By: Linda Amiel Burns
1975 was a very good year for Broadway Musicals that included, among others, the long-running and iconic A Chorus Line, Chicago, Shenandoah, The Wiz and The Rocky Horror Show.
Scott Siegel is the creator, writer and host of The Broadway By The Year Series at The Town Hall and on May 14th, the year 1975 was celebrated. Scott set the scene by giving us some historical facts – Jimmy Hoffa disappeared, a first class stamp was 10 cents, Patty Hurst was kidnapped, the Vietnam War ended, Franco of Spain died, Microsoft was born and so was Saturday Night Live.
For the 11th year, Ross Patterson served as musical director with his “Little Big Band” accompanying the performers, the show directed by Scott Coulter, choreographed by Vibecke Dahl and starred Ashley Brown, Carole J. Bufford, Bob Stillman, Lari White, Patrick Page, Nadine Isengegger and Kristen Beth Williams.
The concert opened with great energy as The Broadway By The Year Chorus (19 talented young hopefuls) sang “I Hope I Get It” from A Chorus Line, holding up their 8 x 10 photos. Other showstoppers included Ashley Brown’s sexy “Dance: 10 Looks: 3” and the Trio of Ashley, Lari and Carole in “At The Ballet.”
The original production of Chicago was represented by Bob Stillman as the corrupt attorney singing “All I Care About Is Love” and a dynamite duet by Bob and Patrick singing “Class,” in deadpan style. Kristen scored with the most popular song from that show, “All That Jazz.”
Several songs were sung from the beautiful score to Shenandoah including Bob’s stirring “The Only Home I Know,” Patrick in “I’ve Heard It All Before” and Lari and the chorus singing “Freedom.” Lari also performed a fine “Home” from The Wiz and Scott wowed the audience with “If You Believe.”
In 1975 I remember seeing “Rodgers & Hart – a Celebration” and picking out a young Tovah Feldshuh in the cast as a standout. Lari, who I always thought of as a country singer, sang a brilliant “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered” from that show.
“The Rocky Horror Show” became a cult classic and broke new ground in 1975 and you can see why when Patrick and the Broadway Chorus sang “Sweet Transvestite” and “Time Warp.”
The concert ended with two songs from A Chorus Line, Nadine Isengger singing and dancing to “The Music and The Mirror” and the full company returning to the stage for “What I Did For Love.” Congratulations to Scott Siegel and his staff for another terrific evening celebrating the history of the Broadway Musical.
Visit http://the-townhall-nyc.org/ to see The Town Hall Schedule and the next Broadway By The Year Series including The Summer Broadway Festival – three concerts in July.
*Photos: Maryann Lopinto
Posted by Sandi Durell
on May 21, 2012. Filed under Cabaret,Cabaret and Interviews - Sandi Durell,COLUMNS,ENTERTAIMENT.
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