Broadway's Rising Stars II

The indefatigable Siegels, Scott and (unbilled) wife Barbara, signal denizens of Town Hall, have come up with the second annual Broadway's Rising Stars concert in their capacious habitat. Recent graduates of music or musical-theater programs are picked to perform one solo and participate in several group numbers. They come from all over America, some even from abroad.

The snazzy band of four was savvily led by John Fischer, who also handled most of the arrangements. Emily Skinner and Scott Coulter directed, Vibecka Dahle supplied the token choreography, and Scott Siegel provided the informative narration as well as one droll bit of pantomimed participation.

The audience was riotously receptive, producing enough clapping and clamor for three times the size of the large hall. No spectator could have left unsatisfied by at least a good portion of the program, and many might well have happily stayed for more. Several performers staunchly sang unmiked, to the delight of partisans of the naked human voice.

I cannot deal here with every single performer or with multiple performances, but those whom I do discuss represent my idiosyncratic choices that, needless to say, do not determine who will scale the heights of Broadway and who will, at best, remain in the foothills. Here we go, in alphabetic order.

Mark Cajigao did a careful, creditable job with "Her Face" from Carnival. If physical resemblance to a well-known drama critic helps, he should certainly capitalize on it.

Dawn Cantwell, a delicately slender redhead with the show's best legs and persuasive pipes, sang "Maybe I Like It This Way" from the Andrew Lippa Wild Party. Although she overdid the waterworks and underdid the arc of the song's story, a little more experience and directing should turn her in a surefire winner.

Bouncy Jenna Dallocco lived up vocally to her canary yellow dress (who chose the clothes?) as she offered a spirited belt/mix rendition of Maltby and Shire's "I Think I May Want to Remember Today," in a fashion to be remembered well beyond today.

Britisher Jon Fletcher, with ample wavy hair crowning a friendly face, and a powerful, well-controlled voice, gave a highly energetic performance of "The Streets of Dublin" from A Man of No Importance, which should have left even the authors, Ahrens and Flaherty, smilingly contented.

Blond F. Michael Haynie has an engagingly boyish persona, and was able to do full justice to a rather idiosyncratic version of "Let It Sing" from Violet.

[IMG:R]Lucy Horton, of formidably imposing aspect handy for dramatic roles, did a pleasingly unmiked "How Could I Ever Know" from The Secret Garden. Gifted with a clear, well-focused voice, she also made impressive dramatic choices.

As the unjustly accused protagonist on the witness stand (from Parade), Joshua Isaacs did some compelling acting, without neglecting the exacting vocal demands of "It's Hard to Speak My Mind." Nice, unmiked work.

I was heartily amused by Greg Kenna in "A Miracle Would Happen" from The Last Five Years. He has, beyond the vocal requirements, genuine presence and a solid comedic talent, and moves very well. Bravo!

Elena Mindlina from Russia, with a slight but charming foreign accent, was riveting in her English-language rendition of Edith Piaf's "If You Love Me"—somewhat less so in some interpolated French. She has that shattering Slavic soul pouring out from the depths of her being, and could move mountains, let alone people.

Seth A. Peterson, exuding sincerity with Craig Carnelia's "What You Call a Dream," is an unassuming specialist in heartwarming likableness, a quality not to be sneezed at.

Danielle Simone Roundtree gave a masterly (mistressly?) interpretation of "Daddy Squeeze Me" from Aint Misbehavin', which, slinkily acted and suggestively sung, proved the sexiest number in the show. A comer if ever there was one.

The same holds true for the talented Malia Tippets, by far the prettiest performer. Though saddled with a relatively unyielding number, "I'm All I've Got" from Bravo Giovanni, this was an "I" whose "All" was a feast for the eye, the ear, and the heart.

Stephanie Torns, though not quite a natural-born sexpot, did a fine acting and singing job with "A Call from the Vatican" from Nine. This was clearly hard work for her, which she carried off with admirable unsweatiness.

I do hope that talent scouts, either witnesses or going on reliable hearsay, will pay heed. It was a highly enjoyable evening and may the star of these rising stars keep rising.