Hello Beautiful People,
Today was one of those magic New York days. Not only did I have the pleasure of seeing the closing matinée of bare at New World Stages, (we’ll get to that in a different post), but I had the unbelievable honor and privilege of attending Once Upon A Time in NYC 2 at Joe’s Pub.
It. Was. Absolutely. Positively. Fantastic.
Musical Magic.
New York City Musical Magic, and you can’t get much better than that.
But once again, I’m getting ahead of myself. Let me refresh your memories.
Once Upon A Time in NYC, is the outstanding creation of the unbelievably talented Jennifer Ashley Tepper and Caleb Hoyer. If you are not familiar with these two, you best rectify that right. Now. If there is one thing to be said about this show, besides the immense amount of talent that was on the stage & behind the scenes, it’s that Tepper & Hoyer are dynamic hosts, for their passion and dedication to the world of musical theatre is just…infectious. It’s outstanding. It will put a smile on your face, and it will make you consider taking piano classes and putting pen to paper.
But again, I digress.
Once Upon a Time in NYC 2 was the second concert that Jennifer Ashley Tepper and Caleb Hoyer produced, you can find the soundtrack to the first concert right here. This concert showcased original songs from emerging and established performers in New York City who are not native New Yorkers. They hail from London and Australia and Kansas City and San Fransisco and The Jersey Shore…the list goes on. And although their birthplaces are all indeed different, their end destinations have all been New York City. These songs were about people who changed their view of good ol’ NYC and were written by David Are, David Austin, Burt Bacharach & Steven Sater, Anna Ty Bergman & Alexander Sage Oyen, Nick Blaemire, Jeff Blumenkrantz, Joseph Church, Michael Finke, Francesca Garrard, Amanda Green, Maribeth Graham & Dana P. Rowe, Doug Katsaros & Amanda Yesnowitz, Mike Pettry, Sam Salmond, and Georgia Stitt.
The musical magic was performed by David Austin, Jenni Barber, Jeff Blumenkrantz, Andrea Burns, Corey Cott, Michael Gioia, Maribeth Graham, Benjamin Howes, Emma Hunton, Megan Kane, Eric Michael Krop, Eric William Morris, Alexander Sage Oyen, Jessica Phillips, Will Roland, Charlie Rosen, Nadia Quinn, Krysta Rodriguez, Dana P. Rowe, George Salazar, Reynaldo Soriano, Jessica Vosk, Elanna White, & Yaniv Zari.
I could gush about each and every single performer and song.
I really could.
But, this article would be really long.
So instead, I’ll tell you about the parts that tugged on my heart a little bit harder, the moments that made my smile a little bit wider, and my laugh a little bit louder.
Before anyone spoke, they sang. And Jenni Barber delivered a song that just…made me laugh…made reflect. It was a perfect introduction. Corey Cott, well, that whole number just gave me goosebumps. Eric William Morris performed a song written by Nick Blaemire, and it got my wheels spinning, for although there was definite humor permeating the subway song, the more he sang the lyrics I don’t know the reason why I stay, the more I began to think of the story and the meaning behind this song. You see, perhaps it wasn’t supposed to be so deep, or maybe it was. But the point, was that the lyrics and the performance jump started my playwriting brain into overdrive, and that’s a beautiful thing.
And there were moments like that all throughout this evening. From the lyrics of David Austin’s song, “what is life if you don’t take your chance”, to the hysterical story of “Dylan”, written by Doug Katsaros & Amanda Yesnowitz and performed by Jessica Philips, to Krysta Rodriguez’s beautiful rendition of Amanda Green’s song, to the heartwarming & bittersweet song written and performed by Jeff Blumenkrantz…it was a beautiful night. The talent & passion & dedication to the arts was just…palpable. The energy & excitement was electric.
Music, for me, has always been magical. Sometimes, it is the only constant in our lives. The best music, it seeps into your bloodstream, it weaves itself into your heart and the fibers of your being. It lifts you up, it tugs at your heartstrings, it makes you smile, it makes you laugh…and it makes you think.
Tonight, the songwriters & performers, Jennifer Ashley Tepper, & Caleb Hoyer made that happen for the myself and the audience.
And it was outstanding.
And we can only hope for Once Upon A Time in New York City 3.
Live, Love, Learn,