Matt Berman

Our Sinatra

September 30, 2026

"Our Sinatra, A Musical Celebration" which was first seen in 1999 at the Algonquin Hotel’s Oak Room and then moved to the Blue Angel Theatre and later the Reprise Room for a total run of 1,096 performances is back after 25 years, remarkably with its original cast and creators: Eric Comstock (musical director at the piano), baritone Christopher Gines and soprano Hilary Kole. This magnificent tribute to “Ol’ Blues Eyes” who left us in 1998 includes 60 songs plus some banter about his career and stories by the singers of their involvement with his music. The songs are performed as solos, duets and trios by this cast that knows this material intimately. [more]

Going Bacharach: The Songs of an Icon

September 19, 2026

Fresh from a successful run earlier this year, "Going Bacharach: The Songs of an Icon" conceived by John Lewin is back by popular demand at the Marjorie S. Deane Little Theater, replete with panache. Returning performers on stage this evening are vocalists Hilary Kole, Meecah, John Pagano and co-creator Adrian Galante on piano/clarinet. Expert musicians include Kristin Cappuccino on keyboard, David Rourke on guitar, Marco Panascia on bass, and Cory Rawls on percussion. [more]

Going Bacharach: The Songs of an Icon

January 17, 2026

Legendary composer Burt Bacharach died in 2023 and it has taken until now for there to be a fitting stage tribute to his 1,000 song output (mainly written with lyricist Hal David) which includes six Grammy Awards and three Academy Awards. Entitled Going Bacharach: The Songs of an Icon, the musical revue has been conceived by producer Jack Lewin along with Will Friedwald (who has been called “the poet laureate of vintage pop music,”) musical supervisor Tedd Firth and musical director Adrian Galante, who is also responsible for the arrangements and orchestrations as well as playing piano and clarinet in the show. While Bacharach was best known for his mellow sound as sung by Dionne Warwick who recorded most of the songs in the show, the volume of this Going Bacharach is very loud, though this may be the fault of sound designer Matt Berman. Those of us who grew up with these songs won’t recognize the arrangements while younger people may be pleased to experience them for the first time. [more]

Lypsinka! The Trilogy: The Passion of the Crawford

November 16, 2014

"Ladies and Gentlemen! Miss Joan Crawford!" announces the host. Embodying old-time Hollywood glamour, Mr. Epperson regally enters, wearing an elegant black gown with a bejeweled collar, voluminous crimson wrap, strawberry blonde updo, ruby bracelets, and diamond rings, to the sound of recorded and live audience applause. Then he and the host sit down on puffy white chairs, with black and white hanging dots in the background, a bottle of Pepsi on the table, and proceed to meticulously lip synch to the actual 1973 interview that included the host's questions and those from the audience read from index cards. Off to the side are illustrative slides of Crawford and her career that are projected onto a large screen. [more]