Review: The Sanderson Sisters Are Back in I PUT A SPELL ON YOU

Witchery is happening in Manhattan and we just happen to be soaking up every spooky moment as the Sanderson Sisters made their much-anticipated cabaret return last night at (le) Poisson Rouge. I Put A Spell On You: The Return of The Sanderson Sisters was everything Halloween and Broadway lovers alike could have hoped for. Full of laugh out loud moments, hip hop dancing, special guest appearances and a witches medley for the ages. This cabaret was true comical absurdity at its finest.

Now in it's third year, conceived and directed by Jay Armstrong Johnson, the evening began with a hyped crowd dressed to the nines in Halloween garb being transported back into the infamous film Hocus Pocus with the show stopping opening number I Put A Spell On You lead by Jay Armstrong Johnson himself as Winifred Sanderson. From there, the team created a witty premise conjuring villains through out the ages to help the Sanderson Sisters capture the ever-evasive children with whom the plot surrounds. From over the top hand crafted costumes by DW Withrow to the full-fledged choreographed thriller moments the concert quickly became one for the Books. Lending itself to spotlight the incredible line up of Broadway favorites including Amanda Williams Ware, Allison Robinson, Major Attaway, Krysta Rodriguez, Andy Mientus, Mykal Kilgore, Ali Ewoldt, Ahmad Simmons, Natalie Joy Johnson, Marissa Rosen, Shawna Hamic, Nick Rashad Burroughs, Zak Reynolds, Natalie Hinds, Cody Jenkins, Kathryn Priest and Maddox Martin blew the audience away number after number with creatively stimulating arrangments and music direction by Benjamin Rauhala.

Filled with stand out moments, the concert highlighted the comedic chops of Ali Ewoldt playing the lovable Pinocchio by distracting the sisters with her lyric soprano and Major Attaway in his sultry rendition of Oogey Boogey from The Nightmare Before Christmas. Then came the "master" himself Mykal Kilgore to tear the house down with his jaw dropping performance of This Will Be (An Everlasting Love) that brought the crowd to its feet. And just when you thought the night could not get hotter the minute Krysta Rodriguez and Andy Mientus walked onto the stage they tantalized the audience with sexy chemistry during their Vampire duet Twisted Teeth. But the most memorable moment came when "Brett Kavanagh" took to the stage to sing And I am Telling You...I will be confirmed with back up vocals from Handmaidens, red cloak and white headdress' in tact.

Throughout the all-together humorous and enchanting night, Jay Armstrong Johnson showcased his creative genius time and time again, not to mention his vocal talents in the Witch's Medley featuring number such as The Last Midnight and No Good Deed. This evening remind us why he is rightfully among the Broadway elite.

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