Lexington Park, MD – The Three Notch Theatre currently presents a Second Stage production of A Night on Broadway: Sight, Sound and Song, featuring songs from popular Broadway musicals both old and new. The show has been specially written by Newtowne Players veterans Thomas Esposito and Diane Trautman with Beth Sanford as Stage Manager/Co-Producer, and with lighting designed by Tom McCarthy.
This concert-version evening of song will run Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from May 27 through May 29 with Friday and Saturday shows at 8 p.m. and the Sunday matinee at 3:30 p.m.
Thomas Esposito (Director) has been involved in community theatre for over 15 years. Since joining NTP at the Three Notch Theatre in 2007, he has acted, directed, produced, stage-managed, crewed, built sets, run lights and sound, handled the Box Office, and participated on various committees. In his Director’s Program notes, Thom says that it’s taken 6 years to get this current production on stage. As a native New Yorker born and raised in the shadow of Broadway, Thom thought this show would be a natural fit for NTP. He credits his marvelous cast along with Diane Trautman and Beth Sanford for bringing this idea to life.
Diane Trautman (Music Director) completed her undergraduate work at the New England Conservatory of Music and at St. Mary’s College of Maryland, and her graduate work at Westminster Choir College and at Towson University. She retired from St. Mary’s County Public Schools after teaching choral music and drama at Margaret Brent Middle School for 33 years. She has been Director of Music at the Church of the Ascension in Lexington Park for over 40 years and she also directs a Barbershop Chorus at CSM. Her Program Notes state that she considered it a challenge to be able to create a concert of theater music, continuing on to say that there were literally thousands of songs that could have been chosen. The ones heard onstage capture the range of emotions that she feels a Broadway show should portray and she credits the singers and instrumentalists with the final result. Diane wrote all of the orchestrations for the flute, violin, bass, and percussion for this show – an admirable talent!
The Musicians are Diane Trautman, Piano; Tommy Ray Chedester, Bass; Ed Winson Delmoro, Drums; Erin Moss, Flute; and Mike Cahall, Violin.
The Singers are Soprano Rachel Baylor, Tenor Montel Butler, Baritone Michael Cahall, Baritone Shawn Davidson, Tenor Erich Engel, Soprano Michelle Ebert Freire, Soprano Katie Hutchison and Soprano Nicole Rongione. Each singer brings his/her own unique style, vocal technique, and interpretation to the songs on the playbill. The songs are performed without dialogue in-between; each song title is reflected in the projections on a screen behind the musicians, announcing the next number. The singers wear walking mikes and often make entrances and exits directly through the audience.
The Songs – The evening opened with the Company performing “Magic To Do” from Pippin, and continued with Michelle and Rachel singing the “Stepsisters’ Lament” from Cinderella. Montel performed “Corner of the Sky” (Pippin), followed by Nicole’s “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again” (Phantom of the Opera). Mike channeled his very best Robert Goulet in the timeless ballad “If Ever I Would Leave You” from Camelot. Michelle performed “Adelaide’s Lament” (Guys and Dolls) with charm and a “poifect” Brooklyn accent. Montel revealed a smooth vocal line, precise diction, and well-balanced extremes of his vocal register as he sang “Lily’s Eyes” from The Secret Garden with Erich. Erich’s rich vocal quality is especially evident on his sustained notes. Mike Cahall played a beautiful violin obbligato for this piece.
Rachel gave a strong emotional interpretation in “On My Own” (Les Miserables), followed by Erich and Nicole teasingly attempting to out-do each other while they sang “Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better” from Annie Get Your Gun. Shawn stepped into the audience from the edge of the stage and employed good breath control on the long phrases of “You’ll Never Walk Alone” from Carousel – always an audience favorite. Mike gave a spirited rendition of “With a Little Bit of Luck” from My Fair Lady supported by a scene-stealing song and dance backup chorus. Montel and Nicole revisited Phantom of the Opera in “All I Ask of You” demonstrating a smooth blending of voices – Montel revealed his well-produced glorious vocal range which was an excellent match for Nicole’s soaring soprano. Katie was afforded the opportunity to show off her sparkling vocal projection as she and Mike sang “Together” (Gypsy). Shawn returned to the stage with his direct emotional delivery for “Beautiful City” from Godspell. Then Erich and Nicole made entrances from opposite sides of the audience singing “What You Mean To Me” from Finding Neverland, marking the end of Act I. Continuing with the tuneful reminiscing down memory lane, Act II opened with Rachel and Company in “Sit Down, You’re Rocking the Boat” (Guys and Dolls). This song highlighted Rachel’s exuberant singing with the choreographed Company as back-up (listen for Montel!). Erich was next up in one of the standout performances of the entire evening with his solo “Music of the Night” (Phantom of the Opera). His interpretation might almost make an audience forget Broadway’s Michael Crawford in the Phantom role. He displayed his enviable vocal technique, making this song memorable through pianissimo effects (listen to his spot-on vowel placement in the words “soar” and “be”) and his intelligent use of crescendos and decrescendos; his ending high note was mesmerizing. Ms. Trautman’s solo piano accompaniment on this song was particularly exquisite.
Nicole and Rachel made up the dynamic Galinda-Elphelba duo and transported the audience into the world of enchantment with “What Is This Feeling?” (Wicked), and speaking of “enchantment,” Michelle’s ballad, “Someone To Watch Over Me” from Oh, Kay!, was sincerely and lovingly sung. Montel and the male chorus gave a lively rendition of “Heart” from Damn Yankees (and you can easily hear Montel’s well-focused long “oh” sound as he sings the word “hope”). Nicole exhibited her lyric soprano on “Fly, Fly Away” from Catch Me If You Can, followed by Katie and the Girls in “I Feel Pretty” from West Side Story (with lovely high notes). Montel was then back onstage for a tour de force poignant interpretation of “Bring Him Home” from Les Miserables, showcasing floating, sustained pianissimos on his high notes. The pianissimos weren’t just floating – they were stunning – as he spun out his final note. Rachel entered next through the audience and sang “I Cain’t Say No” (Oklahoma) with a perky vocal projection aimed straight at theatregoers. Shawn and Michelle were delightful in “You’re the Top” (Anything Goes) through tons of personality and whimsical staging. Returning once again to Les Miserables, Katie did not disappoint with her dramatic delivery of “I Dreamed a Dream.” Shawn and Mike made a good match in “All For the Best” (Godspell), and Erich demonstrated his mastery of vocal dynamics as he sang “Being Alive” (Company), communicating directly with the audience. Michelle and Katie took their turns as Wicked heroines in the winning duet “For Good,” making entrances from the audience. For the Finale, the entire Company came together once again for “Seasons of Love” (Rent), which also served as the Curtain Call.
The show returns with the same cast for three final performances this weekend. Let them entertain YOU!
Next up for the Newtowne Players at Three Notch Theatre is Bye Bye Birdie by Michael Stewart, Charles Strouse and Lee Adams, directed by Dawn Weber which will run from July 8 through 31. NTP Artistic Director Jennifer Carnahan says to be sure to catch the next Second Stage Production, William Shakespeare’s The Tempest, to be performed in partnership with Historic St. Mary’s City August 12, 13, 18, 19 and 20 by the Old State House in Historic St. Mary’s City. (Second Stage productions typically have a limited number of performances of 2 weekends instead of 3, and run Fridays, Saturdays, and Sunday (with no Thursday performances).
For more information you may contact www.newtowneplayers.org or call 301-737-5447.
