The multi-talented and stunningly beautiful stage and screen star Vanessa Williams made her Diamond Series debut at 54 Below on December 13 with musical selections from her catalog of chart-topping songs, Broadway Classics, and others.
Ethereal and magical best describe the two-hour experience of The Kat & Dave Show: An Intimate Evening with David Foster and Katharine McPhee at the Mayo Performing Art Center (MPAC) on December 2.
Rejoicing in the life and musical talent of Stephen Sondheim one year after his passing, 54 Below presented Sondheim Unplugged, a tribute beyond compare that has played repeatedly since 2010.
If the 17-piece Kevin Blanq big band and Kathryn Farmer were not enough to get you in the mood for smooth swinging and dancing, the urbane, bespoke, and suave dancer extraordinaire Manuel Rojas appeared to deliver a dance lesson at 8:30 as a second band, Swing a Delic arrived on stage. With Rojas, it was time to revel in the legacies of Al Minns and Frankie Manning with Lindy Hop, swing outs, tuck-in-turn, jazz, tap, sugar foot walk, breakaway, and swing dance….dum-dee-dum, dum-dee-dum, dum-dee-dum, dum-dee-dum. Revelers thronged to the dance floor as the buoyant and joyous Rojas drew them in.
Wendy Moten ascended to the Birdland stage with a smile and charm that lit up the room. From her first words and the comfortable swing tempo of her first song, All of Me, Moten emerged as a poised, expressive, and consummate artist. She conveyed her passionate insights with a beautiful, clear voice and through her ability to command any genre she desired.
Kittredge is a songstress of sumptuous romantic energy who possesses a dazzling gift for expressing the rich meaning of songs. She owns a sensitive, delightful facon de parler and freely communicates with the audience with her storytelling.
Love Online was a delightful journey enhanced by some of the finest songs ever written and performed by two enchanting, empathetic, and erudite individuals who understand life, heartache, and love. Love and Nickerson take your hand and heart and share their times, world, and lives. It was storytelling at its best.
Harnar assiduously grasped a selection of Sondheim’s artistic jewels and customized it for his purposes. He accomplished this with aplomb and sheer artistry as he expressed the essence of each poetic strain.
Fun eye candy with talent. Before you know it, the show ends. You feel as if you were in an aerobics class – not only do these boys go to the gym, they work out while there. The boys are available, answer questions, and make t-shirts and coasters (CDs) available. They are a “down-to-earth” group of young gentlemen you simply want to take home.
The theater was packed, and patrons were treated to four rising jazz stars in a five-star atmosphere. The show was worth seeing for residents and tourists alike, and here’s hoping it returns to the stage soon.
