Spamalot Opens On Broadway and You Are There

From the second the present begins and the beautiful concord begins, you possibly can really feel you might be in for one thing particular. The course and choreography by Warren Carlyle is so highly effective, brimming with coronary heart and soul. His choreography for “How Can I Serve You, Madame?” and “Come to the Fatherland” is ingenious.

Concord: A New Musical relies on the true life story of The Comic Harmonists, who had been internationally well-known. An all-male German shut concord ensemble that carried out between 1928 and 1934 as some of the profitable musical teams in all of Europe earlier than World Warfare II. The group consisted of  Harry (Zal Owen), Erich (Eric Peters), Rabbi (Danny Kornfeld), Bobby (Sean Bell), Chopin ( Blake Roman) and Lesh (Steven Telsey). 3 had been Jewish and Chopin was married to a Jewish girl, Ruth (The fabulous Julie Benko).

Think about being greater than The Beatles, The Monkees, The Jackson 5, The Osmonds, the Backstreet Boys, NSYNC or One Path and being obliterated due to the Nazis. That’s what occurred to The Comic Harmonists. Now due to Concord: A New Musical, written by the legendary Barry Manilow and his longtime collaborator Bruce Sussman their story lives once more.

Of their day The Comic Harmonists made 21 movies and 13 albums.

Rabbi (a exceptional Chip Zein), the group’s solely survivor is tasked with telling and remembering the previous and bringing again to life what was coldly erased.

The primary act breezes together with Rabbi assembly his spouse Mary (Sierra Boggess), The Comic Harmonists forming and steadily turning into well-known, and the approaching of Nazism, culminating with a offered out efficiency at Carnegie Corridor. They’re provided a contract with NBC however, as an alternative, return to Germany as their loyalty is to their nation.

Then the second act begins, which is devastating and sadly predictable if you recognize historical past. Have your Kleenex prepared.

The music by Barry Manilow and lyrics by Bruce Sussman is musical theatre nirvana. The orchestration by Doug Walter and vocal preparations by Manilow and John O’Neil is classy, advanced and satisfying. That is just like the scores that appear forgotten, that made me fall in love with musicals. I can see “This Is Our Time,” “Each Single Day,” and “Stars In The Evening” being sung for years. Don’t go anticipating typical Barry Manilow’s hits —  that is one thing rather more advanced, wealthy and satisfying.

Then there may be the forged. Ms. Boggess floats the soprano notes in “And What Do You See?” and “The place Do You Go” like a nightingale. Ms. Benko, flexes her performing chops and finishes with an excellent belt. Every of the members of the The Comic Harmonists are given an opportunity to shine. Roman is winsome, because the matinee idol and Peters is a standout because the nobleman hiding his previous. Telsey, Owen and Bell, every have their very own profitable moments as effectively. Kornfeld, since he’s the youthful model of Rabbi will get greater than the remaining and handles it fantastically. Additionally Allison Grimes as Josephine Baker does a knock out job in “We’re Goin’ Loco!” however it’s Chip Zein that must be seeing some award love, for the a number of roles he embodies. Sadly his track “Threnody” which was a tour de pressure, at Folksbein is a a lot tamer model on Broadway.

Beowulf Boritt’s scenic design, Linda Cho & Ricky Lurie’s costumes, Jules Fisher & Peggy Eisenhauer’s lighting, Dan Moses Schreier’s sound design and batwin + robin productions inc., video are performed to perfection. Bravo!

In a season the place hate has reared it’s ugly head once more, Concord is a a lot wanted reminder of what can occur.

Concord: A New Musical: Ethel Barrymore Theatre, 243 West forty seventh Avenue.