Robert W Schneider, Jennifer Ashley Tepper
Broadway’s Broadhurst Theatre turns 100 on September 27, and Feinstein’s/54 Below cabaret mark the milestone with “an evening of songs and stories, performed by the performers who grace the Broadhurst stage. Jennifer Ashley Tepper ( The Untold Stories of Broadway) and Behind the Curtain’s Robert W Schneider shared trivia and anecdotes about the theatre that has been home to such legends as Daniel Radcliffe, Nathan Lane, Elaine Stritch, Stephen Sondheim, and Neil Simon.
Carole Demas photo Maryann Lopinto
Christiane Noll photo Maryann Lopinto
Putting on two shows the 7pm performance included Carole Demas the original Sandy and Ilene Kristen from Grease, Wayne Cilento (Dancin’) and Christiane Noll (Ragtime).
Eli Bolin photo Maryann Lopinto
The 9:30pm performance started with Eli Bolin (Found, Volley Girls) and Mike Pettry original song, comparing brockworth sausages to the Broadhurst Theatre.
Jason Veasey, Paris Alexander Nesbitt photo Maryann Lopinto
Jason Veasey (The Lion King) and Paris Alexander Nesbitt (The Book of Mormon) brought back Fats Waller’s “The Ladies Who Sing With The Band.”
Stephen Cole and the doll from Flahooley photo Maryann Lopinto
Ruby Shadley photo Maryann Lopinto
A graduate from AMDA Ruby Shadley, brought to mind the dulcet tones of Barbara Cook as she sang from Flahooley.
Alice Ripley photo Maryann Lopinto
Brian Michael Henry, performed a song called “The Road To Paradise” from Maytime by Siegmund Romberg which openend in 1917.
Alice Ripley (Next To Normal) tried to recreate “Raunchy” from 110 in The Shade, but in my mind Inga Swenson from the album can not be beat.
Rob Maitner photo Maryann Lopinto
Rob Maitner (Urinetown) followed.
Walter Bobbie “mooning from Grease making a video appearance.
Lewis J. Stadlen photo Maryann Lopinto
Lewis J. Stadlen (The Front Page, The Odd Couple) recalled stories of productions past.
Rachael Lily Rosenbloom and Don’t You Ever Forget It…with Anastacia McCleskey and Boonie Milligan photo Maryann Lopinto
One of the best moments of the show was a song by one night wonder Rachael Lily Rosenbloom and Don’t You Ever Forget It…Anastacia McCleskey (Waitress), proved she was a force to be reckoned with and kicked it out of the park as did Bonnie Milligan (Kinky Boots), and cast members Kathryn Allison (Aladdin), Charlie Franklin (The Secret Garden), Kevin Michael Murphy (The Book of Mormon), Jason Veasey (The Lion King), and Natalie Walker (Puffs the Play).
A trivia contest was done by a video with Tony Award winner Jason Alexander (Seinfeld, Broadway Bound).
Nathan Gardner photo Maryann Lopinto
Nathan Gardner (Big Fish) sang a rather high “Love Heals Everything” from Aspects of Love.
Jodi Stevens photo Maryann Lopinto
Jodie Stevens photo Maryann Lopinto
Jodi Stevens brought back two songs from Jason Robert Brown’s Urban Cowboy.
Don Scardino (Godspell, Lennon) and Mozart in the Jungle’s John Miller sang a haunting “Imagine” from Lennon. Turns out Miller puts together the bands for Broadway.
Judy Kaye photo Maryann Lopinto
Sarah Charles Lewis photo Maryann Lopinto
Judy Kaye sang from Mamma Mia! and Sarah Charles Lewis from Tuck Everlasting sang a very pitch “Journey To The Past” from Anastasia.
Anita Gillette, Jim Brochu photo Maryann Lopinto
Anita Gillette, Jim Brochu photo Maryann Lopinto
Anita Gillette, Jim Brochu photo Maryann Lopinto
But the highlight of the night was birthday babies Anita Gillette (Cabaret, Kelly) and Jim Brochu (Zero Hour) who showed what a Broadway star is like on “The Pineapple Song” and “Married” from Cabaret.
Anita Gillette, Jim Brochu photo Maryann Lopinto
Anita Gillette, Jim Brochu photo Maryann Lopinto
Anita Gillette, Jim Brochu photo Maryann Lopinto
Anita Gillette, Jim Brochu photo Maryann Lopinto
Anita Gillette, Jim Brochu photo Maryann Lopinto
Happy Birthday Broadhurst Theatre, we will be honoring you September 27th.
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