Photo Coverage: Upright Cabaret's 'SWEET SOUL MUSIC' electrifies with Davis, Dixon and Odom at La Mirada Theatre
By: LA News Desk Feb. 03, 2011
On Sun Jan 30, 2011, La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts and Chris Isaacson presented Upright Cabaret's second American Icon Series concert entitled "Sweet Soul Music" starring American Idol star & Grammy Award-nominee Frenchie Davis (Rent, Ain't Misbehavin'), Tony Award-nominee Brandon Victor Dixon (The Color Purple, The Scottsboro Boys) and Leslie Odom, Jr. (Rent).
Celebrating the music of three music icons who helped to popularize soul music in the U.S., this American Icon Series concert featured the hits of Marvin Gaye sung Odom, Ray Charles sung Dixon and Gladys Knight sung Davis. The 4-piece band complete with a beautiful trio of back-up singers was masterfully lead by Music Director Todd Schroeder. Highlights included Odom's sweetly crooned 'Mona Lisa' and introspective 'Mercy Mercy Me', Dixon's electrifying 'Night Time Is The Right Time' and passionate 'Georgia On My Mind', and Davis' crushing 'Neither One of Us' and finally her lovely 'Midnight Train To Georgia' in which Davis invited the audience to "be her Pips" resulting in a charming rendition of Gladys Knight's 1973 #1 hit which brought the La Mirada audience to their feet.
The sold-out crowd was also treated to special performances by NBC's Perfect Couples star Nikki Robinson, percussionist Ameenah Kaplan and Stevie Wonder vocalist Dejah Gomez (The Lion King).
Upright Cabaret returns to La Mirada Theatre on April 17 with "I Want To Hold Your Hand" featuring the music of The Beatles.
For the 2010-2011 season, Upright Cabaret's American Icon Series has scheduled performances at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts in La Mirada, CA and Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza in Thousand Oaks, CA. For more information, visit www.UprightCabaret.com
Photos by Tony DiMaio
Frenchie Davis performs in Upright Cabaret's "Sweet Soul Music" at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
Frenchie Davis performs in Upright Cabaret's "Sweet Soul Music" at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
Frenchie Davis performs in Upright Cabaret's "Sweet Soul Music" at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
Frenchie Davis and Todd Schroeder perform in Upright Cabaret's "Sweet Soul Music" at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
Tony Award-nominee Brandon Victor Dixon performs in Upright Cabaret's "Sweet Soul Music" at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
Tony Award-nominee Brandon Victor Dixon, Charlie Charles, Heather Donavon and Dejah Gomez perform in Upright Cabaret's "Sweet Soul Music" at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
Tony Award-nominee Brandon Victor Dixon performs in Upright Cabaret's "Sweet Soul Music" at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
Tony Award-nominee Brandon Victor Dixon performs in Upright Cabaret's "Sweet Soul Music" at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
Dejah Gomez performs in Upright Cabaret's "Sweet Soul Music" at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
Leslie Odom, Jr. performs in Upright Cabaret's "Sweet Soul Music" at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
Leslie Odom, Jr. performs in Upright Cabaret's "Sweet Soul Music" at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
Leslie Odom, Jr. performs in Upright Cabaret's "Sweet Soul Music" at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
Nikki Robinson and Leslie Odom, Jr. perform in Upright Cabaret's "Sweet Soul Music" at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
Nikki Robinson performs in Upright Cabaret's "Sweet Soul Music" at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
Brandon Victor Dixon, Frenchie Davis and Leslie Odom, Jr. perform in Upright Cabaret's "Sweet Soul Music" at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
Leslie Odom, Jr. and Nikki Robinson backstage at Upright Cabaret's "Sweet Soul Music"
Brandon Victor Dixon and Dejah Gomez backstage at Upright Cabaret's "Sweet Soul Music"
Brandon Victor Dixon, Michelle Duffy and Todd Schroeder backstage at Upright Cabaret's "Sweet Soul Music"
Charlie Charles, Nikki Robinson, Leslie Odom, Jr, Frenchie Davis, Brandon Victor Dixon, Dejah Gomez and Heather Donavon backstage at Upright Cabaret's "Sweet Soul Music"
Upright Cabaret's American Icon Series concert "Sweet Soul Music" at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
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