Broadway’s historic show-stopper songs are still being heard by today’s audiences, thanks in great measure to Scott Siegel’s ten-year series at The Town Hall, The Broadway Musicals of  (name your year). Most stars who originated those songs have since retired, replaced in Scott’s series by current theater and cabaret performers. However, the past and the present merged thrillingly in June’s The Broadway Musicals of 1997, as many of that year’s stars returned to sing the numbers they once introduced. Featured was Christine Andreas (pictured), in exquisite voice, performing The Scarlet Pimpernel’s  “Storybook” and “When I Look at You.” Jekyll &Hyde’s Robert Cucciloli, strongly handsome as ever, sang “This Is the Moment” plus, in duet with that show’s Linda Eder, “It’s a Dangerous Game.” From Steel Pier, singer/dancer Karen Ziemba performed “Second Chance” and “Willing to Ride.” The Life’s Chuck Cooper recreated his “Don’t Take Much” while, from the same show, Lillias White conquered the audience with her hilarious lament about being too old for “The Oldest Profession.”

Other shows represented included: The Lion King, with “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” performed by young dynamo Christine Bianco; Side Show, with Tyler Maynard and David Burnham as the Siamese twins, movingly singing “Who Will Love Me As I Am?”; Triumph of Love and Dream. Bright dancing by a lively troupe was choreographed by Jeffry Denman, who also sang an danced. Christiane Noll contributed the evening’s overall smooth direction, as well as recreating her role from Jekyll & Hyde. Bright, just-right musical direction was provided, as it has been throughout the series’ ten years, by Ross Patterson.

Peter Haas
Cabaret Scenes
June 20, 2011
www.cabaretscenes.org