Broadway Stars Bring Neil Berg's 100 YEARS OF BROADWAY to Tarrytown, New York

Composer Neil Berg is bringing together a powerhouse group of Broadway vets for a one-night only tribute to 100 years of great Broadway tunes, and he's bringing them just north of New York City to the newly renovated 800-seat Tarrytown Music Hall on Saturday, May 15 at 8pm.

Neil's Broadway tribute shows have been performed throughout venues in New York from the Rainbow Room to the China Club and around the world as well, but the stars are all coming just north of the city to Tarrytown on May 15.

Many theatre-goers know Neil Berg as composer of the recent Off-Broadway show The Prince and the Pauper, as well as The Man Who Would Be King, Tim: A New Musical, and the Life and Rhymes of Fiona Gander, but he's been the producing artistic director for several concerts including the memorable BC/EFA Chess in Concert performances in Nyack, NY for years now.

The appeal of the 100 Years of Broadway concert for audience goers is that they get to see many of Broadway's biggest music numbers – with no dialogue, just the great songs.

Performing in the show are several Broadway stars including Brian D'Arcy James (Sweet Smell of Success, Titanic, Carousel), Glory Crampton (Camelot, Carousel, My Fair Lady), Willliam Michals (Beauty and the Beast, Les Miserables, the Scarlet Pimpernel), Jeri Sager (Cats, Les Miserables), Angela Covington (Evita), Danny Zolli (Jesus Christ Superstar, Chess in Concert), Bart Shatto (Les Miserables, the Civil War), Robin Irwin (Dance of the Vampires, Titanic), Roosevelt Credit (Show Boat), Charles Bergell (the Prince and the Pauper) and John Patrick Schutz (MAC Award nominee) just to name a few. More performers are being added on a near daily basis.

 

BroadwayWorld recently had the opportunity to speak with some of the stars about the concert, why many of them have been working with Neil Berg for years now, and what else they're up to.

Angela Covington (Evita, Cindarella):

Angela has been working with Neil since she was 17 (5 years ago) and describes him as a "genuine package. He is a great talent and maestro in his own right, but he really appreciates other talents as well." Having worked with him as a teen and ever since, she credits Neil with treating her like a Broadway veteran. "He cares about his performers, and that is why we all keep coming back…"

Performing in the 100 Year's and Neil's other concerts are now old hat to Covington, who having toward the country in Evita has experience with both. "A concert setting tends to be a little less formal, and a bit more personal, so it really is the best of both worlds. In the end, I think that it's all about the reaction of the audience… You can tell when you've given a good performance by their reaction, and if they applaud – I feel good!"

Danny Zolli (Jesus Christ Superstar, Chess in Concert):

Danny Zolli has been working together with Neil since 1997, while Neil was working on a concert version of Jesus Christ Superstar. "I had just come off the road touring with JCSS and my brother happened to be performing the role of Judas in this concert with Neil. Another friend who was to be playing Jesus in the concert was going to be late, and possibly miss a sound check, rehearsal and a performance so I was asked if I would mind singing just in case this other actor didn't make it, which I did and we've been friends ever since." It's their friendship as well as their working relationship that has kept him working with Neil since then, as well as the appeal of performing in these concerts. "The people who frequent Neil's shows at the Nyack Seaport, and the concert in Tarrytown are getting, dollar for dollar, the most entertaining, professional, fun, light hearted, and quality show that certainly rivals nearly anything out there, be it on Broadway or anywhere else. The caliber of talent of the people who continually perform there can hardly be rivaled and it's truly an amazing experience for those who have never seen one of the shows."

"Performing in a concert setting requires very different skills versus the stage" explains Danny, about his preparation for the night "because in a concert setting it's about implied intimacy without the luxury of delving into a character as the main focus."

Aside from the May 15^th concert, Danny is also hard at work on his next album, and will be doing some concerts with Martin Short later in the summer. While working on those, as well as directing and producing, Danny is "giving back as well" working as the Dean of the Performing Arts Department for a private high school in New York with the next generation of stage performers. His cup truly runneth over.

William Michals (Beauty and the Beast, Les Miserables, the Scarlet Pimpernel):

William has been working with Neil since June of 2001 when he just happened to visit Neil at one of his Seaport concerts, and was drafted up on stage to sing "If I Can Love Her," his Act I finale from Beauty and the Beast. "Every gig with Neil is a fun story," explains William "because he's got great people who really know what they're doing, so with a minimum of preparation (that's a euphemism), we can always throw together a smashing show." Aside from great audiences, what keeps the concert series interesting is that "due to conflicting productions, you're never sure who might be available for a given concert, so there's always an amazing variety of performers to work with, and always a new experience which is an important factor in my growth as an artist."

So far William isn't exactly sure yet what he'll be singing at the concert, other than the general notion that it'll certainly include at least one duet, and the sort of power ballad that audience goers have come to expect from him. "There will be a lot of talent there, and it's definitely a goal to wrap before midnight so we're still working on the specifics!"

Performing in concert is currently a mainstay for Michals who feels that "I have the chance to play to all of my strengths in concert, because I can focus on interpretation and voice, and that's where I live."

 

An added bonus of the Tarrytown concert will be ringing in Mr. Berg's 40th birthday, and what a birthday bash it will be! For more information, and to order tickets, visit http://www.tarrytownmusichall.org, or call 914-631-3390. Tickets sell for $75, $45, and $35.