"Heart" from Damn Yankees ... group John Easterlin, Kate
Baldwin, Alex Gemignani (was director too) Farah Alvin
Photos by Maryann LaPinto
Who am I to question an intro like this: “Ladies gentlemen, please welcome the fabulous Scott Siegel? Besides, it’s an apt adjective for the charming and enviably entrepreneurial creator/host/writer (and critic/husband/man-about-town) who fashions an unprecedented number of wonderful, varied, and hugely popular musical concerts each year at The Town Hall, most notably the Broadway by the Year series. As themes go, Scott defined this one-night only concert that applauded Broadway award winners has collectively having “heart.”
This was true enough as “Heart” (Damn Yankees) sung by the entire company climaxed this 22-song celebration under the direction of Alexander Gemignani. Nevertheless, it seems that ice cream was the prevailing object of desire with Kate Baldwin deliciously scooping up “Vanilla Ice Cream” from She Loves Me, and John Easterlin singing all the parts (yes, indeed) of the “Ice Cream Sextet” from Kurt Weill’s Street Scene. Easterlin also reminded us at the outset that the voice of a well trained singer does not need to be electronically enhanced. Simply put: Unplugged. It’s a glorious thing.
The real wonder of this concert, however, in which 10 extraordinary singers came forward and sang (occasionally with an amusing flourish,) is that it proves there are plenty of singing actors who really know how to reference the great theater songs. After Christine Andreas revealed the potent essence of “Send in the Clowns” (A Little Night Music), Siegel spontaneously added, “Now you know how that song should be sung.” This is not to say that a singer can’t put an interpretive spin on a song, as exemplified by the disarming Bill Dougherty who summoned up his distinctive Irish tenor voice for a stirring “Before The Parade Passes By” (Funny Girl) and a poignant “The Only Home I Know” (Shenandoah).
Terri White singing When You're Good to Mama" from Chicago.
She just played Mama Morton in Chicago
Farah Alvin was a revelation, especially because this excitingly gifted singer used no vocal embroidery or performance tricks to make “Unusual Way” (Nine) and “The Music That Makes Me Dance” (Funny Girl) virtual show-stoppers. Embroidery and tricks can also be a good thing. Forbidden Broadway alum Christina Bianco had us laughing so hard it hurt as she hilariously invoked the Franco styling of pop singer Celine Dione considering the possibility “If I Could Talk to the Animals” (Dr. Doolittle). Don’t even begin to question how that song was justified. Terry White, who was recently freed from matron duty in Chicago sang the song from that show – “When You’re Good to Mama” – that can be counted upon to cause a prison riot. Laughs came in waves as she respectfully (not really) evoked the late Nell Carter singing “Mean to Me” (Ain’t Misbehavin’.”)
Michelle Lee - from Seasaw " Nobody does it like Me".
she was in the original cast on Broadway
Pairing was rare, but Baldwin and Alexander Gemignani realized “It Takes Two” (Into the Woods) and Gemignani faced rival Marc Kudish unarmed and unplugged for the witty duet “It Would Have Been Wonderful” (A Little Night Music). How can one say there was a highlight in a concert of nothing but highlights? Who knew how limber Kudish was until he ended “Where Is The Life That Late I Led?” (Kiss Me Kate) with a split. But let’s give this spot to Michele Lee, who, despite admitting to losing her voice the day before the concert, proved she was a real trooper. She flew to NYC from LA, and gave her all (and it was considerable) to two songs “Nobody Does It Like Me” (Seesaw, the show she starred in 1973) and the apt (considering her tentative vocal situation) “I Believe in You” (How to Succeed…) Special brava to her.
William Michals, who recently starred as Emile de Beque in the Lincoln Center revival of South Pacific brought a stunningly impassioned resonance to that show’s immortal ballad “Some Enchanted Evening.” And we could say the same thing about John Easterlin’s ravishingly sung “And This is My Beloved” (Kismet). Both sung unplugged. Perhaps this isn’t “The Best of Times” (La Cage aux Folles) but Andreas at her most vibrant (and singing the song that she sings in that show) made us believe it is so, as did all the performers in this award-worthy concert. The musical support from the on-stage band under the direction of David Hahn was exemplary.
Broadway Winners! The Award-winning music of Broadway
One night only: July 12, 2010
The Town Hall, 123 W. 43rd Street
This was the first concert in the the 4th Annual Summer Broadway Festival.
For tickets to Broadway’s Rising Stars ($30 and $25) on July 19 and All Singin’ all Dancin’ ($50 and $40) on July 26 call (212) -840-2824.