BWW Recap: 'Broadway Winners' with Baldwin, Kudisch, Gemignani and More!

With a title like Broadway Winners, and the simple concept of presenting songs from award-winning musicals (or songs that have won Grammys or Oscars in their own right), it's a fairly safe bet that a concert is going to be pretty damn great. And so it was at Town Hall on July 13, when Scott Siegel's Summer Cabaret Festival kicked off with the latest edition of the concert series. Directed by Alexander Gemignani and with musical direction by David Hahn, the concert focused on musical triumphs, and that sense of accomplishment carried across the evening as each song's pedigree was announced.

A few of the evening's highlights:

* Michele Lee, fighting laryngitis with the bravery of a true pro, sang two of her biggest hits from her career-"I Believe in You" from How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and "Nobody Does It Like Me" from Seesaw. And really, anyone who bails on a show for a mere headache after watching Ms. Lee perform through her ailments should be ashamed. That's all.

* No comment at all about a certain Oscar- and Tony-winning star who also recently sang the song, but Christine Andreas reminded everyone how simply beautiful "Send in the Clowns" can be. Can she play Desiree in the national tour? Please? America really needs to hear her rendition of this song.

* Town Hall favorite Marc Kudisch did a full split in the middle of "Where is the Life That Late I Led," from Kiss Me, Kate. Oh, yeah, he also sang the hell out of the number and nailed every joke, but good Lord, he sang the number while doing a full split. That's...amazing.

* Director Alexander Gemignani got to shine in quite a few songs, soloing on "Sometimes a Day Goes By" from Woman of the Year (has this song ever been paired with "Not a Day Goes By" for a medley?), and dueting (unamplified!) with Kudisch on "It Would Have Been Wonderful" (from A Little Night Music) and Kate Baldwin on "It Takes Two" from Into the Woods. 

* Terri White continued to prove why she's a genuine Broadway treasure with her rich and saucy-not to mention unamplified, in true Town Hall tradition-"When You're Good to Mama," but also offered a hilarious Nell Carter imitation for "Mean to Me" from Ain't Misbehavin'. Somewhere up there, Nell was giggling along with the rest of us.

* Farah Alvin reinterpreted two classics-"Unusual Way" from Nine and "The Music that Makes Me Dance" from Funny Girl-making them into an arc of love, longing and regret.

* William Michals proved himself an ideal Billy Flynn with his simultaneously charming and skeevy "All I Care About is Love." After South Pacific closes, maybe he could take over the role on Broadway? Just a suggestion...

* Speaking of South Pacific, how wonderful to hear Michals' "Some Enchanted Evening" unplugged. Perfect song, perfect voice for it...just perfect.

* Kate Baldwin is adorable, and her "Vanilla Ice Cream" from She Loves Me was utterly endearing. That is all.

The series continues next Monday with All Singin' All Dancin', directed by Jeffry Denman...Hope to see everyone there!

 

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.