Her Song: Noteworthy Women

Though glamorous and sweet-singing women have always been a staple of popular music, writing the songs they lend voice to has been historically thought to be man's work.  Many a female composer or lyricist has had a hit or two published under a male pen name or has granted a guy co-authorship credit in order to get around laws and prejudices that have prevented her from having a full career of her own.  Her Song, the lively and informative musical revue playing a 5:30 Saturday/Sunday gig at Birdland, does its part to set the record straight. 

Conceived by the husband and wife team of Barry and Brenda Levitt (Barry is also music director, arranger and co-producer while Brenda wrote the narration and co-produces), the ninety-minute songfest stretches from Katherine Lee Bates ("America The Beautiful" with Samuel A. Ward) and Nora Bayes ("Shine On Harvest Moon" with Jack Norworth) to Donna Summer ("She Works Hard For The Money" with Michael Omartian) and Stevie Nicks ("Landslide").  Their daughter Dori Levitt nimbly directs and choreographs a talented cast of four on a crowded space (Barry Levitt on piano, Cameron Brown on bass and Brian Grice on drums take up most of the room) in this light, enjoyable entertainment. 

It was an atypical night when I attended.  Regular cast members Emma Zaks and Kelly McCormick were joined by understudies Heidi Weyhmueller and Casey Erin Clark and special guest star, Broadway favorite Carol Woods, who had just dropped into town to play a weeklong stint as Chicago's Mama Morton.  Naturally, Woods' presence got the bulk of the attention that night, lending a jaunty swagger to Dorothy Fields and Jimmy McHugh's "On The Sunny Side of the Street" before pouring her heart into powerful turns with Alberta Hunter's "Downhearted Blues" and Billie Holiday and Arthur Herzog's "God Bless The Child."  The cast was visibly thrilled to be sharing the stage with this legendary talent. 

But even without special guest stars there's plenty of fine singing to be enjoyed.  With her long blonde ponytail and nerdy glasses, you might not expect such a fierce, earthy sound to come out of Emma Zaks when she tears into Laura Nyro's "Save The Country"; especially after the pretty simplicity of her "Willow Weep For Me" (Ann Ronell).  Kelly McCormick has a chic and stylish presence for songs like "The Way You Look Tonight" (Fields/Jerome Kern) that crumbles nicely for a dramatic number like "Fifty Percent" (Marilyn and Alan Bergman & Billy Goldenberg). 

Though there are no comedy songs in the show, tall redhead Casey Erin Clark has a delightfully expressive face and a humorous way with lyric phrasing that worked perfectly for Sadie Vimmerstedt and Johnny Mercer's "I Wanna Be Around."  Heidi Weyhmueller brings a soft tenderness to songs like "Landslide" (Stevie Nicks) and "Evergreen" (Barbra Streisand and Paul Williams). 

My only real reservation about Her Song is that the bulk of the show covers pop hits from the 60's, 70's and 80's, many of which are better suited for dancing and driving than to watch being sung on stage, especially when compared with some of the material that's been omitted.  With a career that covered six decades, Dorothy Fields deservedly gets a big hunk of recognition, but there's no mention of Betty Comden and her comparable career.  Three of Ellie Greenwich's more repetitive songs get stage time ("Doo Wa Diddy", "Hanky Panky" and "Da Doo Ron Ron") but there's no room for Peggy Lee or Carolyn Leigh.  But that's more a matter of personal taste than a criticism.  What they chose to do they do with verve and enthusiasm, making Her Song a charming way to start the evening.  

Photos by Richie Fahey:  Top:  Kelly McCormick, Gabrielle Lee, Trisha Rapier and Emma Zaks