The Ladies Who Sing Sondheim - CSC celebration

[Melissa25]

Posted: 3/15/16 at 1:59am

I attended the benefit concert "The Ladies Who Sing Sondheim" for The Classic Stage Company this evening.  The  concert also recognized John Doyle who directed and will be assuming the position of artistic director at CSC in the fall.   There were so many great performances this evening! My favorites include Marin Mazzie singing "Losing My Mind" (brought me to tears) and "I'm Still Here."  She got a long standing ovation.  Judy Kuhn sounded wonderful as usual.  Cynthia Erivo nailed "Being Alive."  I had never heard "So Many People" before.   A very pretty song from "Saturday Night" sung exquisitely by Victoria Clark.  

 

Doyle had 12 of his "Broadway Babies" on stage as a chorus and the arrangements of "Sunday" and "Somewhere" were stunning.

 

Broadway Babies included Phoenix Best, Carrie Compere, Diana DiMarzio, Adrianna Hicks, Bre Jackson, Maggie Lakis, Emily Mechler, jane Pfitsch, Carla R. Stewart, Rema Webb, Elisa Winter and Jessica Tyler Wright.

 

Here's the songlist:

The Ballad of Sweeney Todd-  Broadway Babies

Maria (West Side Story) -Alexandra Silber

Not a Day Goes By (Merrily)- Joaquina Kalukango

You Could Drive a Person Crazy (Company) - Bre Jackson, Carrie Compere and Rema Webb (The Church Ladies from The Color Purple)

On the Steps of the Palace - (Into the Woods) - Alexandra Silber

If Momma Was Married (Gypsy) - Joaquina Kalukango & Cynthia Erivo

Happiness (Passion) -Judy Kuhn

In Buddy's Eyes (Follies)  -Judy Kuhn

No One Has Ever Loved Me (Passion)  -Judy Kuhn

Somewhere (West Side Story) - Broadway Babies


Losing My Mind (Follies) -Marin Mazzie

I'm Still Here (Follies) -Marin Mazzie

Being Alive (Company)- Cynthia Errivo

Sunday ( Sunday in The Park) - Broadway Babies

Everybody Says Don't (Anyone Can Whistle) - Victoria Clark

So Many People (Saturday Night)  - Victoria Clark

Another Hundred People (Company) - Patti Lupone

Not While I'm Around (Sweeney) - Patti Lupone

Ladies Who Lunch (Company) - Patti Lupone

 

[indytallguy]

Posted: 3/15/16 at 8:17am

Many thanks for the detailed reporting. Sounds like a wonderful evening.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 3/15/16 at 9:03am

How was Patti?

[Melissa25]

Posted: 3/15/16 at 10:21am

It's always a thrill to see Patti.  She started singing "Another Hundred People" too early while her entrance applause was still going.  She was very complimentary to John Doyle.  She commented that doing benefits is difficult because there is no "ramp-up" time to get into the groove of the performance.  She seemed a bit rushed.  I sort of missed that she did not do "Rose's Turn" but she did a dramatically good "Ladies Who Lunch" holding a martini prop that she threw at the audience at the end of the song. And there was liquid in the martini glass! 

[vitor.rc]

Posted: 3/22/16 at 8:46pm

was this recorded?

[Melissa25]

Posted: 3/22/16 at 11:21pm

No I do not think it was recorded.

 

 Photos were taken:

https://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.php?colid=1277612