing Ensemble
Promises, Promises (Promises, Promises)-Scott Coulter (last minute replacement)
Accentuate the Positive (Dream)-Dennis Stowe with Noah Racey, Jeremy Benton, J. Austin Eyer, Mark Ledbetter
Two Lost Souls (Damn Yankees)-Eric & Jeffry Denman
I Never Do Anything Twice (Side by Side by Sondheim)-Julia Murney
Someone is Waiting (Company)-Jeffry Denman with Lorin Latarro, Kristen Beth Williams, Margot de la Barre, Bethany Moore, Helen Anker
Where Have You Been? (The New Yorkers)-Karen Akers
Life of the Party (Lippa's The Wild Party)- Lorin Latarro & Noah Racey
I Won't Send Roses (Mack and Mabel)-Ron Raines
Murdered Men Tango (Chicago)-James Brown III, J. Austin Eyer, Mark Ledbetter, Dennis Stowe, Noah Racey, Jeremy Benton
Act Two Make Ev'ry Day a Holiday (The New Yorkers)-Erin Denman & Kristen Beth Williams, James Brown III, Jeremy Benton, Jennifer Rias, J. Austin Eyer, Bethany Moore, Steve Schepsi
Ain't Misbehavin' (Ain't Misbehavin')- Julia Murney & Jeffry Denman
Only With You (Nine)- Karen Akers with Steve Schepsi, Jeremy Benton, Dennis Stowe
Blackbird (Dancin')- James Brown III with Mark Ledbetter, Erin Denman, Kristen Beth Williams, Jeffry Denman
September Song (Knickerbocker Holiday)- Ron Raines
The Man That Got Away/The Man I Love- Julia Murney
Necessity (Finian's Rainbow)- Jeffry Denman & Noah Racey
Be On Your Own (Nine)- Karen Akers
Slaughter on Tenth Avenue (On Your Toes)- Dancing Ensemble
Broadway's Rising Stars
Judging by the quality of the 22 young performers at Scott Siegel's Summer Broadway Festival, there's no lack of talent in New York City. All these rising stars needed was a stage and they had a commodious one at Town Hall with a sizable audience ready to be entertained. By intermission, the audience was hooked. These entertainers were well-trained. They illustrated individual musical voices and they were poised. Don't be surprised if next year, you are saying, "I remember him when."
While every performance here showcased a hopeful winner, the broad range included some standouts. Jennie Harney, daughter of Tony Award winner, Ben Harney ( Dreamgirls ), proved she has the family show biz genes. Looking glamorous, she delivered a show-stopping rendition of "I Am Changing." Also looking like a dreamgirl, statuesque Emmy Raver-Lampman broke through with a fervent, determined "Tomorrow." Another sure-bet winner was Ellisha Marie Thomas, with an invigorating voice and forceful stage presence, who led the company in a stirring "Circle of Life", imaginatively choreographed by Vibecke Dahle. Emily Iaquinta, a stylish sylph in a gold mini, took a sensuous look at "Mr. Monotony" and this guy doesn't seem so boring anymore.
There was no lack of belters. Jennie McGuiness, backed by Matt Steele, Frank Francisco, Brad Giovanine, and Paris Nix, brightly proved her claim, "I Got Rhythm", singing, tap dancing and step dancing. With crisp confidence, Brooke Schlosser demanded, "Gimme Gimme" and Jessica Wagner and company were youthfully compelling with "Good Morning, Baltimore".
Jeff Raab gave his all to the con man anthem, "There Is a Sucker Born Ev'ry Minute" and Matt Steele proved he has that comic thing with "Mr. Cellophone." Stephen Lukas looks like a baritone. He sings like a baritone and he performed like an Andrew Lloyd Webber leading man with "Till I Hear You Singear You Sing." Frank Francisco evoked the young aspiring dancer with "My Luck is Changing."
Scott Siegel scored as most appealing emcee with colorful snapshots illustrating each performer's individuality. Scott Coulter directed the show with a slick pace and engaging segments. He set the standard of what was to come right from the opening song, "This is the Moment", delivered by Jacob Smith's stately authority.
Two sopranos performed without microphones, Carolyn Amaradio, "Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again" and Meredith Lustig with "Climb Ev'ry Mountain". Musical director was John Fischer.
A splashy ending, again creatively choreographed, showed the array of different stage personalities with, "It's Today/All I Need is One Good Break" and a crowd-pleasing, "Stand By Me."
As the song goes, "If you can make it there. . .". All of these young talents already made it in Town Hall's Summer Broadway Festival.
Song List
Act One
This is the Moment (Jekyll & Hyde)-Jacob Smith
Something's Coming (West Side Story)-James Erickson
I Got Rhythm (Girl Crazy)-Jennie McGuiness, with Matt Steele, Frank Francisco, Brad Giovanine, and Paris Nix
Gimme Gimme (Thoroughly Modern Millie)-Brooke Schlosser
Everybody Says Don't (Anyone Can Whistle)-Brad Giovanine
Mr. Monotony (Jerome Robbins' Broadway)-Emily Iaquinta
There Is a Sucker Born Ev'ry Minute (Barnum)-Jeff Raab
Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again (Phantom of the Opera)-Carolyn Amaradio (unplugged)
Till I Hear You Sing (Love Never Dies)-Stephen Lukas
Tomorrow (Annie)-Emmy Raver-Lampman
My Luck is Changing (Tap Dance Kid)-Frank Francisco
Circle of Life (The Lion King)-Ellisha Marie Thomas and Ensemble
Act Two
Good Morning, Baltimore (Hairsprayairs)-Jessica Wagner and Ensemble
Another Hundred People (Company)-Erin Gorey
Night Song (Golden Boy)-Paris Nix
Millwork (Working)-PJ Verica, with Jeff Raab
Time Heals Everything (Mack & Mabel)-Laura Darrell
Mr. Cellophone (Chicago)-Matt Steele
Wherever He Ain't (Mack & Mabel)-Danielle Columbo
Nothing Really Happened (Is There Life After High Schoolig)-Rebecca LaChance
I Am Changing (Dreamgirls)- Jennie Harney
Climb Ev'ry Mountain (The Sound of Music)- Meredith Lustig
It's Today/ All I Need is One Good Break (Mame/Flora The Red Menace)-Ensemble
Stand By Me (Smokey Joe's Café)- Ensemble
Broadway Winners: The Award-Winning Music of Broadway
"(You've Gotta Have) Heart", and there was plenty of that on the opening night of Town Hall's Fourth Annual Summer Broadway Festival. Alexander Gemignani directed a lineup of Broadway's award-winning songs performed by a knockout collection of singers that sailed through two acts with thrills, chills and laughs. Taking the stage to open the show was Bill Daugherty with, "Before the Parade Passes By."
Outstanding in her Town Hall debut, petite Christina Bianco delivered a pyrotechnic belt in her stirring interpretation of, "What Did I Have That I Don't Have?" Later she triumphed with hilarious mimicry surmising how Celine Dion might perform, "If I Could Talk To the Animals", robust with melisma and gesticulations. Terri White remembered her days standing-in for Nell Carter in Ain't Misbehavin' with her spoof of Carter's "Mean To Me."
No amplification needed for dapper power baritone William Michals, currently in South Pacific , singing, "Some Enchanted Evening". Also sans mic was John Easterlin's operatic tenor, earingHerendering the gorgeous hit from Kismet , "And This is My Beloved". Director Gemignani made room for his own unplugged duets-"It Would Have Been Wonderful" with Marc Kudisch and "It Takes Two" with Kate Baldwin. Gemignani's solo, "Sometimes a Day Goes By", was touching.
If you want to ham it up, who else to bring on but Marc Kudisch? Pulling out the vocal and physical stops was a humorous lament of, "Where Is the Life That Late I Led? " Kudisch's finest moment, however, was delivering, unplugged, the frustration of Jud in Oklahoma!'s emotional "Lonely Room".
Farah Alvin rendered a glowing interpretation of "Unusual Way" and let her voice soar in "The Music That Makes Me Dance." With the dog days of July outside the theater doors, "Vanilla Ice Cream" was a perfect choice for Kate Baldwin. Special guest, Michele Lee, preceded her first song apologizing about current vocal problems. However, there's no biz like show biz, and Lee went on to prove, "Nobody Does It Like Me" and later, "I Believe in You". She was there to deliver and she did. Her aer apologies were unnecessary and self-serving.
After Christine Andreas's gorgeously crafted and interpreted, "Send in the Clowns", the show's host, Scott Siegel, commented, "And that's the way it should be sung,". The talented Andreas opened Act 2 with, "The Best of Times", and without any prompting on her part, had the audience clapping along.
Some of the best of times from Broadway were found in Town Hall this evening with the stellar performances supported by musical director and pianist David Hahn and his quartet.
Song List
Act One
Before the Parade Passes By (Hello, Dolly!)-Bill Daugherty
Ice Cream Sextet (Street Scene)-John Easterlin (unplugged)
Unusual Way (Nine)-Farah Alvin
It Takes Two (Into the Woods)-Kate Baldwin and Alexander Gemignani
All I Care About Is Love (Chicago)-William Michals
When You're Good to Mama (Chicago)-Terri White (unplugged)
Lonely Room (Oklahoma!)-Marc Kudisch (unplugged)
What Did I Have That I Don't Have? (On a Clear Day)-Christina Bianco
Send In the Clowns (A Little Night Music)-Christine Andreas
Sometimes A Day Goes By (Woman of the Year)-Alexander Gemignani
Nobody Does It Like Me (SeeSaw)-Michele Lee Where Is the Life That Late I Led (Kiss Me Kate)-Marc Kudisch
Act Two
The Best of Times (La Cage Aux Folles)-Christine Andreas
If I Could Talk To the Animals (Dr. Doolittle)-Christina Bianco
The Only Home I Know (Shenandoah)-Bill Daugherty
The Music That Makes Me Dance (Funny Girl)-Farah Alvin
Mean to Me (Ain't Misbehavin')-Terri White (unplugged)
It Would Have Been Wonderful (A Little Night Music)-Alexander Gemignani and Marc Kudisch (unplugged)
I Believe in You (How to Succeed in Business)-Michele Lee
Some Enchanted Evening (South Pacific)-William Michals (unplugged)
Vanilla Ice Cream (She Loves Me)-Kate Baldwin
And This is My Beloved (Kismet)- John Easterlin (unplugged)
Heart (Damn Yankees)-Company
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