Review: SINATRA'S SONGWRITER at Quality Hill Playhouse

J. Kent Barnhart's Quality Hill Playhouse trots out another of his patented cabaret style revues, "Sinatra's Songwriter." This revue celebrates Sammy Cahn, the longtime lyricist and songwriter for legendary crooner Frank Sinatra. If the well loved music of the long Sammy Cahn-Frank Sinatra collaboration pings at your heartstrings, then this cabaret show is for you.

Over a long career, Cahn earned thirty-one Academy award nominations, won four Academy Awards, and wrote five Broadway musicals. Cahn was so prolific that an annual music achievement awards show named after him (The Sammy Awards) continues to be presented more than a quarter century after his passing. Cahn's most frequent collaborator for most of those years was Frank Sinatra. Sammy Cahn was one of the original Rat Packers.

Following his well-loved blueprint, Barnhart and three singers are accompanied by a three-piece combo with Barnhart himself on the grand piano. Barnhart displays his signature voluminous knowledge of his subject and his very droll manner of looking of the great American songbook. The atmosphere is so easy; the audience can be forgiven if they overlook the intense level of research and study that goes into the construction of each of these original musical revues.

On stage for "Sinatra's Songwriter" with Barnhart are QHP frequent veterans Lauren Braton, Lauren Bradshaw, and Joseph Carr. Now in his twenty-third season with Barnhart , Ken Remmert tackles the drums set with his customary skill and quiet amusement. Newcomer Ben Tervort plucks the acoustic bass while visibly amused by Barnhart's occasional good-humored jabs directed at him.

Barnhart has selected twenty eight of Sammy Cahn's most famous and successful compositions presented here in two acts. Among the songs are "Come Fly With Me," "Time After Time," "The Tender Trap," "Love and Marriage," "My Kind Of Town," "Day By Day," Call Me Irresponsible," "Three Coins In A Fountain," before ending with a sing-a-long version of "High Hopes."

These shows are well produced, musically impressive, and delivered in a relaxed and pleasant intimate manner inside the one-hundred-eighty-five seat playhouse with attached event space and bar. The audience enjoys some very good singers and hears a group of seldom-assembled pieces-parts from the great American Songbook.

"Sinatra's Songbook" wraps up the 2017-2018 musical season at Quality Hill Playhouse on July 8 before a special event in early August and the 2018-2019 season beginning in September.

Tickets for "Sinatra's Songwriter" are available online at the website: www.qualityhillplayhouse.com.

Photos courtesy of Quality Hill Playhouse and Larry Levenson.

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