NOTHING BUT THE HITS Part 2 was nothing but the BEST!
For their Gala ending their 59th year, they selected some three dozen of American musical theater’s greatest hits for performances on June 10-12.
The singing was pitch perfect and the tap dancing tiptop as two dozen Heights Players danced and sang through decades of songs.
Under the direction of Thomas Tyler and Ed Healy, the show moved quickly from one production number to the next. Cast members shined in a fabulous progression through the show with Musumi Iwai adding some delightful surprise acrobatics to her ballet number.
Stand outs include the choreography of Aurora Dreger, the song stylings of newcomer Jonathan Merechant, and the superb vocals of Rachel Coffin and Ivis Fundichely
David Fletcher’s musical arrangements —from “There’s No Business like Show Business’ to the finale of “Yesterday,” “Today” and “Tomorrow” — sewed together seamlessly the ageless spirit of love and hope that these songs shared.
What a treat it was later that night of June 12 to see the Tony awards—it’s only 30 minutes away from Brooklyn to Broadway— to remember that I had heard many of these songs just that afternoon on Willow Street.
While The Heights Players might not be winning Tony Awards, they win the hearts of musical lovers in spirited, highly professional and LIVE performance.
WANT TO GO:
WHAT: 2015-16 SEASON
WHERE: 26 Willow Place, Brooklyn Heights, NY 11201 - phone 718-237-2752
WEB SITE: http://www.heightsplayers.org
CREDITS FOR THE GALA
Ed Healy, Michael Blake, James Martinelli, Mykel Frank, Jonathan Merechant, Sean Dearing, Maureen Vidal, Faith Elliott, Dana DiAngelo, Michelle Maccarone, Masumi Iwai, Aurora Dreger, Cait Farrell, Maria Elisa Costa, and Isabella Prince. Veterans: Bill Wood, Jim McNulty. Ivis Fundichely, Cathy Lemmon, and Lacey Friedman. First timers: Rantea Thompson and Rachel Coffin.
The production coordinated, written and directed by Thomas N. Tyler.
Musical director: David Fletcher, with percussionist Daryl Cozzi.
Direction: Ed Healy
Choreography: Sean Dearing, Aurora Dreger and Cait Farrell.
Production Stage Manager: Marialana Ardolino
Lighting designer: Leo J. Contrino
Event coordinator: Corrine Contrino, with Jill Lewis-Kelly and Jan VanderPutten.