A BROADWAY DIVA CHRISTMAS Review

[Phantom487]

Posted: 12/2/05 at 11:22pm

This review may contain some spoilers, but is worth reading...

Tonight I saw A BROADWAY DIVA CHRISTMAS, and I have to say - I loved every second of it! From the very first note to the last, this is the perfect show to get anyone in the holiday spirit. Ellen Greene serves as your MC for the evening (or as she put it, "the one woman welcoming committee") and serves up several seasonal tunes that bring down the house. Kathy Brier has delivers an awesome rendition of "All I Want For Christmas Is You", as well as several other lesser known songs. Maya Days takes on the gorgeous "Do You Hear What I Hear?", and then a tune dedicated to her son. Marla Schaffel's version of "A Lonely Jew On Christmas" from South Park is a real gas! The highlight of the evening was probably Christine Pedi. She just steals the show. She starts with a take off on "Santa Clause is Coming To Town" as Roxie from "Chicago", and the stops the show with her own take on "The 12 Days of Christmas", each day being one of her frightening life like impersonations of Broadway diva's (Ethel Merman, Liza Minnelli, Julie Andrews, etc.). She closes on a more serious note - a touching version of "Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep". The whole evening was very enjoyable. Go see it, take the family. You don't have to be a Broadway buff to enjoy this evening of wonderful holiday music!

[Corine2]

Posted: 12/2/05 at 11:34pm

Updated On: 12/2/05 at 11:34 PM

[adamgreer]

Posted: 12/2/05 at 11:56pm

I was there tonight as well, and second the recommendation. What a fun night out! All the women are very different, but all immensely talented. I'm very partial to Ms. Days (exhibit A: my avatar), but they were all indredible.

Highlight for me were Days' Do You Hear What I Hear and O Holy Night, Christine Pedi's The Twelve "Divas" of Christmas, and that one song Kathy Brier sang (near the beginning when she had the red dress on....I can't think of its name). All in all it was just a wonderful evening, with a nice mix of songs. I highly recommend it.

[GardenOfEden]

Posted: 12/3/05 at 8:25am

Kathy's song in the red dress is Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas is You" which was FABULOUS :) I also loved when she did Joni Mitchell's River. And the last song (with the black leather, gotta love that) was a song that vaguely sounded familiar. I think Bon Jovi or Bruce Springstein did it originally. It was hot. All of her stuff was hot. I also really liked Ellen Greene doing Santa Baby.

And Christine Pedi-what can one say other than she is phenominal. I was suspicious as to why she was considered "A Broadway Diva". I had never seen her before. Now my only question is why isn't she more famous?

[Corine2]

Posted: 12/3/05 at 9:38am

Garden of Eden,
Pedi is one of the most talented women off Broadway. It is now time to see her ON Broadway. I have seen her over (12) times in Forbidden Broadway over the years and she never stops amazing me with her talent.
For more insight about Pedi: http://www.corinescorner.com

[adamgreer]

Posted: 12/3/05 at 10:47am

Apparently her list of diva's can change nightly, because the audience picks their names out of buckets. Last night we had Joan Rivers, Maggie Smith, Bette Davis, Patti LuPone, Bernadette Peters, Julie Andrews, Fran Drescher, Angela Lansbury, the woman from All in the Family, Liza, and 2 others who I can't remember.
Updated On: 12/3/05 at 10:47 AM

[GirlfriendFromCanada]

Posted: 12/3/05 at 1:01pm

I particularly enjoyed the Belt War during "Joy to the World". AMAZING.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 1:29am

and I heard that my girl Kate Pazakis belted her titties off tonight! Go girl.
Updated On: 12/4/05 at 01:29 AM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 12/4/05 at 1:32am

Also Kudos to Brian Nash and his beautiful arrangements and musical direction.
I saw second preview. I am going back next week.