k.d. lang may have been a bit skeptic about her
Broadway debut until she found the perfect show, After Midnight. This much earned number 1 musical led by the
Jazz at Lincoln Center All Star band is loaded with dance numbers and lots of
movement. k.d. , however, didn’t have to learn lines or
choreography. She simply had to be herself
performing four jazz numbers.
After Midnight takes us to an era of the old Cotton
Club, where singers were the featured guests as k.d. was chosen to sing, “I
Can’t Give You Anything But Love”, “Stormy Weather”, “Zaz Zuh Zaz” and “On the
Sunny Side of the Street”. The first
two were total solo. “Zaz” got some of
the cast joining in song, while “Sunny” gave us not only two female dancers but
k.d. doing a short “ballroom” with
one.
After Midnight has a “host”, the second featured
“guest star” . Psych fans will recognize
Dule Hill. In fact there was a
presentation of “Psych, the Musical” on USA network. Dule told me that this is what prompted him
to be in the show that allows him to show off both his singing and dancing
talents.
What can you expect from this show? Duke Ellington music along with others such
as: Ted Koehler & Harold Arlen; Sippie Wallace; Dorothy Fields & Jimmy
McHugh; Harry James & Ben Pollack; and Cab Calloway &Harry White.
You can also expect an hour and a half of some of the
best jazz, tap and swing dancing going.
Did I forget the singing? Can’t
miss Adriane Lenox, Karine Plantadir and Dormeshia. Into America’s Got Talent? Julius “iGlide” Chisolm may have not made it
to the top on that show, but he certainly gets to show off on this one.
What an ending!
Tap Mathematician/”It Don’t Mean a Thing” has Jared Grimes doing the
tapping with the band backing. The
Company first joins in the songs “Cotton Club Stomp”, followed by the entire
cast (although I didn’t spot k.d.) with “Freeze and Melt”. Just when you think the show is over, The
Jazz at Lincoln Center All Stars are moved up to the front of the stage with
“Rockin’ in Rhythm”.
k.d. will be featured until March 9th. I’m not sure who will be doing these numbers
in between as Toni Braxton and Kenny “Baby Face” Edmonds will be there March
18-30. Vanessa Williams gets her turn April 1st
through May 11th.
After Midnight is at the Brook Atkinson Theatre at
West 47th Street.
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