54 Sings Broadway’s Jukebox Musicals

| July 29, 2016

54 Sings Broadway’s Jukebox Musicals

Feinstein’s/54 Below, NYC, July 21, 2016

Reviewed by Joel Benjamin for Cabaret Scenes

54-Sings-Bway's-Jukebox-Musicals-Cabaret-Scenes-Magazine_212Scott Siegel, in his epic quest for total control over NYC’s entertainment, has begun presenting a sub-genre of his 54 Sings series: 54 Sings Broadway’s Jukebox Musicals. As usual, the show was a sparkling success, combining great songs, fabulous singers and Siegel’s knowledgeable narration.

Most represented, with three songs, was Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. The first two—“Beautiful” (King) and “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” (King/Gerry Goffin)—were sung with great passion by Rebecca LaChance who had been in the show. Farah Alvin and Douglas Ladnier, a full-voiced duo, reached the stratosphere with “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’” (Cynthia Weill/Barry Mann).

A young, starry-eyed Joseph Greenblatt hit all the authentic falsetto notes in his earnest “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” (Bob Crewe/Bob Gaudio) featured in Jersey Boys and sang a sweetly pained “Uptown Girl” (Billy Joel), heard in Movin’ Out.  Rachel Dickson’s bluesy “Fools Fall in Love” (Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller) was quite moving.

Motown: The Musical provided “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” (Norman Whitfield/Eddie Holland).  Law Terrell Dunford began with an emotional blast that powered the song till its last note.  Similarly emotionally charged were Alvin’s renditions of “Don’t Cry Out Loud” (Peter Allen and Carole Bayer Sager, a hit for Melissa Manchester) used in The Boy from Oz, “The Winner Takes It All” (Benny Anderson/Björn Ulvaeus), part of Mamma Mia! and “I (Who Have Nothing)” (Carlo Donida/ Giulio “Mogol” Rapetti/Jerry Leieber/ Mike Stoller) included in Smokey Joe’s Café, the “jukeboxiest” of the jukebox musicals.

Ladnier wrapped his rich baritone around a sexy “One for My Baby (and One More for the Road)” (Harold Arlen/Johnny Mercer) used in Dream, and ended the show with a forthright and manly “Forever Young” (Bob Dylan) used in The Times They Are A-Changin’

Ross Patterson, Siegel’s trusted musical director, provided the rich accompaniment.

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Category: Cabaret Reviews, New York City, New York City Cabaret Reviews, Regional

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