Sonnet Repertory Theatre (SRT) presented "Sonnet Sings: The Bard," the company's annual benefit event on Monday, November 12 at 6PM at HA! Comedy Club (136 West 46th Street). Performers included two time Tony-nominated actor Terrence Mann and Tony award-winning and Grammy award-nominated composer Duncan Sheik, performing their original songs, in addition to Will Chase, Bradley Dean, Brian D'Arcy James, David Miller, Brandon Wardell, Q Smith and Rachel Ulanet.
Contributing composers included Tony and Drama Desk award-winners Adam Guettel, William Finn, plus Amanda Green and Tom Kitt, MAC and Bistro award-winner Zina Goldrich, MAC Award-nominated Steve Marzullo, Pulitzer Prize, and Drama Desk and Tony award-winning author Marsha Norman.
With "Sonnet Sings: The Bard," for the first time ever as part of its annual fundraiser, SRT debuted original songs, inspired by Shakespeare's cannon. SRT, a non-profit company dedicated to classic theatre for the modern planet, plans to focus its annual benefit gala on exploring classic playwrights' work through original song, relying on future inspiration from such greats as Moliere, Chekhov, Ibsen and Shaw.
"Sonnet Sings: The Bard" featured the musical direction of Kevin
Stites (Les Miserables, The Color
Purple, Fiddler on the Roof, Titanic). The evening was hosted by Drama Desk award-nominated and MAC award-winning actress and
singer, Christine Pedi. Douglas Braverman provided lyrics for a custom
parody sung by Pedi.
Photos by Genevieve Rafter Keddy
Zina Goldrich (upcoming Broadway musical Ever After), Tom Kitt and Amanda Green (High Fidelity)
Christine Pedi (Hostess) with Tiffany Little Canfield
Stephanie Gibson, Will Chase, Amanda Green and Tom Kitt
David Miller of Il Divo and La Boheme and Tiffany Little Canfield
La Boheme reunion Christy Pusz, David Miller and Sarah Joy Kabanuck
Bradley Dean (Walmartopia), Tiffany Little Canfield and Brian D'Arcy James
Co-Artistic Directors of SRT: Todd Loyd and Tiffany Little Canfield announce the start of the show
Christine Pedi starts the show off with a Shakespearean pardoy song of "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend"
Zina Goldrich announces her song "Twenty-Nine" sung by David Miller
David Miller
David Miller
Rachel Ulanet (LoveMusik) sings "Inspired by Sonnet 27" by Steve Marzullo who also accompanied her on the piano
Terrence Mann and Kaitlin Stilwell who performed "The Nightingale" inspired by Romeo and Juliet, written by Terrence Mann and accompanied on the piano by Jerry Korman
Bradley Dean sang "Painting" inspired by Sonnet 102, written by William Finn and accompanied by Kevin Stites
Bradley Dean
Brandon Wardell sang "Summer Day," inspired by Sonnet 18, written by Marsha Norman and accompanied by Kevin Stites
Brandon Wardell and Will Chase
Brandon Wardell and Will Chase
Duncan Sheik who wrote and performed his own song "Inspired by Twelfth Night"
Brian D'Arcy James who sang "XIII: The Lost Sonnet" by Tomm Kitt and Amanda Green accompanied by Kevin Stites
Q Smith (Les Miserables) sang "Love's Fires" Inspired by Sonnet 154B by Adam Guettel. Her back up group was Seth Diggs, Marissa McGowen, Tyson Jennette, Idara Victor, Cortney Wolfson and Aurelia Williams
Q Smith of Les Miserables sang "Love's Fires," inspired by Sonnet 154B, by Adam Guettel. Her back-up group was Seth Diggs, Marissa McGowen, Tyson Jennette, Idara Victor, Cortney Wolfson and Aurelia Williams
Q Smith with Seth Diggs, Marissa McGowen, Tyson Jennette, Idara Victor, Cortney Wolfson and Aurelia Williams
Todd Loyd
Todd Loyd and Tiffany Little Canfield close the show
Todd Loyd and Tiffany Little Canfield close the show
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