It’s Tracy Turnblad! Not exactly – but Golden Globe nominated film star Nikki Blonsky of Hairspray fame, has made her nightclub debut at Feinstein’s. She’s 19 years old and auditioned for the movie when she was 17, marking her professional debut.

Growing up in Great Neck, she received all her dramatic and musical training at Great Neck Village School. Contrast this to all the theater kids attending professional schools in New York City, studying voice, drama, dance and auditioning non stop. Well, sometimes they get lucky and sometimes you just have to be Nikki Blonsky!

“Good Morning Baltimore” (Shaiman/Wittman) set the tone for the evening as many of her fans started jumping out of their seats including Mark S. Kaufman, one of the movie’s Executive Producers. Hearing some of the Hairspray hits, “I Can Hear The Bells” and “You Can’t Stop the Beat,” had most everyone moving to the beat. Nikki is obviously at home wherever she is. Her comfort level is remarkable for someone so young debuting a nightclub act. Her vocal skills are far beyond her age and with crystal clarity. The title of the show, “Coming Home,” is her return to New York and Great Neck, to her family and the music and singers she admires. Grandma played recordings of Patsy Cline, Mom loved Donny Osmond and Dad is a Grateful Dead and Rolling Stones fan. Well, that’s eclectic enough!

The show included “The Shoop Shoop Song,” a Mama Cass Elliott favorite “Dream A Little Dream of Me” and “Big Time” along with the meaningful ballad “I’m Afraid This Must Be Love.” When offering up more operatic sounds (Carmen) to show off her vocal abilities or legit “So In Love,” they, unfortunately, came across more like a voice lesson in progress. Actually Patti Dunham, musical director and backup vocals, has been her vocal coach since she was a kid.

There’s no doubt Nikki Blonsky is blessed with wonderful vocal abilities. However, patter could have been enhanced with some inside scoop about the filming of Hairspray and what it was like working with John Travolta, Queen Latifah, Michelle Pfeiffer and Christopher Walken. Of course, calling this a cabaret show stretches the meaning but Nikki is quite a WOW to behold! Musicans included Gary Haberman, piano/synthesizer/vocals, Mike Hall, bass and Ian Petillo, drums.

Nikki Blonsky continues at Feinstein’s thru October 4th.

Sandi Durell
Cabaret Scenes
September 25, 2008
www.cabaretscenes.org