Combine a trio of well-known Broadway talents, accompanied by two expert musicians, put them all together in a first-rate tour of five decades of musical theater history called Broadway Live! and it’s clear what attracted a glamorous audience, which included such luminaries as the boxer Jake LaMotta, songwriter Ervin Drake and actors Laila Robins and Brent Barrett. The performances certainly warranted the sold-out house at Feinstein’s.

Robert Cuccioli, Terry Burrell and Christianne Tisdale, all with starring roles under their belts, entered singing “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” and then proceeded, pretty much chronologically, through well-known songs by Rodgers and Hammerstein (“Surrey with the Fringe on Top,” “Some Enchanted Evening” and “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair”), Frank Loesser (“If I Were a Bell” and “Adelaide’s Lament”) and Jerry Herman (“Hello, Dolly!” and “Wherever He Ain’t”), each showing his or her individual dramatic and comic strengths.

But, they really took flight when each sang numbers from shows with which they were intimately associated.  Ms. Tisdale sang “Beauty and the Beast” with warmth, her eyes sparkling. Ms. Burrell shimmied and purred through “One Night Only” from Dreamgirls and Mr. Cuccioli soared in “This Is the Moment” from Jekyll & Hyde, the role that put him on the map.

After a quick visit to rock and roll musicals such as Hair and Jersey Boys, they ended in a hilarious medley of “The Songs We Didn’t Have Time to Sing Tonight,” a romp that constituted a mini-show in itself.

Jon Burr on bass had a bemused look the belied his total commitment to the music.  Barry Levitt, musical director and pianist, added a dry wit and terrific arrangements and great musicianship.

Although a tad too slick in places, Broadway Live! was so entertaining and “up” that it would be unnecessarily grumpy to complain.

Joel Benjamin
Cabaret Scenes
August 29, 2011
www.cabaretscenes.org