BWW Reviews: Webster University SENIOR CABARET at the Kranzberg

Seven talented young senior students from Webster University were showcased on the stage of the Kranzberg Arts Center this past Tuesday (12/14/2010) by the Presenters Dolan. I'd heard that this show was usually presented at the university itself, but I think that the group benefited greatly from having the opportunity to strut their stuff within the intimate confines of the Kranzberg, because it allowed them the chance to actually "work" in the type of environment they may encounter in the near future. I was privileged enough to have been invited to attend this event, and I have to say that it's an almost certain guarantee that the people I'm about to discuss may not be familiar to you now, but will probably be some day very soon.

Katie Hamilton-Meier opened the evening's festivities, and from the first few notes of "L-O-V-E" let the audience know that she was an unabashed romantic, breathlessly working her way through a number of interesting choices, while discussing her intense love of romantic comedies. I especially enjoyed her slowed down, emotional run through Duncan Sheik's "Barely Breathing".

Borris York took the stage next, and his nervous enthusiasm ingratiated him to the audience. His patter focused on his own self-discovery, as he continues to find himself growing as person, and wondering where life will take him. His plaintive take on "What I Did for Love" was nicely executed.

Cara Myler bounded onstage to take the next slot, gaining our attention immediately with her unbridled energy and big voice. A self-professed lover of movie musicals, Myler donned a cowboy hat for an unexpected romp through a country number, before delighting the assembled crowd with a warm rendition of the yuletide favorite,"Count Your Blessings (Instead of Sheep)".

The first half ended with the appearance of Allison Newman, a plucky, big-eyed Okie girl, who brought on the biggest laugh of the night with a hilarious song that might be called "Heaven is a Place Called Oklahoma", although I'm not entirely sure of that. The selection was not only amusing, but it neatly played on her recollections of growing up an outcast as a theatre nerd in Oklahoma.

Rachel Pallante kicked off the second half of the evening and nearly brought the house down with her exuberance. Pallante has an oversized, boisterous personality that's a perfect fit for her huge voice. She began her five song set without a microphone, working her way toward the stage from the back of the room, and commanding our attention throughout. For me, the high point of her set was "Crazy" (the Gnarls Barkley song, not the Willie Nelson country standard), which allowed her to really let it rip vocally, although everything she performed was solid and swinging.

Aaron Sitrick followed Pallante, offering a much more subdued approach, but captivating the audience nonetheless with his smooth, pitch perfect vocals. Sitrick has a very relaxed quality that will serve him well, and his run through "Something's Coming" was a nice upbeat closer for his set.

Jerome Lowe closed the night, and though he seemed a bit uneasy talking to the audience and relating personal things about himself, he seemed completely at ease when he began singing. Lowe has a sweet, soulful voice that can really make a ballad come to life. His version of Sam Cooke's "Change is Gonna' Come", which his father had encouraged him to listen to, proved to be a perfect match.

Musical director/Pianist/Arranger NeAl Richardson and the multi-talented Lara Teeter directed these youthful performers, drawing forth surprisingly mature and sophisticated performances from this diverse group, and both deserve high praise for their work mentoring these students. Richardson also displayed his own considerable talent by providing piano accompaniment for the show. Jim Dolan's work as promoter along with the Kranzberg Arts Center should also be commended for their roles in getting this production into a true professional space.

The variety of selections and approaches provided by these young performers allowed two hours to pass very quickly, and engagingly. While there were certainly a few rough spots here and there (questionable wardrobe choices, some obvious nerves, the occasional iffy song selection), it's clear that these students have a bright future ahead of them based on the exceptional display that was put on this past Tuesday at the Kranzberg.

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