Review: Jerry Jay Cranford Hosts MUSICAL MONDAY AND TUESDAY in Kansas City

Musical Monday closes with the cast singing "One Day More," which is the amount of time left to catch one of the most phenomenal shows to appear at Musical Theater Heritage at Crown Center. Musical Monday and Tuesday opened on April 20 with Jerry Jay Cranford singing "Les Miz" from Forbidden Broadway. The theme of the two-day musical event is LES MISERABLES and Others. Others included tunes from Chorus Line and Little Shop of Horrors.

Cranford, who appeared in LES MISERABLES on Broadway and with the Broadway Touring Company, has a wonderful voice and excellent comedic timing. His stories of LES MISERABLES from his seven and one-half years of performing the musical brought waves of laughter and applause from the audience. His rendition of "Bring Him Home" from LES MISERABLES was so strong and beautiful that it garnered a standing ovation in Act II. Cranford has appeared locally with the Kansas City Repertory Theatre (KC Rep), The New Theatre, and The Coterie among others.

Stefanie Wienecke who has been absent from the performing arts scene in Kansas City for six months due to a horrific automobile accident returned on Monday to the delight of the audience. Her voice is as beautiful and powerful as it was before the accident and her stage presence is impeccable. Wienecke said she was nervous about returning, but once she took the stage and began to sing she knew she had returned home. Welcome home Stefanie, it is great having one of Kansas City's top performers back where she belongs.

Sara Caroline Kennedy another of Kansas City's up-coming talent showed her true vocal range with the song "Girl in 14G." Overheard from an audience member as Kennedy walked off the stage, "wow, that girl can sing." I have seen her several times and each time she exceeds what I have come to expect from her performances.

Eboni Fondren took the audience by storm in the first act as she sang "Stormy Weather." Fondren recently appeared in LES MISERABLES in Illinois, a production that Cranford directed. In Act II she again charmed the audience with "Nothing" from Chorus Line. She made her acting debut with the KC Rep in Little Shop of Horrors in 2012. She previously appeared with the New Theatre in Hairspray and The Coterie in Bud, Not Buddy.

Michael Dragen gave a humorous performance of "To Excess," a rousing tune about stalkers. Grant Golson, with backup singers Wienecke, Kennedy, and Fondren, entertained the audience with a splendid performance of "Dentist" from Little Shop of Horrors. Taylor Avazpour and Seth M. Jones round out the cast both giving powerful performances. Music Director Jeremy Watson accompanied the cast on piano, Julie Danielson on bass, and Tod Barnard on drums.

Don't be the Most Miserables catch Musical Tuesday's LES MISERABLES at Musical Theater Heritage at Crown Center on April 21. Purchase tickets by calling the box office at 816-221-6987 or online at the Musical Theater Heritage website. Photo by Tim Scott courtesy of Musical Theater Heritage.

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