SONGS FOR A NEW WORLD TODAY

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 9:21pm

Great Concert this afternoon!
The three original performers; Andrea Burns, Jessica Molaskey and a hysterical Brooks Ashmanskas each got to do an original song, I'm Not Afraid, Stars and the Moon, and She Cried, showing why they were so memorable and bringing 10 years of talent and experence to what looked like an emotional trip for each of them and the audience.
Other Highlights:
John Tartaglia and Michael Arden teaming up for an exciting The River Won't Flow, with Arden's sustained high notes especially impressive.
Newcomers Andre Garner, and Anthony Manough cookin with The Stream Train and Flying Home respectively. Hallelujah!
Nicki Renee Daniels with a stunning Christmas Lullaby and the best Orchestral use all day.
Miriam Shorr looking and sounding terriffic on The Flagmaker.
A very sweet Husband and Wife duo of I'd Give It All For You by
Brian d'Arcy James and Jennifer Prescott.
And Emily Skinner bringing down the House with a Teutonica Surabaya Santa.
Also expert work from Christine Pedi, Michael Cervaris,Kristine Frelich, Jerry Dixon, Beth Leavel, Danielle Lee Greaves, Tally Sessions, Drew McVety, Darius DeHaas, and especially Lawrence Clayton.
The Bergen Youth Orchestra sounded wonderful, I kinda wish they were used more.
Congrats to all!
Updated On: 5/1/05 at 09:21 PM

[QtKt]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 9:29pm

Just got back.
What a beautiful work of art.
Absolutely fantastic.
Lets see... who performed (in order):

Opening sequence: The New World/On the Deck of a Spanish Sailing Ship, 1492: Kristine Fraelich, Jerry Dixon, Beth Leavel, Lawrence Clayton

Just One Step: Christine Pedi

I'm Not Afraid of Anything: Andrea Burns

The River Won't Flow: JOHN TARTAGLIA, Michael Arden, Kristine Fraelich, Nikki Renee Daniels

Stars and the Moon: Jessica Molaskey

She Cries: Brooks Ashmanskas

The Steam Train: Andre Garner with Danielle Lee Greaves,
Jennifer Prescott, Tally Sessions

The World Was Dancing: Michael Cerveris, Nicole van Giesen, Danielle Lee Greaves, Drew McVety

Surabaya Santa: Emily Skinner

Christmas Lullaby: Nikki Renee Daniels

King of the World: Darius deHaas

I'd Give It All For You: Brian d'Arcy James and Jennifer Prescott

The Flagmaker, 1775: Miriam Shor

Flying Home: Anthony Manough with Kristine Fraelich, Danielle Lee Greaves, Drew McVety

Hear My Song: Jessica Molaskey, Andrea Burns, Brooks Ashmanskas, Darius deHaas and company

Let me just say, listening to S4aNW with a 90 piece orchestra..... WOW. INCREDIBLE.

John sang The River Won't Flow (I figured he would, since he sings it at his AD-LIBerty performaces, seems to be a favorite of his) and he was fantastic, as always! I love how he performs that song. It's just so much fun. And John and Michael Arden... loved it! I can gush about how talented John is forever, so i'll save you all and just say he was FANTABULOUS.

My other favorites were Emily Skinners version of Surabaya Santa~ she did such a fantastic job I got chills. That's Emily Skinner for ya, she was incredible.

Darius deHaas singing King of the World was also fantastic, he has such an incredible voice. Damn.

Nikki Renee Daniels is also another personal favorite of mine, ever since I saw her at Monday Nights New Voices. She is so talented. And she really belted Christmas Lullaby. Such talent.

Finally, the most incredible part of the entire show, Flying Home. Anthony Manough. Look for his name up in lights one day. Jason Robert Brown was in Ventura, CA and saw a reigonal production of S4aNW and was so impressed with the cast, he got them out here for this show. Anthony Manough brought down the house. He hit those notes PERFECTLY, and he has an incredible voice. He tore it up. Tore. It. Up.

He was freaking AMAZING.

It was a great show, and everyone involved was fantastic.
Updated On: 5/1/05 at 09:29 PM

[noahrp3]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 9:41pm

Where was this???

[QtKt]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 9:42pm

Symphony Space, 96th and B'way I believe.

[glindamark1]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 9:53pm

oo i pictured darius dehaas singing king of the world when i first heard about it! he must have been amaazing

[Jimbo2]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 10:06pm

I couldn't make the show. Does anyone know if it was recorded perhaps by our good dear friends at Sh-k-boom?

[renthead2005z]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 10:12pm

omg if it was i want a copy...

[alphieboy]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 10:17pm

As do i.

[ShineOn]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 10:19pm

I'm NOT gonna lie, I was hanging on to the edge of my seat praying Emily wouldn't mess up a lyric (why was she the only one with a folder???). (...And at one point I thought she was going to fall off the chair while she was readjusting, but other than those brief moments of worry I REALLY enjoyed the number...)

When she did the Ursula face I almost died. But yeah, she definitely tore it up, as usual.

That song is the reason I want to play Woman #2 some day. (Well, and her other songs which are also fabulous...)

Darius DeHaas was a fabulous choice replacement for Billy Porter... I love that man. Jessica Molasky, as wonderful as ever... I really was feeling Miriam's Flagmaker!

I think collectively, the concert on the whole was just amazing. Sent chills down my spine on more than one occasion. Definitely more than worth what I spent!!! :)

Updated On: 5/2/05 at 10:19 PM

[renthead2005z]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 10:23pm

for some reason everytime i see s4anw performed, i get chills. I love the music on the soundtrack, but when you are seeing it, there is this spark that makes it an amazing show. Even though it doesn't have a plot you can really relate to a lot of the songs.

[Mattio98]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 10:25pm

Great lineup, great music, great orchestra, and some STUNNING new orchestrations. Bravo to all!

[G]

Posted: 5/1/05 at 10:39pm

it was fantastic indeed. but it really could have done without jason self-indulgendly talking inbetween songs. a nice short introduction at the very beginning would have been quite enough. even the performers were surprised that it lasted well over 2 hours instead of the planned 90 minutes.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 12:37am

Didn't really mind JRB's ramblings, added an informality to the proceedings and a little insight to the process, OK a little editing.
Didn't get that question part, but the kid Max was dead pan funny and he danced back to his 2nd Violin chair.
Did he say Billy Porker?

[Jess1483]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 1:30am

I absolutely loved the show. So good. Some amazing talent, and I didn't mind JRB's ramblings either. He was actually pretty entertaining. I'd post more, but I just drove for 4 hours after a 2 hour train ride and I'm dead tired. But an absolutely amazing show.
Those kids were really good, too.

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 4:48am

I hate that I had to miss this!

[DancerGirl16]

Posted: 5/2/05 at 9:53am

Ok, contraversial statement kind of....

but I think that was the most exciting performance I ever saw!!!!

Everything about it rocked

HOWEVER!!!!!

The one note I have: lack of chemistry in "I'd give it all for you". By lack I mean.....none.

Anyone agree?

[Stradivarius]

Posted: 5/5/05 at 10:12pm

On behalf of the Bergen Youth Orchestras, thank you guys for your rave reviews about the show on Sunday. I'm a former member of the youth orchestra who helps out the group once in a while. I must admit that I was quite proud of what the kids were able to acccomplish.

As an insider, I know that this benefit was possible because of a certain few people. Obviously, Mr. Brown and the AMAZING stars to start. Also, Gene Minor, who is the director of the youth orchestra, devoted this entire season to make sure that the kids had all the right parts in their folders. Andrew Kato, the producer, was phenomenal, as was the entire staff at Symphony Space. The parents and the members of the orchestra board had a lot to do with the success, especially the treasurer of the orchestra. From what I understand, for several days prior to the show, she stayed up until 2AM and woke up at 5AM to devote her time into this benefit.

Perhaps you were all more excited about the other stars who performed, but thanks again for the kind words about the orchestra and also for recognzing the amazing positive influence that music education has on our youths.
Updated On: 5/5/05 at 10:12 PM