Review: GMCLA Goes BRASSY, CLASSY & SASSY for HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR

On Saturday December 19 at 3 pm and 8 pm and on Sunday December 20 at 3 pm, the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles (GMCLA) presented its annual Holiday Spectacular at the Alex Theatre, Glendale, this year entitled Brassy, Classy & Sassy! There's always diversity in the shows - it's what I like most - and this year, Acts One and Two of Brassy, Classy & Sassy! were as different as night and day. The chorus is under the executive direction of Chris Verdugo and artistic direction of conductor Dr. Joseph P, Nadeau. Chris wore a silly blue Christmas suit covered with snowflakes ,which almost blinded me and Nadeau a sweater, well, we'll talk about that one later on...

Act One was the more serious of the two. There were glorious arrangements of the Gregorian Chant "Puer Natus Est" and "Gloria" (Mvt.1) by John Rutter and adapted by Tim Sarsany. What made this whole act extra special was the presence of the Crown City Ringers. There were two tables in front of the choir; each table had five ringers and the bells ranged in size from jingles to one that looked like it might have come out of a small tower. So effective were these bells accompanying "Ding Dong Merrily on High", "Carol of the Bells", "In the Bleak Midwinter", "The Bells" and the enchanting Jay Livingston/Ray Evans hit "Silver Bells". Also a part of Act One was a lovely "Ave Maria", and two delicious entries "Chanukah in Santa Monica" and "Ocho Kandelikas" by Flory Jagoda.

Act Two was all comedy with a tribute to Santa Claus. The costumes were a true and colorful spectacle, ranging from the old, traditional Kris Kringle/ Pere Noel Santa costumes to the jazzy "Be a Santa" with different colored Santa suits and pointy hats. Songs included: "The Man with the Bag", "Christmas Is For Children", a very bizarre and intriguing "Bad Boy Rhapsody" from another time and place, and"Santa Baby" replete with hunky elves. A beautiful diversion in this act came with "Yes, Virginia, There's a Santa Claus" by Wesley Whatley and William Schermerhorn with a fine solo from Brandon Steele. The piece de resistance of the evening - which will be talked about for years to come - is "Marvelous Holiday Sweater" by Eric Lane Barnes. Elves brought audience members with loud Christmas sweaters onstage to join a select group in front of the scrim that separated the chorus from the rest of the stage. When the scrim was raised, every single choir member had a loud sweater on, including director Nadeau. What a sight for sore eyes! Hilarious!

Brassy, Classy & Sassy! concluded with a joyous "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas". Great show! Really put me in the holiday spirit!

Just a couple of things. There's a new holiday CD - the first in years - GMCLA Best Holiday Ever. which is a compilation of numbers from concerts over the last 20 years, including songs from the 2015 production. There will be two great concerts in 2016 to look forward to: Bette, Babs and Beyonce in the spring and then in summer, a joint concert with the Gay Men's Chorus of Havana, Cuba. Praise to GMCLA not only for their great choral work in these concerts but for bringing music out to youth via special traveling programs around the country all year round. In times of bullying, these gay kids really need our help, love and support...and they are getting just that from the splendid work of the fellows of GMCLA. Bravo!

(photo credit: Daniel Lam photography)