The Broadway Singers' Jukebox Musicals feel-good show

From the Beat Magazine
Written by Sara Piszel

Musical Director: Julie Pietrangelo
Master of Ceremonies: Ken Sadler
The Band: Piano-Yolanda Postma, Percussion- Greg Mainprize, Bass- Jim Smythe, Guitar- Chris Levesque

Wolf Performance Hall

May 28, 2011

Up beat, classy, and comical was The Broadway Singers' performance of Jukebox Musicals. The Jukebox is a metaphorical time machine that transports the audience through the era of Ray Charles, “Big Mama” Thornton, Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, the Beach Boys, John Lennon, Queen, Journey, and many more famous pop, rock, and even disco bands.
The performance was a unique composite of famous musicals throughout history, such as: Million Dollar Quartet, The Buddy Holly Story, Saturday Night Fever, Jersey Boys, and Mamma Mia! (And many more). There was more than something for everyone; this was proven by the enthusiastic audience participation throughout the performance. The audience sang, clapped, and danced in their seats- it was difficult to remain seated during this fun-loving musical.
Ken Sadler, the Master of Ceremonies provided the audience with interesting background information to the all the musicals and artists; some of it was nothing new to the audience, while others were eye opening (for example: Ray Charles fathered 12 children with 9 women! The man was very busy). The Master of Ceremonies was quite cheeky; each bow-tie change heralded the tribute to a new artist’s work and his humour kept his part of the performance fresh and lively.
As for the Broadway Singers, they were simply superb. The choir was multi-talented and included tap-dancers, disco dancers, solo artists, and actors. The Journey solo Don’t Stop Believin’ by Chaleanne Hardcastle gave me goose bumps (in a good way, of course). One of the most compelling strengths of the choir was their charisma - they had smiles on their faces all the way through to the last song. Their passion for singing and dancing was contagious, hence the strong participation from the audience. The proof is in the pudding as they say, and the quality of this performance was, without a doubt, first rate.
For those in the audience who grew up with Buddy Holly, John Lennon, Journey and others, this was a nostalgic ride back into their youth. I could not appreciate it as deeply as some of the other members of the audience who lived through the original creation of this music, but I truly had a great time and would recommend that everyone see the Broadway Singers sometime. They are loads of fun, and comical too! If you love the classics, you will love performances by the Broadway singers.
Hands down, this feel-good musical was fantastic.

For more information on the Broadway Singers, or if you would like to join them, go to: www.broadwaysingers.net

Sara Piszel studied English at York University. She currently resides in London where there is an abundance of art to explore and write about.

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Review of the Broadway Singers
From The Beat, Arts in London
by Donald D’Haene

A Night at the Tonys: 10th Anniversary Show

A Night at the Tonys

Musical Direction: Julie Pietrangelo

Master of Ceremonies: Ken Sadler

Piano: Janis Wallace, Percussion: Greg Mainprize, Bass: Jim Smythe

Wolf Performance Hall

May 29, 2010

The Broadway Singers consists of a choir of 35 men and women who love to sing Broadway tunes. They began in September of 2000 under the jurisdiction of the then London MusicalTheatre. They have stepped out from under the umbrella of Musical Theatre Productions and operate as a separate entity.

I can’t believe this 10th Anniversary show was my first attendance at one of their concerts! I was lucky I had a ticket as the place was packed. There was a celebratory feeling in the air and it had the feeling of an awards night. I’d venture to say that Master of Ceremonies Ken Sadler did a better job of emceeing than some of the “big names” Hollywood picks. Sadler’s dry sense of humour, extensive research into the history of The Tony Awards combined with the poster visuals of scores of Broadway posters projected on the stage contributed greatly to the fast-paced evening.

This kind of show is just up my alley as I love Broadway’s history of musicals. I don’t think I was alone. The audience was very interactive which I found very interesting and refreshing. (Many of the shows I see you can hear a pin drop). People reacted to their favourite tunes, historical tidbits, prop jokes, and the occasional hamming in comical moments on the stage.

It’s a personal treat seeing performers I’ve worked with in the past up there on stage. For example when the emcee arrived at The Pajama Game and the choir sang Steam Heat, I notonly enjoyed the performance but it was fun seeing two of the singers I worked with in the ’94LMT production sing practically off book, Iain Paterson and Susan McKone – they knew thesongs so well.

I believe everyone in the choir was able to sing a solo line here and there. All did so with spiritand passion. Paterson has a wonderful, powerful tenor voice and his lines in Cabaret and Sweeney Todd’s Not While I’m Around really stood out. Lauren Suitor also sang beautifully in that later song. The four performers who sang harmony on Till There Was You from Music Manwere exceptional [singers for the individual parts were not listed in the program]. KathleenGranger, McKone, Joseph Alfano, Charleanne Hardcastle, Ken Minogue all had terrific moments. Susana Aires aced Seasons of Love from Rent, probably my favourite individual and choir performance of the night.

It’s interesting and a credit to this choir that although Sondheim’s music can be extremely difficult to sing, I thought they shone most with his music: Comedy Tonight, Company, Send In The Clowns, Not While I’m Around and Loving You.

I tip my hat off to musical director Julie Pietrangelo. Her energy and direction had everything to do with the success of this evening.

The purpose of the Broadway Singers is to allow people in the community who love to sing todo so in a structured environment, while at the same time adding to the cultural mosaic of London and the surrounding area.

Mission accomplished.

Donald D’Haene is the editor of beatmagazine.ca. He is co-producing The Producers along with John Pacheco which will run at the McManus Studio Theatre, Dec 1-11.