Maggie Randolph: Home Again

Les Traub | November 27, 2016

Maggie Randolph

Home Again

Sterling’s Upstairs at the Federal, N. Hollywood, CA, November 20, 2016

Reviewed by Les Traub for Cabaret Scenes

Maggie Randolph

Maggie Randolph’s solo cabaret debut resulted from her winning Michael Sterling’s LA’s Next Great Stage Star 2016 competition. Since the contestants are always a very talented bunch, the winner must have something special, and this year was no exception. Randolph has a unique combination of a powerful soprano voice and a comedic sense that punctuates some of her songs with facial expressions in the manner of Nancy Walker. Her big smile added a joyous note to the evening.

Taking a traditional storyline of moving to New York and then coming back home to Los Angeles, Randolph chose an imaginative repertoire to tell the story. “Another Hundred People” (Sondheim) was about the only song one might expect in such a tale. She did effectively convey her state of mind in singing it, though. “The Girl in 14G”(Jeanine Tesori/Dick Scanlan) allowed that soprano voice to fill the room.

Randolph had a couple of talented guest singers perform with her during the show. Sara Gonzales joined her for the very appropriate “My Heart Is Split” (Kait Kerrigan/Brian Lowdermilk) and 2013 Stage Star winner Charlotte Wen added her voice to a beautifully delivered “Ready to Be Loved (Benj Pasek/Justin Paul).

Joking about how a casting director said to her, “You cracked my iPhone” after she demonstrated how she can sing a double high C, she let the audience hear it, as well with snippets of a few songs including “Emotions” (Mariah Carey/Robert Clivillés/David Cole) and “Glitter and Be Gay” (Leonard Bernstein/Richard Wilbur).

Randolph noted that Musical Director Richard Berent had been playing recitals for her since she was in the 6^th grade. No doubt that contributed to his sensitive support of her. Director Peter Welkin paced the show nicely, and even producer Michael Sterling contributed, along with Gary Lynn Ford, a touching song called “I’m Where I Belong.”

Tags: American Songbook, Another Hundred People, Benj Pasek, Brian Lowdermilk, Broadway, Broadway Musicals, Cabaret, Cabaret Reviews, Cabaret Scenes, CD, Charlotte Wen, Clubs, Composers, David Cole, Dick Scanlan, Emotions, Gary Lynn Ford, Glitter and Be Gay, Great American Songbook, Home Again, I’m Where I Belong, iPhone, Jazz, Jazz Singers, Jazz Vocalists, Jeanine Tesori, Justin Paul, Kait Kerrigan, LA’s Next Great Stage Star, Leonard Bernstein, Les Traub, Los Angeles, lyricists, Maggie Randolph, Mariah Carey, Michael Sterling, Musicals, Musicians, My Heart Is Split, Nancy Walker, Nightclubs, North Hollywood, Peter Welkin, Popular Song, Ready to Be Loved, Revues, Richard Berent, Richard Wilbur, Robert Clivillés, Sara Gonzales, Show Tunes, Singers, Sondheim, Songbook, Stage Star, Standards, Sterling's Upstairs at the FEderal, Supper Clubs, The Girl in 14G, Venues, Vocalists