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by Sandi Durell

 

 

With a full house of fans and friends at Birdland, the ever-popular Jamie deRoy & friends series celebrated Spring and her new signature program for The Actors Fund: Jamie deRoy & friends Cabaret Initiative – assisting people in the cabaret community who are in need of medical help.

Some of Broadway’s top talents were on the bill as Jamie plied her musical skills and was “(I’m) All Smiles” with specialty songs – two parodies that always get the laughs –  “Duane Reade” (written by Tony Hatch, parody lyrics by Barry Kleinbort) and “Jews Don’t Camp” (written by David Buskin).

The rich voice of Broadway’s longest running Phantom, Howard McGillin, regaled with “What More Do I Need?” (Sondheim) and “Time” – a wistful ballad of nostalgia by Joseph Thalken and Barry Kleinbort.

Something Rotten!‘s Brad Oscar is always on a humor-filled track and, once again, proved his mettle with “Blonde Blues” from the short running The Body Beautiful (Bock and Harnick), followed by the always popular “My Simple Christmas Wish” (David Friedman).

For a comedy interlude, Cory Kahaney (The Jap Show) got lots of laughs with jokes like – – “Mommy, are we members of the Democratic or Republican parties? No, we’re members of Costco!”

Favorite David Friedman is in the midst of writing a new musical with Peter Kellogg, based on Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure, entitled Desperate Measures. With David at the piano,  to sing a couple of songs from that new show was cowboy Christopher DeRosa with “It’s Good to Be Alive,” followed by a duet between DeRosa and the lovely looking/sounding Savannah Brown in “Just For You” (as a dance hall girl) as a final take 3 produced some glorious harmonic tones in what appears to be a new funny up and coming musical comedy. Can’t wait David!

The dramatic vocals of Broadway’s N’Kenge (Motown) wowed with “Celie’s Blues” from The Color Purple and “Dat’s Love” (Carmen Jones).

Currently starring at the Westside Theatre in Cagney, to rave reviews, Robert Creighton sang “It Had to be You” (with a little self trumpet accompaniment), followed by tunes from his current show “Give My Regards to Broadway/Yankee Doodle Dandy” leaving no doubt as to why he’s the perfect Jimmy Cagney!

On piano was the nimble fingers and perfection of Ron Abel (whose new musical Hazel is currently running in Chicago) with Tom Hubbard on bass.

A perfect evening of entertainment helping to raise funds for a great cause!

Photos: Maryann Lopinto

www.BirdlandJazz.com