(OUTview NW) RE-view: SMC's Silver and Soul is Bittersweet with the Old and the New!

 (John Pai)

by MK Scott

It wasn't easy last season for the Seattle Men's Chorus as they prepared to say farewell to Dennis Coleman who was retiring after being the artistic director for 35 years. With a new conductor at the helm, Paul Caldwell is headed for a slow, but positive start.

If you hadn't heard about Caldwell being a victim of a Hit and Run, you were missing out. As we learned more about Caldwell we learned he is slowly returning and has lots of respect to preserve the Coleman Legacy. As a speaker, Caldwell inspires more so then the mild-mannered Coleman.

With no Guest artist, the first time in over a decade, it was just the chorus and the audience getting to know Mr. Caldwell.

The small orchestra was the best in recent memory and the songs had a different sound.

(OUTview NW) RE-view: SMC's QUEEN was Bittersweet!

And Now the show Starts!    Photo by John Pai.

by MK Scott

And now it has began, the long goodbye to the man that has been the visionary of the Seattle Men's Chorus for nearly 35 years, Dennis Coleman is retiring in ONE year, but the mood from this past weekend at the annual June Concert felt like the beginning of a bittersweet year. Queen, a band that was in its prime over 35 yrs ago was the appropriate theme. There is no bigger Seattle Queen than Coleman himself.

The Past Saturday, SMC performed a full QUEEN concert at Seattle's McCaw Hall and it was great for the most part thanks to local musical sensation, Frederick Hargreen as a Freddie impersonator. Hargreen just turned heads in 5th avenue's recent Jasper in Deadland and totally has the singing chops. The only drawback was Hargreen appeared during the Last song out of Eight Songs in Act 1. The songs prior especially Killer Queen, Bicycle Race and Play the game, the soloists (some consisted of season pros) struggled with the higher octave and sounded flat. The Highlight of Act 1 was the classic, We will Rock/Champions Medley and Killer Queen, when Queens from the Queen of Hearts to Frozen's Elsa to the ultimate Killer Queen, Divine from Pink Flamingos. Hargreen came out for the Act One finale in Mercury's infamous Black and white body suit singing, Don't Stop me Now.

(OUTscene NW) RE-view: SMC celebrates 'Legacy', one of their Most Inspirational Concerts in Years!

Deshon, Lippa and Lasentia in the MILK Finale 

by MK Scott

During this past weekend at Seattle's McCaw Hall, the Seattle Men's Chorus once again came together for 2 One ACT shows, celebrating 2 very different Men. The first ACT was called "Tyler's Suite", the story of a Tux-clad, Tyler Clementi's life set to music. Clementi was the Rugter's music student, who was "Outed" by his roommate and jumped off the the GW Bridge in the Fall of 2010. In Act 2 in "I am Harvey Milk", went from a Jewish, Tux-clad opera lover from NY to starting a new open life as a community leader in San Francisco until his tragic murder in the late-1970's.


On the night of Milk’s death in November 1978, according to a SMC Press Release,  the national gay choral movement was born when a group of men, who would later become the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, performed at Milk’s candlelight vigil. A few months later, in 1979, Seattle Men’s Chorus was formed.

(OUTscene NW) RE-view: SMC's 'Our Gay Apparel' is one of their GAYEST in YEARS!

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by MK Scott

The Seattle Holiday Season has started in High Gear and of course one of the biggest traditions is of the Seattle Men's Chorus' Holiday Concert cleverly titled, Our Gay Apparel, and it lives up to the name and makes this the BEST and GAYEST Concert in Years. Not since 2012's Baby, It's Cold Outside concert and 2012's Boy Band concert have I enjoyed it more.

The problems in the past came from the lack of Balance of the 2 acts, but not the case in this one.

Act ONE shined with their traditional and favorite, God Rest ye Merry Gentleman, followed by a hilarious tune about Holiday Sweaters. From traditional, Fum, Fum, Fum to a parody of Sugar Plum Fairies with the Black swan and dancers in pink tutus. The audience loved it. Another the audience loved was Special Guest, Linda Eder (a Bonafide Broadway Star). If you listen to the Broadway Radio on Sirus or pay attention to her CDs, you know her. Most of the audience did not prior, but now will never forget her. Eder's range is similar from Streisand and Idina Menzel to Kristin Chenoweth, a voice you never forget as she belted out Broadway show tunes from Evita's Don't Cry for me Argentina, and title song from Man from La Mancha.

The First Act had everything except for Kevin Gallagher, the ALS interpreter, who has left the chorus after 30 plus years. I did see Kevin during intermission and told him how he will be missed.

(OUTscene NW) SMC returns from Germany Tour with lots of Stories to Tell!

SMC Performing at St. Pauli Ruine in Dresden, Germany

The Seattle Men's Chorus would like to extend  warmest thanks to all those who helped make the Falling in Love Again Germany Tour possible. There are extremely grateful for the opportunity to have shared this compelling and important work with new audiences in Germany, and as SMC member Bryn Nelson details on the SMC blog, it was a moving and memorable experience.

Check out SMC's Facebook page for tour photos and videos.

(OUTscene NW) RE-view: Seattle Men's Chorus (W/ Special Guest, Megan Hilty) 'Totally WICKED' was 'Totally FUN'

Jeffery Erickson (NOT Glinda)          /Pai

by MK Scott

Stephen Schwartz is an American Composer who gave us 3 very different Broadway classics as well as a Lyricist for a few Disney Classics. WICKED is his greatest achievement and was the center of last weekend for Seattle Men's chorus's Totally Wicked at Seattle's McCaw Hall.

Seattle bred and Broadway star, Megan Hilty (Smash, Sean Saves the World) returned after appearing in the Holiday Glee Concert in 2010.

The second act was FUN and had one exciting number after another. The first Act not so much. One reason could be that it focused too much on Schwartz' shows that he did after PIPPIN and Before WICKED. Have you heard of his 1986 show, Children of Eden or his 1989 show, The Baker's Wife or 1974's The Magic Show? I didn't think so.

(OUTscene NW) RE-view: Seattle men's Chorus (with Special Appearance by Levi Kreis) Shake things up with 'Play it again, Santa'!

courtesy of SMC

by MK Scott

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.

(OUTscene NW) RE-view: The 10th Anniversary 'HAIRSPRAY' concert was Seattle Arts at its Best!

The Audience Loved It!                           /Facebook  

by MK Scott

In the Summer of 2002, Broadway Legend, Harvey Fierstein  was in Seattle to star in a New Musical headed to Broadway and staged by our very own 5th Ave Theatre. So much happened and over 10 years later, the 5th Ave brought in the Seattle Men's Chorus plus all of the best Actors in town to stage a concert version of the Broadway and Tony Winning Hit. Forget the Movie version, this was the Broadway version that did its best to Honor the John Waters Original.

The action on-stage included Kat Ramsburg (Tracy),  Allen Fitzpatrick (Wilbur), Aaron Finley (Link), Heath Saunders (Seaweed), Kirsten Helland (Penny), Cynthia Jones (Motormouth).

Broadway star and new AD of Balagan Theatre, Louis Hobson (Corny), Tom Skerrit's daughter, Jessica (Amber), and the duelling Divas Eric Polani Jenson (Edna) and Jerick Hoffer aka Jinkx Monsoon (Velma).

(OUTscene NW) RE-view: 'Mamma Mia'! Leslie Jordan Shines with Seattle Men's Chorus in 'Dancing Queen'!

Jordan was the Biggest Queen!             SMC

by MK Scott

This weekend was the Spring Concert of THREE Queens in ONE. You got, of course , the World Famous, Seattle Men's Chorus, add the Music of one the greatest groups in History and mix it up with the stories of Master Story Queen, Leslie Jordan. You Got  'Dancing Queen'.

Attending the Sunday performance at Seattle's McCaw Hall and as the curtain rose up to see the SMC's 2nd ABBA Theme Concert in 11 years. Will this one be just as Awesome?

The 2002 production was Epic with a Full Dancing All-Male Group, Twirling Flags by the Seattle Flagging Boys, and then SMC's very own  ABBA. With Benny, Bjorn and 2 men in drag as Agnetha, and Anni-Frid.

(OUTscene NW) PRE-view: Seattle Men’s Chorus (W/ Leslie Jordan) Performs 'Dancing Queen'

SEATTLE, WA – The disco ball will spin in high gear when Seattle Men’s Chorus (SMC) pulls out all the stops for their highly anticipated Spring Concert, Dancing Queen: The Music of ABBA. Bell bottoms, glitter, capes, and thigh-high white pleather boots abound. This show has it all, including the hilariously diminutive Emmy Award-winning actor/comedian Leslie Jordan. He will add to the music with his fun side-splitting tales and poignant musings from his latest autobiographical play, Fruit Fly. This comedy-music mash up will include ABBA hits like “Waterloo,” “Fernando,” “Take a Chance on Me” and, of course, “Dancing Queen;” as well as a few lesser known gems. So sit back in your plunging neckline cat suit and platform shoes for a trip back to the 70s with 250+ singers from SMC, their beloved eight man ensemble Captain Smartypants, and one very special guest, Leslie Jordan.

Tickets to McCaw Hall Seattle performances are available at www.SeattleMensChorus.org
or over the phone at (206) 388-1400.

(OUTscene NW) RE-view: SMC returns to its Campy Best for 'Baby, its Cold outside'!

courtesy of SMC

by MK Scott

It is that time of year again when the Seattle Men's Chorus brings out the Yuletide and Gay apparel for it annual Holiday Concert.

As a former SMCer, it is hard not to be objective, but I try to separate what happens onstage as completely different to any of the Backstage drama. (No Comment)

First of all, I have been seeing the Holiday concerts for the most part in 14 years. Some have been too serious, traditional, Political, Uneven, Campy. The last 2 years have been uneven with too much (Big Bang Theory skit in 2011) or Not enough (Glee skit in 2010). This year was a nice mix of Camp and Fun, the theme of heading to the tropics was captured throughout the show.

OUTscene: (PRE-view) Seattle Men’s Chorus are 'Falling in Love Again' at McCaw Hall April 2 & 3!

For the 2011 Seattle Men’s Chorus (SMC) Spring concert, Falling in Love Again, the Chorus takes on the ambitious task of examining two radically different periods in German history through song. Act I, titled Life is a Cabaret recreates Berlin’s free-wheeling pre-war Weimar period that ended with Hitler’s ascendency in 1933. Nick Garrison (5thAvenue Theatre, Cabaret) will join the Chorus with Wilkommen and Cabaret, among others. Spectrum Theater dancers help interpret this riveting chapter of gay history through dance. SMC’s delightful staging, costumes, and choral arrangements for beloved tunes like Mack the Knife, Love for Sale and Falling in Love Again will not disappoint.

OUTscene: Highlights of Holiday Glee; The latest from the Seattle Men's Chorus and Special Guest, Kelli O'hara!

By MK Scott
OUTscene Editor

Usually I bring Ryan Burr (OUTscene's resident reviewer) with me to events like this, but since it was the holiday weekend, I knew Ryan would be out of town. As an Alum of the chorus, I will not be writing a review but will talk about the highlights and why this performance should not be missed.

Even though performances last until December 20th, the opening night performance was not to be missed because of the rare opportunity to hear their guest artist, Broadway star Kelli O'hara (Performing 2 nights only).

The concept was to pay homage to the popularity of Glee (But it was only one medley and would have loved to see more) that had Kurt (Jimmy Taylor) and his bully, Dave (Sean O'bannon) singing, "Last Christmas" with ending with a "Nice" hug. The medley concluded with Artie (Rob Davies) , Puck (Paul Davison) and Rachel (Jarret Olsen) dressed up as Mary, Joseph and the donkey performing "Don't stop believin'".

Other moments included: The Las Vegas tribute was lead by a three-person-version of the Rat Pack (Gerard Gravallese, Ron Douglas, Ryan Spady) singing 'Winter Wonderland.' In the second act, Broadways' 'Turkey Lurkey Time' (from Promises, Promises) gave a flashback to the late 1960s. For the fourth tribute, the SMC chose Branson, MO. With a parody of 'Looking for a City,' the duet of Manny Golez and Jaime Walrod had a 'diva-off' to see who could sing the song's chorus in a higher octave.

The highlight of the concert was undoubtedly three-time Tony Award nominee Kelli O'Hara, a Kristin Chenoweth Type, and that's a good thing!  This woman not only looks like a vision, but sings like an angel. The first song she shared was 'Wonderful Guy' from her recently nominated performance in Rodgers and Hammerstein's South Pacific. She followed it by singing the title song from Light in the Piazza; another nominated role and a show she originated here in Seattle.

Her rendition of 'O Holy Night' was not only a pleasure to hear, but also something that will stay in the memory for quite a long while. Showing her vocal versatility, Ms. O'Hara's final song was 'They Don't Let You in the Opera (If You're a Country Star)'. That song showed how much alike she is with Kristin Chenoweth (a mix of comedy with vocal range).

One more Highlight included finally getting a Good enough shot of the Usual "Silent Night" that is 50% performed in sign language using white gloves. Also local female impersonator (Robbie Turner) as Liza AND Lady Gaga. Turner as Gaga appeared in the finale that featured a full scale performance of "Bad Romance" with a little "Single Ladies" mixed in. Just before the finale, Fellow Reporter, Brook Stanford spoke to the audience and dedicated the finale to the memory of local activist and SMC member, Cary Toland, who died earlier in the week.


For ticket info go for it at http://www.flyinghouse.org/store/individualform.asp#SMC-HOL

OUTscene: (PRE-view) Seattle Men’s Chorus Delivers Loads of Holiday Glee, 11/27 – 12/20!

For the 2010 Seattle Men’s Chorus (SMC) Holiday Concert, Holiday Glee, the Chorus will take a few cues from the wildly popular TV series Glee. “For over 30 years the gay choruses in particular have been doing what the show Glee is doing now,” said artistic director Dennis Coleman. “This show has just made it popular. But, it does call attention to choral music and singing, and however that happens, it’s wonderful!” SMC pays homage to Glee, but with a twist. The show’s unofficial anthem, “Don’t Stop Believin” has been re-worked as a parody with holiday-themed lyrics and individual Chorus members will represent several of the main characters including Kurt, the openly gay student at McKinley High. Coleman continues, “There’s a lot of ‘camp’ to Glee, and camp is a gay art form. Everything about the show screams ‘gay chorus!’” The concert will be funny, but also serious. The Chorus will celebrate different American holiday traditions focusing on the music and style of Las Vegas, Nashville, Broadway, and the Southwest (especially Arizona). And SMC’s beloved rendition of Silent Night and other traditional holiday tunes will not disappoint.

Guest artist Kelli O’ Hara will join the Chorus for the first two performances on November 27 at 8pm and November 28 at 2pm. O’Hara has her own personal connection the TV show Glee; she starred opposite Matthew Morrison (Will Schuester the Glee Club’s fearless leader) twice on Broadway, in the Lincoln Center revival of South Pacific (2008) and in The Light in the Piazza (2005). She has been nominated for a Tony Award 3 times and is returning to Seattle after an extended stay back in 2003 when A Light in the Piazza was in development at Intiman Theatre.
 
Go for it at http://www.flyinghouse.org/store/individualform.asp#SMC-HOL