Concert Night
We Were There: Tracie Thoms’ ‘Seasons’ (Cabaret)
On July 28th (and we are sure she followed suit on July 29th), star of stage, television, and film Tracie Thoms, tore the roof off of Rockwell Table & Stage here in L.A. with her concert ‘Seasons,’ directed by Tony Award winner Billy Porter. From start to finish, she took us on a musical journey through love. The ups, the downs. The good, the bad. Happy love, and not so happy love.
With a diverse set list including songs like Black Is The Color (Of My True Loves Hair), Let’s Stay Together, Ordinary People, For All We Know, and Don’t Fall In Love With A Dreamer, Tracie wrapped her audience up in LOVE, and set sail! She effortlessly maneuvered through the “rocky waters” of love, and reveled in the “smooth sailing” moments of love.
Tracie’s voice is one of a kind. She definitely needs to be back on Broadway in ANOTHER musical! STAT.
Bottom line: Tracie is electric.
Her special guest was none other than “Mr. Entertainment” himself, Wayne Brady. After introducing him, Tracie left the stage and Wayne took over. His command of the stage is to be marveled at. The way he interacts with his audience is mesmerizing. He’s funny (hysterical, really!), sweet, and that voice!!!
After two songs, Wayne relinquished control of the stage back to Tracie, and when I say mama showed OUT in her next outfit, I mean MAMA SHOWED OUT IN HER NEXT OUTFIT!!!
Tracie took to the stage again in a white backless number that would’ve put Tina Turner to shame!
She and Wayne sang a little bit together, and their chemistry was BEYOND hot!
After a few more soul-stirring numbers Tracie closed the show with a Chaka Khan hit. Yes! A Chaka Khan hit! Tracie brought the house down with ‘Ain’t Nobody’!!
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMdDPDfQs9U?feature=player_detailpage]
She left the stage to thunderous applause, after sending us ALL in.
But she wasn’t done. A few moments later she returned and declared, “I couldn’t do that to y’all!” And the band launched into the familiar sounds of ‘Seasons of Love,’ and Tracie invited us all to sing with her and Wayne!
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dT6f6mz6VPI?feature=player_detailpage]
What a beautiful moment to have experienced. To have been in the company of artists like Tracie Thoms, Wayne Brady, Valarie Pettiford, Yvette Nicole Brown, Ahmed Best, Kiki Shepard, and Glendon Palmer was an honor.
Tracie Thoms is ALL of this, and indeed THE SH*T. 😉
Someone uploaded the concert to YouTube! Check it out HERE!
Hailey Kilgore Photo via IBDB
Tony & Grammy Nominee Hailey Kilgore will make her solo concert debut at Feinstein’s/54 Below this month! The Once On This Island star makes her debut following the closing of the Tony-winning revival, and she’s clearly got more stories to tell!
The concert entitled Mirrors is a night of celebration including the music that has influenced her meteoric rise. On January 30th 9:30 pm she shares her personal life story as a young girl to a young woman on the Broadway stage.
The 19-year-old vocalist has a set list that ranges from Jason Robert Brown to Alicia Keys. One thing we can say is that this show will sell out! So, stop waiting for life to begin and mark your calendars.
Broadway may go dark on Mondays, but Broadway Black stars were still shining all over New York City last night.
First up was the New York POPS Underground performance. Formerly known as “Cabaret Evening,” Underground is the intimate offering of New York Pops orchestra. Hosted at the infamous Feinstein’s/54 Below the benefit supports NY Pops music education program, PopsEd. Last night’s special guests were Tony Yazbeck and Tony Award nominee Montego Glover. The ever joyful Glover performed a few musical favorites including “I Loves You Porgy,” “I Dreamed a Dream,” and a jazzy rendition of the Memphis delight, “Someday.”
Before recognizing Queens P.S. 175 Principal Patricia Cooper as the first honoree of the NY PopsEd initiative, Glover shared, ” I know from experience that music has the power to save, to guide, to inspire. I am standing as living proof that music has done exactly that.”
Glover and Yazbeck closed the show with an exciting duet of “Feelin’ Good” featuring Tony’s incredible tapping skills and Montego effortlessly belting notes that only dogs can hear. Hate that we couldn’t share it with you, but we were just too busy being entertained to capture it on film!
Next, it was down to the West Village to see Darling, a developmental piece by Ryan Scott Oliver. Following the smooth Nicholas Christopher (Hamilton) as Peter and the vocally stunning Kerstin Anderson as Wendy “Darling,” this abstract musical is a contemporary telling of Peter Pan like you’ve never imagined it before.
Producers, Motown Choreographer Warren Adams and Hamilton star Brandon Victor Dixon, were on hand to introduce the show to an enthusiastic audience at the hip Le Poisson Rouge. The brilliant musical arrangement told a captivating story while highlighting the young cast’s musical aptitude and artistry. Vocal standouts included leads Christopher and Anderson, singing for the GODS for the duration of the show, the Lost Boys, with their soulful, sassy musical quips, and Les Miserables vet Brennyn Lark, taking sexy to a WHOLE other level. The recorded event concluded with a thunderous standing ovation from the audience, confirming this show is exactly what young theater lovers want. Keep an eye out for this one. It’s gonna be big!
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