Broadway by the Year: The Broadway Musicals of 1991-2015

Ron Forman | June 25, 2015

Broadway by the Year

The Broadway Musicals of 1991-2015

The Town Hall, NYC, June 22, 2015

Reviewed by Ron Forman for Cabaret Scenes

Photo: Maryann Lopinto

The final edition of this season’s series of Broadway by the Year featured 25 very talented solo vocalists, performing one song from a Broadway musical for each of the years 1991 to 2015. Scott Siegel’s (pictured) carefully chosen mix of songs showed the changing nature of Broadway musicals over the 25-year period. Included were vintage numbers chosen from revivals and jukebox musicals. As per usual with these shows, Siegel’s introductions were interesting, informative and usually quite amusing.

Each of the 26 (there was on bonus number) numbers was performed well, but there were some very special performances. Country music star Larry Gatlin opened the program with some very funny remarks before reprising a number he sang when he took over the lead in The Will Rogers Follies, “Look Around.” Klea Blackhurst brought back memories of Ethel Merman with “I Got Rhythm” (used in Crazy for You; originally from Girl Crazy). Maxine Linehan brought her beautiful sound to Petula Clark’s poignant number from Blood Brothers, “Tell Me It’s Not True.” Tony Danza did the hilarious “Out of the Sun” from his recent show, Honeymoon in Vegas. Jeffrey Denman and Jimmy Sutherland sang and tap danced brilliantly through “Swinging on a Star” and “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing),” respectively. Natalie Toro’s “With One Look” (Sunset Boulevard) and Brian Charles Rooney’s “Into the Fire” (The Scarlet Pimpernel) thrilled the packed auditorium. Kenita Miller did a rousing “After You’ve Gone.” The audience joined Denise Spann Morgan and The Marvelous Marvelettes in a fun-filled “It’s My Party.” Gay Marshall brought the right touch to Kurt Weill/Maxwell Anderson’s “It Never Was You.” Christina Bianco had the audience cheering to her tour-de-force performance of a “Mary Poppins Medley” that featured her impressions of, among others, Julie Andrews, Barbra Streisand and Celine Dion. Scott Coulter did a haunting, slowed-down performance of Carole King/Gerry Goffin’s “Will You Love Me Tomorrow?.”

Tags: After You’ve Gone, American Songbook, Barbra Streisand, Blood Brothers, Brian Charles Rooney, Broadway by the Year, Broadway Musicals, Cabaret, Cabaret Reviews, Cabaret Scenes, Carole King, Celine Dion, Christina Bianco, Clubs, Composers, Crazy for You, Denise Spann Morgan, Ethel Merman, Gay Marshall, Gerry Goffin, Girl Crazy, Great American Songbook, Honeymoon in Vegas, I Got Rhythm, Into the Fire, It Don't Mean a Thing If It Ain't Got that Swing, It Never Was You, It’s My Party, Jazz, Jeffrey Denman, Jimmy Sutherland, Julie Andrews, Kenita Miller, Klea Blackhurst, Kurt Weill, Larry Gatlin, Look Around, lyricists, Marvelous Marvelettes, Mary Poppins, Maryann Lopinto, Maxine Linehan, Maxwell Anderson, Musicals, Natalie Toro, Nightclubs, NYC, Out of the Sun, Petula Clark, Popular Song, Revues, Ron Forman for Cabaret Scenes, Scott Coulter, Show Tunes, Singers, Songbook, Standards, Sunset Boulevard, Supper Clubs, Swinging on a Star, Tell Me It’s Not True., The Broadway Musicals of 1991-2015, The Scarlet Pimpernel, The Town Hall, The Will Rogers Follies, Tony Danza, Venues, Vocalists, Will You Love Me Tomorrow, With One Look