Nikka Graff Lanzarone and her mother Ilene Graff Photo

From: OVER HERE! - Back with the Beat at The Triad

On Monday night, Over Here! The Big Band Musical was back in New York at The Triad Theatre for the first time since its original 1974 Broadway production and the joint was jumpin'. Veteran's Day proved to be the perfect time to revive this beloved celebration of the American spirit and optimism that defined the 1940's. To make it even more worthwhile, a portion of the proceeds from the evening was donated to Vietnam Veterans of America. Over Here! is one of this journalist's favorite musicals, so I was thrilled to have it back on the boards. Under the razor-sharp direction of Will Nunziata, who is quickly becoming a go-to director, this feel-good show sparkled and shined like a freshly polished diamond. It featured a stellar cast of 19, plus an 11-piece swing band, under musical director extraordinaire Blake Allen. Choreographer Andrew Black used every inch of space to give us one eye-popping musical number after another.