Take care, Audra McDonald. 10 new actors and singers are preying on your pretty heels.
Monday Night Concert at SPACE (1245 Chicago Ave.) Porchlight Music Theaterof Newcomer Sings on Broadway 1951 We introduced 10 outstanding and up-and-coming performers at Chicagoland Musical Theatre. This was his first SPACE since 2020 and his eighth New Faces production overall.
Selected for their talent as actors, singers and dancers, the five men and five women demonstrated their singing prowess and captivated audiences with songs from well-known and lesser-known shows. New faces on the show include Darin Alexus, Danielle De Clanny-Pierre, Nick Johnson, Abby Loria, Caroline Lyell, Luke Novakowski, Giare Paul Emile, Alix Lord, Nolan Robinson and Jerrod.・I’m Turner.
Each performer sang solos, duets, and small group numbers, participating in opening and closing songs and two choral numbers.
The songs were from the musical that ran during the 1951 Broadway season, which ran from September 1950 to August 1951. South Pacific, Peter Pan, the king and i When man and dollIt was also the year of the flop called Fluffylasted for 40 performances.
But even flops can have songs worth singing. Under the musical direction of Dr. Michael McBride, a Jeff Award-winning musical director, every song on the program sounded great thanks to the respective new faces assigned to sing. McBride took the stage to accompany each song on the piano. Directed by David Fiorello.
Jeff Award-winning veteran David Girolmo, who has appeared in over 100 shows on Broadway, hosted and sang the opening and closing songs. South Pacific– with New Face. He also soloed “Maria Who Calls the Wind” from the musical midway through the show. paint the wagon.
As host, he provided narrated context that summarized each show, remembered who starred, wrote and directed it, and explained the relevant historical context.
Black-and-white slides of the original work were projected on a large screen behind the scenes, accompanied by narration. Girolmo shared some theater trivia that might surprise non-theater experts. For example, Boris Karloff (yes, that Boris Karloff) Peter Pan as Mr. Darling and James Hook. Ray Bolger (who played the Scarecrow) Wizard of Oz) played the lead role in where is charlie
Girolmo also led two singalongs that the new faces fanned out to the audience to encourage participation.They made it easy – the lyrics were projected on a big screen behind the stage and the song was familiar: from “Getting to Know You” the king and i and “I will wash that man right out of my hair” from South Pacific.
All the new faces delivered their assigned songs with flair, but a few stood out. Caroline Lyell and Nick Johnson sang “Sue Me.” Guys and Dolls. Lyell crushed it. Every word, eye roll, body posture, hand gesture, New York twang became the highlight of the song. She and Johnson had great chemistry together and perfect comic timing, which added to her enjoyment.She also performed a sensational version of “If You Hadn’t (But You Did).” provided. two people in the aisle.
Luke Nowakowski’s ‘Sit Down You’re Rocking the Boat’ man and dollHe nailed the solo and took over the stage with his commanding voice.2 songs from man and doll I emphasized that it is a timeless and wonderful show.
Alix Rhode and Daniel de Cranie-Pierre delivered a sizzling version of “From this Moment On.” They displayed great chemistry on stage, enhanced by their vocal chops. This song was written by Cole Porter for the musical. out of this world, It has become a jazz standard sung by many singers, including Frank Sinatra, Lena Horne, and Diane Krall. Rhode and Cranie-Pierre are good friends.
Evanston’s own Nolan Robinson sang a beautiful rendition of the emotional love song “We Kiss in a Shadow.” the king and i as his solo.He also She sang an impassioned duet with Jerrod Turner in “Guys and Dolls” from the musical of the same name.
