Maura Hanlon Smith an Adorable Performer

On Sunday evening November 14 actress/singer Maura Hanlon Smith made a return to cabaret @ Sterling's Upstairs @ Vitello's with an exciting and entertaining new show. Hanlon Smith is so warm and genuine a personality that you just want to leave your seat, go up on stage and give her a great big hug. She's also an extremely talented singer who has played clubs and musical theatre in LA for the past sixteen years to critical and popular acclaim. Her accompanist/musical director Bob Remstein, who has worked with her throughout her career, served optimally, and sterling director Robert Marra oversaw the show.

Highlights of the evening included: a riveting opener "Come Back To Me" from On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, two jazz greats which propelled her in the beginning years "Hit Me with a Hot Note" and "Detour Ahead", an ode to her hubbie Adam Smith, Jule Styne's "Cornet Man" from Funny Girl, two tributes to love "Falling in Love with Love" and "The Night It Had to End", and a gorgeous encore Sammy Fain's "I'll Be Seeing You". On a lighter side, there was an unexpected and delightful segment wherein Smith explained about an entertainment business for kids that she and her husband have kept running for several years. When they first started, they would go out to birthday parties dressed as clowns and sing. With the assistance of two friends, Smith performed "Be a Clown" whilst pulling from a chest a complete clown outfit into which they helped her dress, and under which, there were two other layers of costumes: she was a pregnant princess - she was pregnant with one of her own kids when she first did this - and a pirate. She, talked, sang, blew up balloons and did other clown schtic in this highly enjoyable section. Later she did a terrific "I Can't Say No" rewritten with her own lyrics to express her devotion to her children, followed, on a much heavier note, by a magnificent "Just a Housewife", Craig Carnelia's dramatic tribute from Working to the most urgent but underrated of occupations. Hanlon Smith really shined here! There was also a dynamite "Don't Know Much" that served as her finale, with four lovely backup singers she referred to as her soul sisters.

Maura Hanlon Smith is a remarkably fabulous performer with a "knock -it-out-of-the-park" style and honest delivery that are totally winning. Don't miss her in anything she does!
Visit Maura and Adam Smith @: www.celebrationentertainment.net

 

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