100 Years of Broadway
By Joseph N. Feinstein
Nostalgia and joyous memories filled the Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall Sunday night, April 22, as Neil Berg brought his four-piece band and five fantastic vocalists to perform a bevy of musical comedy favorites from the past one hundred years for one night only.
Taking center stage with Mr. Berg was Ron Bohmer, late of Phantom fame; Rita Harvey, who appeared with Bohmer in Phantom, and recently married Berg and had their son, Lucas; Ray McLeod, whose most recent role was Wreck in Wonderful Town; Capathia Jenkins, of Dreamgirls fame, who sang "And I Am Telling You" from that show to a standing ovation; and Erick Buckley, whose antics kept everyone laughing during his portrayal of Sancho Panza in Man of La Mancha while McLeod sang the Quixote role.
The audience settled back to listen to solid voices offering the music from twenty-six different shows...usually the favorites and the songs most requested. Berg, a pianist, closed out the first act with an original composition dedicated to his grandmother who was a huge inspiration to him. The brainchild of the show, Berg has been taking it throughout the country these past three years. Judging from the long queues lined up to buy his CD,
$ucce$$ is in evidence here. I wouldn't be surprised if this becomes an annual treat for Los Angelenos down the line. Who couldn't appreciate these golden voices singing other songs from other hit shows?
The program ended with a rousing "Seasons of Love" from Rent. The contented audience rose to their feet for a three-minute, standing ovation.
100 Years of Broadway Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall Orange County Performing Arts Center 600 Town Center Drive Costa Mesa, CA 92626
(714) 556-2787 www.PhilharmonicSociety.org
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