Bruce Kimmel’s Kritzerland: The Kids Are All Right

Les Traub | February 16, 2015

Bruce Kimmel’s Kritzerland

The Kids Are All Right

Sterling’s Upstairs at the Federal, North Hollywood, CA

January 12, 2015

Reviewed by Les Traub for Cabaret Scenes

The annual Kritzerland showcase of young talent brought to the stage a group of young people with already packed résumés and a poise that belies their years. Producer/director Bruce Kimmel has given many a young performer a start and seen them go on to great success. This batch of pre-teen and teenagers will be no exception.

Not to be accused of age discrimination, Kimmel added an octogenarian, Richard Sherman, to the mix. But, he’s young at heart anyway and his songs (co-written with his late brother Robert) are certainly a staple of one’s childhood. He performed their own “The Ugly Bug Ball.” Add in Kay Cole, who began as Amaryllis in The Music Man, doing a slow and sweet “You Are Love,” and you’ve got a span of generations covered.

Sami Staitman (pictured) opened the show with an exuberant “Welcome to My World.” Her sister, Sarah Staitman, followed with “Here I Am” and there was no doubt of that. Jenna Lea Rosen’s beautiful soprano graced “I Remember.” Kimmel always put together wonderful song pairings and Hadley Belle Miller did a terrific job on a pair from You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown: “Happiness” and “My New Philosophy” [the latter added to its Broadway revival]. Brennley Brown did a moving pairing of “I Know Things Now” and “No One Is Alone.” Oliviana Marie did a touching version of “Let Me Sing.” Tommy Olaes channeled Frankie Valli on “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.” Sydney DeMaria had fun with “Notice Me, Horton” from Seussical the Musical.

Having a great voice is one element of putting over these songs, but understanding what you are singing and capturing all the nuances would seem to come with age. These kids know of what they sing and express it well.

Tags: American Songbook, Brennley Brown, Broadway, Broadway Musicals, Bruce Kimmel, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You, Disney, Frankie Valli, Great American Songbook, Hadley Belle Miller, Happiness, Here I Am, I Know Things Now, I Remember, Jersey Boys, Kay Cole, kritzerland, Les Traub, Let Me Sing, Mary Poppins, My New Philosophy, Nightclubs, No One Is Alone, North Hollywood, Notice Me Horton, Oliviana Marie, Popular Song, Richard Sherman, Robert Sherman, Sami Staitman, Sarah Staitman, Seussical the Musical, Show Tunes, Singers, Songbook, Supper Clubs, Sydney DeMaria, The Kids Are All Right, The Music Man, Tommy Olaes, Upstairs at the Federal, Vocalists, Welcome to My World, You Are Love, You're a Good Man Charlie Brown