Neo2 concert semi-review

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 6/13/06 at 2:20pm

I held off on posting about this because I realized I can't remember everything. Maybe others that were there could help fill in the blanks, but figured I'd post a bit about it since there haven't been any other threads yet.

Anyway, this was a really great concert held at the York theatre. It features songs from emerging musical theatre writers. Most of these songs were out of a show they were writing, and the plots of these shows were briefly explained, and performed by wonderful Broadway performers.

The evening was hosted by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, who are among my favorite composers. Unfortunately, I can't remember which writer wrote which song, so here's a full list of writers and performers and maybe others can help match up:

Featuring songs by Jill Abramovitz & Joy Son, Deborah Abramson, Scott Alan, Barbara Anselmi & Will Randall, David Austin, Neil Bartram, Jeff Blumenktrantz, Eli Bolin, Sam Davis & Georgia Stitt, Andrew Gerle, Jeff Hochhauster & Robert Johnston, Joe Iconis, Jihwan Kim & Sean Hartley, David Kirshenbaum, and Adam Overett.

Starring Stephanie J. Block, Kathy Brier, Jedidiah Cohen, Christopher Fitzgerald, Barrett Foa, Jonathan Hadley, Leah Hocking, Cheyenne Jackson, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Janine LaManna, Ryan Link, Megan McGinnis, Sally Murphy, Christiane Noll, Phylicia Rashad, Barbara Rosenblat, Steve Routman, Michael Rupert, Jim STanek, Cheryl Stern, John Tartaglia, and Tracie Thoms.

Tracie, a last-minute addition to the night, started the show with a song...which I think had something to do with she was Brazilian and didn't have perfect English? Anyway, it was a great song, and a wonderful performance. She didn't use a mike and really had a lot of energy...she pointed to several audience members, and came up the aisle. She ended up being the only one to do so. It was a great surprise to see her perform.

Then Celia's song came from a musical about a high school rock band trying to win battle of the bands or something. She was the girlfriend of one of the band members, who she was growing tired of his...paranoia and constant panic attacks, and kind of liked his best friend, who was also in the band. Her song was about how she wants to die her hair blue. It was cute, and well-done. The line that she's a bad speller got a loud laugh from the audience.

Then Leah's song...umm...oh yeah it was from a show based on a movie. Something like...she's a famous star, and the guy she's dating has been cheating on her? And there's another guy who's her friend who is in love with her, but also supposed to keep the other guy's infidelity a secret. At the end of the show, I think they said he finally breaks down in her arms, and confesses or something? Anyway, I don't really remember what her song was about but she performed it great. She had to use the lyrics, but as she got more comfortable with them, she started belting it out beautifully.

Then Jonathan Hadley and Janine LaManna sang a duet. He was a rabbi who...watched her video, which might have been porn or something? And a friend sets him up on a blind date with her, but she is in fact a nice Jewish girl or something. Anyway, their song was when they first saw each other and...they were pleased with what they saw. Janine especially sang well.

I may start getting the order confused, but I think Ryan Link went next. I'm sorry, I hardly remember anything about his song except he started singing Ohh's at the end, and they kept getting higher, and it was really good, until the final one was a soprano note, and it was gorgeous.

Jim Stanek sang a funny song. This show was about the relationship of Cupid and Psyche, and Jim was playing Mercury. Mercury was Cupid's best friend, and he began to feel really left out once Cupid fell in love and started spending all his time with Psyche. Jim's song was called "I Hate Love." It was very funny.

Then maybe Sally Murphy and Phylicia Rashad went next? Their show had something to do with...Phylicia was Sally's mother, and trying to set her up with someone? But she spent all her time at the track with some gambler...when he leaves, Sally realized she was in love with him, and the song was her telling Phylicia about it. Sally sang a beautiful soprano, and it was a sweet song.

Jedidiah Cohen, Barbara Rosenblat, Steve Routman, Michael Rupert, and Cheryl Stern sang a particularly funny song from a show about all of the guests at a wedding. The bride's ex was there, and the song was called "It Should Have Been You." One by one members of the bride's family approached him to tell him that...it should have been him, including the semi-drunk Uncle and the aunt he's never even met. Of course the groom is not Jewish. Haha. It was really funny, and I would definitely be interested in that show.

Kathy Brier's song...I don't think it was even from a show, but it was hysterical. It was called "Happy" and she sang about how..."happy" she was that her fiancee realized he's gay. She was so funny, and I could certainly relate to her..."happiness."

Christiane Noll..I just remember her song was pretty, and she sang it beautifully.

Ooh, Christopher Fitzgerald sang a beautiful song that actually brought a tear to my eye. It was from a show where there were 2 best friends, attached to the hip since they were younger, until...at age 20 I think, one leaves to pursue a writing career and the other stays behind in the small town to take over his family's small business. This friend dies when he's 30, so the other friend comes back for his funeral at the beginning of the show. Christopher's song was about their first meeting and the start of their friendship. It was Halloween, and they both got laughed at for their costumes--one was Clarence from It's A Wonderful Life, and the other was the ghost of his mother. The teacher introduced the 2 of them, realizing both of them were outsiders and that 2 facing the world were better than 1, and there was this beautiful metaphor about how the kid who was his Mom knew the other kid was Clarence because his mom loved It's A Wonderful Life, and he sang that his mom found her angel.

Stephanie J. Block sang "Never Never Land," which I think more people on the board know about the show and the song, so I'll let them right about it, but of course, it was a wonderful performance.

Then to my delight, John Tartaglia and Barrett Foa took the stage for a duet. The song was called "Movin' Right Along" (unfortunately not the Muppet version). Barrett needed to find...a date/a guy or something like that, so the two of them went to a gay bar to try to find one, and the song was about what's wrong with all the guys they see--too Skinny, too Jewy, etc. It was really funny, and the 2 of them had great harmony--I think John took the higher notes. I was so glad I got to see that.

Then Megan McGinnis sang a song called "Lilliana" which was written for someone's niece. It was beautiful.

Cheyenne sang the last song of the night--all I remember is that it was called "Air" and often he would sing that word, held out, and get higher. He did a great job.

So thank you so much to the York theatre for this night, and especially for making the cheap tickets available. I was shocked to find out my cheap ticket was in the second row. Thank you to all involved on a wonderful night.

[MenzelManiac]

Posted: 6/13/06 at 2:23pm

The song you're thinking of is by a composer named Neil Bartram, and the song is called "Mrs. Remington".

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 6/13/06 at 2:30pm

Any word on if this will be recorded by Jay Records like the last one?

[Popular]

Posted: 6/13/06 at 2:31pm

Thanks for the update!

Apparantly there was an announcment made that some conflict with Equity didn't allow this one to be recorded.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 6/13/06 at 2:36pm

Aw, I wonder why? I really want to hear those songs. I love the other one. That's a bummer.

[WaltSummersPI]

Posted: 6/13/06 at 2:43pm

We had a great time as well... LOVED Jim Stanek and Chris Fitzgerald, Celia and Kathy in particular.

[AuditioningWaitress]

Posted: 6/13/06 at 3:06pm

Wish I could have seen this...By the time I tried to get tickets the $25 were gone (although I was on a waiting list)...But the other tickets were too rich for my blood.

There's a picture of the cast on Michael Rupert's blog this morning. His blog from Saturday June 10th talks about how it wouldn't be recorded due to "Union Red Tape".
Michael Rupert's blog

[Popular]

Posted: 6/13/06 at 3:11pm

Thanks for posting that link to the picture!

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 6/13/06 at 4:04pm

Thanks MenzelManiac. (She's talking about the song Christopher sang).

That picture was probably taken after the 9:00 concert. They were never all on stage for the 6:00 concert.

[MenzelManiac]

Posted: 6/13/06 at 4:06pm

You can get the song online. PM me if you can't find it.

[WaltSummersPI]

Posted: 6/13/06 at 4:09pm

Actually, I believe the picture was taken in between shows.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 6/13/06 at 4:12pm

Oh. That works too

[MenzelManiac]

Posted: 6/13/06 at 5:18pm

http://www.scottalan.net/mnnvsongs.html

There's a legitimate link to listen to Mrs. Remington, directly from Scott Alan's site.

Enjoy, I know I did!

[MenzelManiac]

Posted: 6/13/06 at 7:18pm

bump

[shesamarshmallow]

Posted: 6/13/06 at 7:30pm

I was so looking forward to this CD. ;_;

[Act4ever]

Posted: 6/13/06 at 8:26pm

aww man! me too!! i really love the first one!!

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 6/13/06 at 8:34pm

Guys, this concert wasn't recorded like the first due to issues with Actor's Equity

[Corine2]

Posted: 6/13/06 at 8:52pm

SO SAD I MISSED JOHN AND BARRETT.
You can kill me now.
Sucks to be C.
;-(
If I could adopt Barrett and JOHN I would.
Updated On: 6/13/06 at 08:52 PM

[rKrispyt]

Posted: 6/13/06 at 9:33pm

Is/will there be a CD of this like the last one? So disappointed I'm missing it, it sounds incredible...

[liotte]

Posted: 6/13/06 at 9:36pm

I wish there was a recording! I had such a good time, and really enjoyed so much of the new music!

[Popular]

Posted: 6/16/06 at 2:57am

CUTE CUTE CUTE!!!!
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[shesamarshmallow]

Posted: 6/16/06 at 3:01am

Why is David Austin listed as a composer? Is this a hidden talent of which I have been hitherto unaware, or did the captioners just not recognize him as one of the I Love You Because leads?

[WholeLottaShakin]

Posted: 6/16/06 at 9:49am

David Austin composed one of the songs performed that night. ILYB, if I remember correctly, wasn't even listed in his bio for the concert, it listed purely his writing credits. And I may be wrong, but I believe he got the role in ILYB in part due to his participation in the BMI Workshop.