Review: NIC AND DESI: BROADWAY TO HOLLYOOD at Coachella Valley Repertory Theatre

Bursting onto the CV Rep stage  last Tuesday in a wellspring of energy, the husband-wife team of Nic and Desi (Nicolas Dromard and Desiree Davar) captivated the audience with their intriguing vocals, exciting choreography, and heartfelt storytelling. Their music director/accompanist Brett Rowe was the ideal collaborator, bringing his wide-ranging experience in Broadway as well as classical musical genres. 

The couple first met in 2015 while performing in The Irving Berlin musical White Christmas. This August they will celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary. One of the sweetest moments in their show was Nic's acknowledging Desi not only as a triple-threat singer, dancer, and actor, but also as a great mother of their 8-year old daughter. He earns my praise as a versatile performer, choreographer, singer, dancer, and husband.

I've had the privilege of attending many shows in the CV Rep Summer Cabaret Series over the past weeks, impressed by something memorable from each show. My memory from Nic and Desi's show is the duet of the poignant mashup/medley of two Stephen Sondheim songs: "Not While I'm Around" from Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and "Children Will Listen" from Into the Woods. Originally arranged for an album by Josh Groban, the duet was incorporated into Take Me To the World: A Sondheim 90th Birthday Celebration. Nic and Desi personalized the arrangement and evoked an audible gasp of emotion from the CV Rep audience.  

Their elegant, stylish choreography is a product of their successful careers as dancers, individually and as collaborators. Desi performed in the role of Anita in the national tour and 2009 Broadway revival of West Side Story, Velma Kelly in Chicago, and Sally Bowles in Cabaret to name a few. Nic appeared on Broadway in Mary Poppins in the role of Bert, as Tommy DeVito in Jersey Boys, and more. Those a just a few of their many credits.

Since Nic and Desi perform nationally, you can follow them on their website nicanddesi.com.