But first, the episode starts off with a look at The Wedding Singer, based on the popular Adam Sandler film. It starred newcomer Stephen Lynch and joining him in the role of Julie, the waitress with a heart of gold, was one Broadway's loveliest leading ladies, Laura Benanti. The musical features a score by Matthew Sklar and Chad Beguelin and a book by Begluin and Tim Herlihy. Rounding out the cast was Kevin Cahoon, Matthew Saldivar, Amy Spanger, Rita Gardner, Felicia Finley and Richard H. Blake. Benanti told Ridge, 'I'm really proud of it. It's nice to play the girl next door. I have never done that. This is really my first brand new Broadway musical. So, I have learned a lot.'
Maurice Hines, best known for Eubie!, Uptown….It's Hot!, and Hot Feet, returns to Feinstein's/54 Below (June7-8) in Tappin' Thru Life with the internationally acclaimed All Female Jazz Orchestra DIVA. Along with tappers John Manzari and Leo Manzari, he pays tribute to his brother Gregory and their lives in show business, from TV to film, Broadway, Vegas, and beyond. Featuring songs like "Luck Be A Lady," "Smile," and "Come Fly with Me," Tappin' Thru Life celebrates the performers that inspire Hines, from Frank Sinatra to Lena Horne.
Earlier this week, Feinstein's/54 Below welcomed five-time Grammy-nominated ambassador of the Great American Songbook Michael Feinstein (August 6-23); Tony award nominee Liz Callaway (June 12-15); Tony award nominee Maurice Hines (June 7-8); Tony award nominee Laura Osnes (May 21-June 24); and Tony and Grammy Award winner John Lloyd Young (May 17-25).
The Riverside Opera Company (ROC), under the direction of Maestro Alan Aurelia, presents: A Wedding in Song and Dance a performance that includes tri-state area audition winners Soprano Sun Young Chang and Tenor Seunghwan Oh performing excerpts from La Boheme, performances by Dawn Daniels and Dancers performing traditional Irish Jigs and Reels; Lydias School of Dance performing ballets from Aida by Verdi accompanied by pianist Olga Gurevich. Youth performers include Brian Moses on piano, Isabel Bruschi on violin and Kristian Marino on trumpet performing a wide range of pieces including La boheme: Musetta's Waltz, 'Flight of the Bumblebee' and 'Danny boy.
