Review & Photo Coverage: Shoshana Bean Bares Her 'Soul' At The Ford Amphitheatre

by Amber Romina Cassell

Over the years, Broadway star and recording artist Shoshana Bean has become synonymous with the word "soulful". Equipped with the effortlessness of Mariah Carey, the power of Whitney Houston, and the attitude of Beyoncé Knowles, it's no wonder her first solo album "Superhero" went to #5 on iTunes' R&B charts (making it the only independent album to make the top 100). She's even performed on the Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards, singing a duet with Brian McKnight at an evening honoring Aretha Franklin, which prompted the audience to erupt in a standing ovation before the song was even over.

Bean rose to stardom in the Broadway community as the "Soulful Elphaba", putting her own unique style and spin on Idina Menzel's presumably untouchable role.  With a reputation for riffing her head off and singing all the way to the rafters, Bean herself admits that she's earned a reputation as the "pop, belty go-to girl".

So naturally, when it was announced that on June 11th, 2009 Shoshana Bean would be doing a tribute concert to Barbra Streisand at Los Angeles' Ford Amphitheatre (the first of three concerts in Upright Cabaret's "Wicked" Summer Nights series), eyebrows were raised. Broadway's Princess of Soul taking on classic Streisand? It was a concept that drew audiences in, perhaps a bit skeptical, but definitely intrigued.

What they were treated to was a star turn unlike any other. From the opening notes of "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever", all of the Streisand purists in the audience were put at ease. Bean can do it all: the pitch, the warble, and the inflections. It was apparent from the outset that Bean had the ability to pull off the evening.

Now, being "able" to sing Streisand is one thing...making Streisand look effortless is quite another, and Bean didn't even seem to break a sweat. With a voice ranging all the way up to an A flat above a high C and a fierce belt; ballad's like "Evergreen" and standards like "Cry Me a River" fit perfectly with her voice.

With the help of director Billy Porter and musical director Gerald Sternbach, the first half of the concert -comprised entirely of Barbra's music- was filled with moments that were charming, hysterical, and positively memorable. It was a fitting tribute to Streisand while still remaining uniquely "Shoshana". Collapsing to the ground after speeding (flawlessly) through "The Minute Waltz", serenading her puggle Mimi with "You'll Never Know", and a remarkable medley featuring "Second Hand Rose" and "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?" (using a scarf as a prop) were just a few of countless highlights. And again, that was just the first half.

The second half of the evening was a star stepping out Barbra's spotlight, and into her own. With a trio and two backup singers, Bean performed more stripped down, organic versions of the songs she wrote for her album "Superhero", along with a couple more Streisand favorites. Shoshana Bean proved that she is the embodiment of "soulful", not just as a singer, but as a performer. Watching her, it becomes more than apparent that this isn't just someone who sings the music...she feels it. The emotion emanates in everything that she does, from the way she moves to the expression in her eyes. And it's infectious!

Billy Porter once again proved why he is one of the most surprising skillful directors working in the theater community. His staging and choreography of Bean and her backup singers Jacqueline Arnold and Lindsey Rose (aka. "Sho Girls") during songs "Can't Nobody", "Naomi" and "Good Enough" were some of the most exciting and captivating for a female trio. And with the vocal arrangements and musical accompaniment of musical director Matt Cusson, Bean's tearful rendition of "The Way We Were" brought down the house.

It was a spectacular evening, one that was full of surprises, and yet not so surprising. The Upright Cabaret team (producers Chris Isaacson & Shane Scheel) have been the West Coast's premiere concert promoters for the past four years; showcasing Broadway's best and brightest. And Shoshana Bean is certainly both the best and the brightest.

As an artist, Shoshana Bean has proven time and time again that she has the ability to shine and make any project her own; whether in the background of Hairspray, wearing green skin in Wicked, baring her own skin (she is set to replace Melanie B in  Jerry Mitchell's Peepshow in Las Vegas), singing Streisand, or songs she has written herself. No matter what she does, she is bound to invest everything she has into it -body, voice, and heart- and that, dear friends, is why they say "the girl has soul".

For news on Shoshana, visit her website www.shoshanabean.com, and for more info about Upright Cabaret's "Wicked" Summer Nights including Eden Espinosa - ME (July 24) and Stephen Schwartz - Making Good (Aug 23), please visit www.uprightcabaret.com/events.

Photos by Tony DiMaio at www.ipartypix.com

 

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