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courtesy of SMC
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Well, it is that time of year again when one of the most respected male Chorus' in the world (Save the Mormon Tabernacle) and a NW Treasure, Seattle Men's Chorus, puts on their campy best and serious side for a memorable Holiday Concert.
This concert's theme was 'Play it again, Santa' which you would assume to be jazzy or Swinging, but actually was more Gospel/R & B, than jazzy/swing. SMC's Holiday show rarely sticks with the supposed theme. The idea is to entertain you and leave you wanting more.
During the opening weekend, that had a little help in the crooning department with iinspirational crooner, Levi Kreis. In 2010, Levi won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor In A Musical for his portrayal of Jerry Lee Lewis in the Broadway hit Million Dollar Quartet. Actually, the Pre Broadway production of MDQ was at our very own Village Theater.
Kreis was great and cuter in person, and had some Big shoes to fill after half a dozen or so Divas appearing with SMC's opening weekend which includes Melissa Manchester, Ann Wilson, Bettty Buckley, Megan Hilty and last year's Ana Gasteyer.
Now on with the Re-view, The chorus opened with an impressive Candle Light processional with half of the chorus on the Benaroya Hall stage and the other walking down the aisles with battery powered candle (I wished we had that during Processionals in High School and College, we had to use real candles with real burning wax) singing David Maddux's Carry the Light Down.
Then Levi Kreis comes out to belt out a Soulful 'O Holy Night' with the Chorus backing him up. Kreis leaves, but comes back for the Act One Finale of a Spirited 'Joy'.
Other Highlights of Act One was 'An Asian Christmas' written and led by Chorus member, Christian Tan, who was backed by 19 other Asian members. This was a welcome change after seeing several small ensembles consisting of its Black members. The Red Fans flipping out was a campy highlight.
The Traditional Signing of Silent Night with is normally performed in Act Two, was brought out in Act One and went directly into o local composer, Melinda Bargreen’s recent work entitled “Silver Night.
Bargreen is a Seattle-based writer, critic, composer, and teacher and was for 31 years was the Classical music critic for The Seattle Times.
Just when I thought the dreaded sing a long was taking a break this year, out come guys in boxer shorts for parody of K-Mart's new Joe Boxer ad ringing Carol of the Bells, with parts of the audience singing along. That was Fun!
Then the Sing along concluded with a simple 'White Christmas'.
Also note-worthy in Act TWO was Eric Helmuth's Finally Here, a song of Gratitude for the success of Marriage Equality in Washington.
Captain Smartypants was actually good with the Act One's Annoying Drummer Boy, and Act Two's Shouldn't be Carols.
The Finale was a Rock n Roll Medley called North Pole Rock n Roll. Kreis came out one more time to sing Great Balls of Fire from MDQ.
Overall, the Chorus is Back and do what they to best and Entertain.
Seattle Men's Chorus' 'Play it again, Santa continues through to December 22nd. Click Here for Tix.
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