Review: 'Bohemian Rhapsody' Rocks Musical Monday and Tuesday in Kansas City

"That song alone is worth the price of a ticket." That comment was made by an audience member after Daniel Beeman and the cast of Musical Monday and Tuesday performed "Bohemian Rhapsody" at the close of Act I of the Monday night performance. Tim Scott produced and directs the tribute to Stephen Sondheim and the songs of the '70's for Musical Theater Heritage.

Songs from Sondheim's musicals Company and Follies were mixed in with popular songs by Linda Ronstadt, Melanie, Sammy Davis Jr. and the musical Promises Promises. Sondheim has received an Academy Award, eight Grammy Awards, and eight Tony Awards (more than any other composer), including a Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre, and a Pulitzer Prize.

The show opened with Scott and the cast singing "Opening Number" from Company and Scott's humorous banter with the audience and cast members. Emily Schackelford was superb as she sang "Brand New Key," made popular in 1971 by Melanie. She was followed by a beautiful rendition of "Promises, Promises" performed by Paul Orwick

Judy Simmons continued the entertainment with "Ladies Who Lunch" followed by Sara Sommerer with a fabulous vocal of "You're No Good." The cast from A Year with Frog and Toad (Emily Shackelford, Steven Eubank, Francisco Javier Villegas, Seth M. Jones, and Elise Poehling) entertained the audience with the opening number from the musical now playing at The Coterie Theatre in Crown Center. This number will not be seen in the Tuesday night show. The first act ended with one of the most fabulous performances of "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Daniel Beeman and the cast.

Highlights of the second act included "You Could Drive A Person Crazy" by Sommerer, Shackelford, and Shanna Jones, "Candy Man" fantastically performed by Justin McCoy, and "Find Somebody To Love" a song that rocked the house performed by Jones. Musical Director Jeremy Watson played piano and led the band with Julie Danielson on Bass, Joe Levens on guitar, Michalis Koutsoupides on violin, and Tod Barnard on drums.

Musical Monday and Tuesday always brings one to two lottery singers for the performances. Anyone who wants to sing one song during the show can email Scott and their name is put into a lottery, from which two names are drawn.

Scott stated there were still tickets available for the Tuesday night performance. To purchase tickets call the box office at 816-221-6987. Photo courtesy of Musical Theater Heritage.