All Singin' All Dancin'
Town Hall, NYC - July 30, 2007
Review by John Kenrick
McKim, Mead and White designed amazingly strong buildings. Nothing else would explain why Town Hall was still standing after All Singin' All Dancin'. The audience did so much roaring that any other theatre would have been at least roofless by midway through the second act. As it is, Scott Siegel closed his first-ever summer season with a dazzling evening of non-stop song and dance talent.
The cast of 34 were all solid Broadway talents, but a few were outstanding:
Aside from directing the entire production, Noah Racey offered some superb moments, particularly in the old George M. Cohan tune "Nothing New Under the Sun."
- John Bolton sang a giddy "Tonight at Eight," and Julia Murney offered a brethlessly funny "Can't Stop Talkin' About Him."
- Beloved Broadway veteran Harvey Evans rocked the house with a classic tap take on "It Ain't No Sin."
- Nancy Anderson sizzled in the forgotten showtune "That Means Nothing to Me."
- Joyce Chittick offered "I've Got You Under My Skin" accompanied by the rhythms of a tap dogs-style male chorus.
- The miraculous Kendrick Jones set off genuine pandemonium with a glorious tribute to Gregory Hines, "Hot Feet."
- Comedic genius Ed Hibbert played a sadistic choreographer causing "Pain."
- Shonn Wiley and Meredith Patterson stopped the show with a snappy (and gleefully hysterical) tap medley of songs no one should ever dance to -- like "Castle on a Cloud" and "And I Am Telling You I Am Not Going."
- Karen Ziemba gave her Tony-winning feet a rest and sang a powerhouse rendition of "The World Goes Round."
Ross Patterson led a solid band with genuine grace, and Scott Siegel's commentary had the wit and warmth that are his trademarks.
This year, Town Hall, City Center and the York Theatre found that there is a tremendous audience for summertime theatrical events. Here's hoping the imagination and funding are found to keep all these new summer programs going in years to come.