DAME ANGELA WAS IN THE HOUSE, AT LEAST IN SPIRIT

Dame Angela Landsbury turned 93 on October 16 as Broadway singers celebrated at The Green Room 42 with a Power Playlist.  It was an evening of nostalgia, emotions and great talent with many recalling either meeting her or portraying a part that Lansbury was noted for.

 

Opening at the Yotel Hotel, The Green Room 42 only got started on Valentine’s Day of 2017 as Daniel Dunlow was afforded the opportunity to take on the Director of Programming role and producing the contents for the room.  Dunlow had previously worked at their signature restaurant Green Fig.  Now, Green Room 42 has become the newest hot spot for cabaret with no food or drink minimum and cover prices running as low as $15 that will get you a seat at a table in the back. 

Dunlow had directed Power Playlist, one of his own monthly shows.  “Alexandra Silber had presented a list of her favorite Angela Landsbury songs and why she loved them, which gave me the idea to do this live on Landsbury’s 93^rd birthday,” said Dunlow. “I had the job of casting it.  Having asked around I was able to get Christine Pedi, Mark Willam, Alice Ripley, Christina Maxwell, Willy Falk, Monet Sabel, Lawrence Merritt, Nathan Lee Graham, and Natalie Walker. My next directed show is on Election Day although not announced as yet.” 

Playlist Live opened with the band playing Substitutionary Locomotion from Bedknobs and Broomsticks followed by Christine Pedi belting out It’s Today (Mame) with a backup from Mark William, Mike Ruocco, Hunter Brown, Arnie Rodriguez, and Michael Bingham.  William came back to sing A Parade in Town from Anyone Can Whistle.

After viewing a clip from Sweeny Todd, Alice Ripley gave us her rendition of Worst Pies in London. Back to Bedknobs and Broomsticks as Maxwell sang The Age of Not Believing.  

Three more Broadway stars went for a song from Mame; Willy Falk with If He Walked Into My Life and a Nathan Lee Graham/Alexandra Silber duet of Bosom Buddies.  

Monet Sabel went emotional on Beauty and the Beast with unscheduled tears at the end.  Lawrence Merritt, for instance, was in the Dear World with Angela Landsbury   Meritt sang I Don’t Want to Know.  Walker gave us Rose’s Turn from Gypsy.  

Graham treated the audience to a deserved long thunderous applause when he performed Send in the Clowns from A Little Night Music ala Landbury.  Each line was as dramatic as the next.   

Silber conclude the evening with Old Friends from Merrily We Roll Along.  Piano and band arrangements were provided by Eugene Gwozdz, Roger Cohen was on the drums, and Noel Mason played the bass. 

Green Room 42 will certainly continue with Broadway singers.  Kelli Rabke, who was the “Narrator" in Broadway’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, “Eponine” in Les Miserables on Broadway, and “Yonah" in the American Premiere of Stephen Schwartz’s Children of Eden, makes her Green Room 42 debut on Saturday, October 27 in Feels Like Home, a “deeply personal show that traces her journey from stage to motherhood and back again, sprinkled with a healthy dose of humor and honesty.” 

“Diva” the music of Celine Dion takes that stage on Monday, October 29 that features the talents of Marty Thomas, Brie Cassil, Samantha Duval and Yvette Rovira.

On the funny side, join this venue for a hysterical evening featuring the songs of TITANIQUE! running for  several days beginning on November 30.  It is said to be “an unforgettable celebration of Celine Dion, her music, and the film Titanic, experience “My Heart Will Go On,” "Power of Love," "It's All Coming Back to Me Now," "Because You Loved Me," and "I'm Alive" like never before! Featuring an all-star cast, this concert is produced and directed by Tye Blue, with musical direction and arrangements by Nicholas Connell, and co-written by Marla Mindelle, Constantine Rousouli, and Tye Blue.”

Halloween afternoon is reserved for The Rat Pack Undead with “ghoulish” parodies of songs sung by Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr. Come see the hits  like “Come Die With Me”, “What Kind of Ghoul Am I?”,  and “I've Got my teeth in your skin”.   For tickets and more upcoming events: www.onfournyc.com