Domonique Paton's Star Shines @ Sterling's

Singer/musical comedy actress Domonique Paton, runnerup in LA's Next Great Stage Star 2010 made her cabaret debut Sunday June 27 at Sterling's Upstairs @ Vitello's to a thundering standing ovation. What potential for great success this young artist has! She is vibrantly alive with a strong voice and steadfast delivery that in the past have served quite well the like of Stephanie Mills, Diana Ross and Miss Lena Horne who all had gigantic careers on Broadway, the big screen and in the recording studio. Paton possesses that rare star quality that will sustain her for life if she keeps on singing. Virtuoso pianist/accompanist James Lent served as musical director.

Highlights of the evening included: her sock-it-to-them opener "Don't Rain On My Parade", a beautiful "My Joe" by Oscar Hammerstien and George Bizet from Carmen Jones - it once scared her and took her vocally to the next level, a stunning medley in honor of Miss Horne: "Stormy Weather" and "If you Believe" from The Wiz, "Summertime" from Porgy and Bess and the optimistically dynamic "It Won't Be Long Now" from In the Heights. On the fun side, Paton sang songs from roles she would never play, like "Johanna" from Sweeney Todd, "The Music of the Night" from Phantom, "Popular" from Wicked and "I Am Telling You" from Dreamgirls. There was also an amusing tune that suits a black lady best "Random Black Girl" by Michael Kooman and Christopher Dimond, in which the singer sustains the notes on and on and on in that inimitable style ...which Paton did amazingly well. There was also a contemporary medley of move/groove to the music stuff like "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" by Whitney Houston and "Crazy" by Gnarls Barkley. She concluded with the wonderful "Home" by Charlie Smalls from The Wiz, and encored with "Waiting For Life" from Once On This Island.

This was a first for Paton, so adding some audience participation and variety to her show will come with time. She should also add a couple of low-key 'just for fun' melodic tunes that show a more layed-back, less dramatic quality. She is a truly outstanding performer with a sterling set of pipes who is destined for only the best. Rock on!