Broadway's Rising Stars: Their Time

I suppose I should make it clear right from the get-go that as I took my seat at Town Hall for Broadway's Rising Stars, I knew there was no possible way I would write anything the least bit negative about any of the 22 young performers who were hand-picked by Scott and Barbara Siegel to sing an evening of showtunes.  I really have no desire to be the critic who drives some 20-year-old to tears with a bit of constructive criticism, inspiring him or her to angrily vow to the heavens, "Someday I'll show that Michael Dale!"

Fortunately, and as expected, the Siegel eyes and ears for talent scooped up a winning bunch from the classrooms of NYU, AMDA, The New School, Julliard and, that most demanding of educational institutions, New York cabaret's numerous open mic nights.  With music direction from Tedd Firth, vocal coaching from Scott Coulter and some clever staging by director Joel Froomkin (including a very funny opening rendition of "I'm The Greatest Star" where each young hopeful vied for Scott Siegel's attention) the babes in arms merrily rolled along through an impressive and enjoyable evening.

Sure, there are rough edges to be smoothed with more training and experience, and there were those who certainly seemed more promising at this stage than others, but this was a night to savor the joy of performing the extraordinary material of our musical theatre heritage.  Certainly that joy was evident in the performances of Stacie Greenwell ("Waiting For Life"), Paige Hutchison ("The Writing On The Wall") and Chris DiCristo, Jr. ("Beauty School Dropout").

There were women with big belty voices like Dayna Garber ("Gimme, Gimme"), Erica Jacob ("The Man Who Got Away" without amplification), Laura D'Andre ("Maybe I Like It This Way"), Kirby Burgess ("As Long As He Needs Me") and Abby Baum ("Don't Rain On My Parade") and men who exposed their sensitive natures like Jared Weiss ("Younger Than Springtime"), Michael August ("Sailing"), Stephen Bel Davies ("What'll I Do?") and Alexander Arroyo ("Proud Of Your Boy").

There were lovely soprano voices supplied for "Til There Was You" (Stephanie Barnum), "Think Of Me" (Sara Sawyer), "Mister Snow" (Lauren Marcus) and "Love, Look Away" (Elizabeth Daniels), while Natalie Hall mixed soprano trills with jazzy riffs in the comic showcase "The Girl In 14G."

Justin McConnaughy ("They Can't Take That Away From Me") and Mike Cruz ("Dancing Through Life") flashed their charm and Darcie Champagne scored a big song and dance hit with "Le Jazz Hot."  Katie Babb was comically reserve as Mary Poppins in "Practically Perfect" and Reggie Headen conjured up images of Ben Vereen and Sammy Davis, Jr. in an arrangement and staging of "New Man" (a Vereen showstopper from the short-lived Grind) that let him utilize the stage and musicians in flamboyant supper club style.

It'll take a bit of time before we discover which of the young performers truly are "stars of tomorrow," but as the ensemble shined with optimism and camaraderie in the closing choruses of "Our Time" it was clear that just having the talent and dedication to have made it to the stage of New York's Town Hall for one night is a starry enough achievement for now.

Genevieve Rafter Keddy:  Top:  Scott Siegel and Company

Center:  Darcie Champagne

Bottom:  Reggie Headen and Tedd Firth