Critically-acclaimed singer David Gurland has long been a fixture in the musical theatre and cabaret communities of New York but the last several years has found him focusing his efforts on pop music, specifically the music of pop-superstar Madonna. With the debut of his new series at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, however, Gurland returns to his roots with a vengeance, serving up an evening of Broadway that's the best things he's done in years.

The series DGUR in concert 2007 - six different shows over six different nights (the third Sunday of each month through June) - was created by Gurland as a way to honor his collaboration with the late, great Dick Gallagher, his long-time musical director who passed away two years ago and with whom Gurland worked early in his career for more than a decade. While looking through the stacks of music and arrangements that were returned to him from Gallagher's apartment, Gurland realized the potential for a series of evenings each with a different genre of music, and, hence, DGUR in concert 2007 was born. And based on the results of the January show entitled Showtune, it's a winner!

Sounding relaxed and confident, Gurland's edgy tenor soared through a variety of unexpected and iconoclastic material he'd never have the nerve to sing anywhere else. Classic Broadway fare like "Before the Parade Passes By," "Till There Was You" and "Wherever He Ain't" poured out of him like honey, while his patter ran toward the delightfully conversational, giving us personal tidbits of information that were as endearing as they were enlightening.

Guest stars Rob Maitner (who' also Gurland’s partner) and Lisa Asher got into the act with Maitner delivering a stirring "Morning Glow" from Pippin, but only after he and Gurland camped their way through a hilarious rendition of "If You Don't Mind My Saying So" from The Music Man. Asher nailing Craig Carnelia's "Just a Housewife" song from Working after knocking the ball out of the proverbial park with "You Can Always Count on Me" from City of Angels.

But it was Gurland's evening as he so richly proved with the centerpiece of his evening, an inspired medley of "Stay with Me" from Into the Woods and "Wait" from Sweeney Todd. With a gentleness and sensitivity that brought the room to the edge of its chair, Gurland proved what Dick Gallagher had always known about him - namely, that he can sing anything when he puts his mind to it. And, of course, that sometimes there's just nothing like a good showtune.

DGUR in concert 2007 continues Feb. 18 with All Country Music, Mar. 18 with Boy Singers and Songwriters from the 70s and 80s, Apr. 15 with Girl Singers and Songwriters from the 90s and 2000s, May 20 with his Madonna show Neurotica: Unplugged and Jun. 17 with Gurland does Garland for Gay Pride Week. The Laurie Beechman Theatre is located at the West Bank Café (407 West 42nd Street; 212-695-6909).

David Hurst
Cabaret Scenes
January 21, 2007
www.cabaretscenes.org