Broadway by the Year 1916-1940: The Broadway Musicals of 1916-1940
Broadway by the Year 1916-1940
The Broadway Musicals of 1916-1940
The Town Hall, NYC, February 23, 2015
Reviewed by Ron Forman for Cabaret Scenes
In his fifteenth year of Broadway by the Year at The Town Hall, Scott Siegel is repeating the highly entertaining format that was used for his four shows last season. Each of this season’s four productions will consist of 25 songs (plus bonus numbers) by 25 different artists, one song from a Broadway musical for each year from 1916 to 2015. This edition covered the years 1916-1940. As is the norm with a Siegel production, each selection was well thought-out and was representative of the chosen year.
From the opening bonus number, “100 Years from Today”—performed in excellent baritone voice by Sal Viviano—to the closing number by the chorus, “It’s a Lovely Day Tomorrow,” the performances were of high quality. Especially outstanding were the thrilling unplugged performances of “Someday” and “One Alone” by John Easterlin and William Michals respectively. There was a delightfully delicious “It’s Delovely” by John Bolton. I was wild about Sidney Myer’s (pictured) “They Go Wild, Simply Wild Over Me.” Emotional performances were provided by Tonya Pinkins (“The Thrill Is Gone”), Carole J. Bufford (“Body and Soul”) and Maxine Linehan (“Smoke Gets in Your Eyes”). Danny Gardner’s choreography shone in “Varsity Drag” as performed with Aleka Emerson.
(Photo: Russ Weatherford)
The remaining Broadway by the Year dates for this season:
March 30, 2015 at 8 pm
THE BROADWAY MUSICALS OF 1941-1965
May 11, 2015 at 8 pm
THE BROADWAY MUSICALS OF 1966-1990
June 22, 2015 at 8 pm
THE BROADWAY MUSICALS OF 1991-2015
Category: Cabaret Reviews, New York City, New York City Cabaret Reviews
