Scott Alan (pictured) has recruited well-known singers to perform his songs: Liz Callaway, Cheyenne Jackson and Sutton Foster among them. Alan has also been inclined to sing his own music in clubs such as The Duplex, the Laurie Beechman Theatre, Birdland and London’s West End. Having achieved a fair amount of success, he decided to give back to the musical theater community after returning from Los Angeles several years ago.

Alan can usually be found on Monday night at The Duplex, the home of Monday Nights, New Voices for the past eight seasons. Acting as the revue’s producer, he’s presented a significant amount of talent and given them an opportunity to showcase their performing skills. Judging by the latest show, he’s pretty good at finding them.

Every performer was excellent, including the guest host, Kate Wetherhead, an alumna whose role model is Tina Fey, although there’s more than a little Goldie Hawn in this funny young woman. Wetherhead has strong Broadway and off-Broadway experience, so it’s no surprise that she’s set to star as Sally Bowles in a regional production of Cabaret.

The troupe of five singers—J. David Anderson, Kyle Kleiboeker, Analisa Leaming, Allison Linker and Stephen Mark Lucas—performed songs by songwriters such as Stephen Schwartz, Maury Yeston and Adam Guettel, in addition to numbers from a team of songwriters not yet as well known: Michael Weiner and Alan Zachary.

Kyle Kleiboeker, who’s been in national touring companies of Hairspray and The Wedding Singer, did an especially fine job with “In Love with You,” which is about a guy who finally gets to tell off his girlfriend at their painful moment of parting. The song calls for a display of gentle irony and lots of pent-up anger and Kleiboeker, who obviously paid attention to his voice teacher and acting coach, nailed them both.

The best of J. David Anderson’s presentations was “Who Am I Inside,” which has a Disney spirit to it, not surprising since Weiner and Zachary have written complete scores for the Disney Company. Anderson, whose theater credits range from Peter Pan to West Side Story, has great presence and a romantic singing style that’s pleasing to the ear.

Allison Linker sang “I Want to Go to Hollywood,” a comedic Maury Yeston song which required her to be that “girl in the mirror” who wants to be free of her drab life, and “Believe in Me” a touching song by Weiner and Zachary from First Date, a musical soon to premiere in Seattle. Linker has a laudable singing voice which she employed to great advantage.

Needing to be believable as both a pilot and a waiter, Stephen Mark Lucas was just that. He was particularly effective on “I’d Order Love,” in which he portrays a well-seasoned server in a restaurant frequented by young couples, many of whom are on their first dates. Lucas’s wise observer might well be predicting a bad outcome for a mismatched duo as he sings, “Bring on the marriage, but don’t top it off with divorce!”  Lucas delivers his songs appealingly, having more than a passing acquaintance with his sense of comedy.

Analisa Leaming, who will soon be appearing in a concert version of Frank Loesser’s first hit musical Where’s Charley? at City Center Encores!, performed two gorgeous ballads, one with words and music by Adam Guettel. With an impressive resume and Audra McDonald as her idol, this poised young woman has a lovely Broadway-bound voice and acting skills to go with it.

These talented hopefuls were well supported by the drummer/percussionist Gary Seligson and Musical Director Paul Staroba, both key members of the team. Staroba is so good, and his playing is so apparently effortless, that it’s difficult to believe that, for someone who appears to be about sixteen, he’s already accumulated a portfolio of credentials which includes both conducting and keyboard experience for more than a dozen productions, on and off Broadway.

Every performer appeared to have what it takes to compete in a field which is not always the easiest of careers to succeed in. Having an environment like Monday Nights, New Voices to practice their art and gain exposure is a critical ingredient.  It is sorry news that this is the last season of Scott Alan’s much appreciated labor of love.

Jerry Osterberg
Cabaret Scenes
February 28, 2011
www.cabaretscenes.org