The 11th annual songwriter series was fully attended. T2C’s editor, cabaret and theatre writer Sandi Durell was the producer of this terrific 11th annual series that was a must for theatre and song lovers everywhere. First-up was humorist Laura Slutsky who has appeared on Larry King, Oprah Winfrey, the Today Show and many others. She brought to life Rick Crom’s (Newsical the Musical) “Denial,” with accompanist Paul Chamlin. To tell you how funny she is, Laura was stating she woke up and had a cold so she went to Duane Reade and bought everything there was on the market, including female Viagra because her neck was now stiff.
Straight from Stony Brook L.I., MTV, VH-1, PBS, ABC and so many more, singer songwriter Marci Geller presented “Driving in Manhattan,” “A Day Without the Kids” and “Thank-You.” Her new CD comes out June 5th and was available for an early release. Taking on a contemporary feel like Tori Amos or Alanis Morisette, Marci brought a fresh feel to the afternoon.
A first preview of a new musical “The Suicide: A Musical Comedy” was unique, clever, and musically interesting. Loved “Hold the Pity Pudding” as well as the lyricist and singer Raymond Bokhour. Joining him was his wife Christine (she has played every female role in “Chicago”) singing “Life is Beautiful.” Drew McVety (Billy Elliot, Spamalot and more) sang “New Life as a Hero.” Very reminiscent of Sondheim’s “Assassins.”
BMI’s Patrick Cook and Fredrick Freyer presented their musical “The Séance” based on the Fox sisters. Mothers gathered on the stage after contacting their dead children in “My Child Has Come Back to Me.” Singer/songwriter Johnny Rodgers sang “One More Moment With You“ and the Fred Astaire classic “Cheek to Cheek with the fabulous Jon Weber accompanying and then playing side by side with Johnny. Rodgers is the Burt Bacharach of today, with songs that you expect to be on the radio tomorrow and lasting for a decade. Johnny Rodger’s birthday is June 5th so he sang “The Best of You and Me,” a song he wrote as a tribute to his parents. What a perfect Mother’s Day song!
David Gaines and Michele Foor presented their new musical “The Station Agent.” “You Da Man, (wonderfully sung by Jonathan Todd Ross)” “You Have a Nice Chin”(Brittney Lee Hamilton) and “Step Right Up” (Harris Doran) a small tidbit of music and lyrics of which we look forward to hearing more.
Writing for Andrea Marcovicci, Tom Toce presented “The Night I Fell in Love With Paris” and “At the End of the Day” sung by Jennifer Sheehan who segued from Julliard to Feinstein’s in no time. Ending the program, Cabaret royalty’s KT Sullivan, Stacy and Heather Sullivan’s mom, Elizabeth (Betty) Sullivan, accompanied by Jon Weber, sang her original songs – - perfect for Mother’s Day.
This was an afternoon of connection and a chance to gather new material. Here’s to the 12th year!
Posted by Suzanna Bowling
on May 16, 2012. Filed under Cabaret,ENTERTAIMENT,Music.
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