UPRIGHT Cabaret Shows Some Love

West Hollywood was full of love last Friday as the boys of UPRIGHT Cabaret took over the romantic hot spot La Boheme for their monthly evening of world-class entertainment chalk full of stage and screen stars, creating an only in Los Angeles moment.

Having been the talk of the town for nearly two years, this playground for the famous folk who happen to be musically inclined still wows audiences with its unique and fanciful take on the cabaret clubs typically found in Manhattan. Television stars, check… Broadway players, check… fresh talent, check… priceless fun, always.

It would be impossible to walk out of an UPRIGHT Cabaret evening having anything but praises to shower on producers Chris Isaacson, Shane Scheel and music director Trapper Felides. Every month these three impresarios assemble some of the hottest, and gorgeous, talent in the entertainment industry to take the stage and belt favorites from show tunes to pop ballads.

Love is in the Air, the UPRIGHT show on February 9th, had old and new faces in the lineup, including Autumn Reeser ("The O.C."), Becki Newton ("Ugly Betty"), Tracie Thoms ("Rent"), Jennifer Leigh Warren ("Big River"), Sarah Litzsinger (Beauty and the Beast) and Kate Reinders (Wicked). With such a stellar litany stars it is no wonder that the restaurant, La Boheme, was filled to what must have been capacity.

Finding a highlight of the evening proves near impossible, as all of the performers had their own absolutely fabulous moments as the night went on. The wickedly hilarious and shockingly candid duo Tastiskank, made up of Litzsinger and Reinders, spent their time on stage poking fun at a few inadequacies in the romance department for an unnamed lover, proving to be the queens of mean in the best of all possible ways.

The absolutely adorable Reeser, who studied musical theatre at UCLA, appeared right at home as she took to the stage, as did fellow television alum Newton, kicking up the mood with her vamp-star quality. Recalling many a horrendous audition moments in her past, Newton blew through the Once On This Island number "Mama Will Provide" with such gusto and ease that her waif like figure was washed away, as the song is usually suited for a slightly heartier gal.

Rent star Tracie Thoms sang a couple of songs in the love themed show, treating the star speckled audience, including fellow Rent star Anthony Rapp, with "Hello, Goodbye," from a recently workshoped show, capturing her touching vocals.

Felides helmed the piano for most of the evening before Reprise's Music Director Gerald Sternbach sat in for some ivory fun playing for the lovely Bree Bruns, Jennifer Leigh Warren and a handful of others.

UPRIGHT is kicking it into high gear for next month, expanding their monthly show into two nights at La Boheme, with performances scheduled for Thursday, March 8 and Friday, March 9. Dinner and drink specials begin at 8 p.m. with showtime set for 9:30 p.m. La Boheme is located at 8400 Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood. For table reservations, call 323-848-2360 and for more information on UPRIGHT Cabaret, visit www.uprightcabaret.com or www.myspace.com/uprightcabaret.

Photos by Greg Burmann

 

 

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