Having a dream come true thirty years after winning a Tony was the basis for Sammy Williams’ cabaret debut at the Gardenia. Opening off stage singing “Who am I, anyway/Am I my resume?,” he spent the next hour effectively exploring that question. His impressive resumé included appearances in The Happy Time, Applause, and, of course, the original cast of A Chorus Line. Beyond the resume, he explored the frustrations that came after the Tony, when job offers didn’t come rolling in.

An amusing story about a comment made to him at an Applause audition by the assistant choreographer was made even more amusing by the comment being repeated in person at the show by that assistant choreographer—Tom Rolla of the Gardenia.

Sammy’s vocals served the songs well by the sincerity with which they were delivered. Particularly poignant was a tribute to his mother with "I’ve Got a Crush on You." Although he was one of the dancers interviewed on the original Michael Bennett tapes, he was cast as ‘Paul,’ which was Nicholas Dante’s story. Sammy recited Paul’s monologue and followed it with the song based on his own story, “I Can Do That.”

Tom Pardoe, director and Ron Snyder, Musical Director, contributed to the evening’s success.

Les Traub
Cabaret Scenes
November 13, 2009
www.cabaretscenes.org