Ah... 1960. Smack-dab in the middle of post-war prosperity and (unknowingly) on the brink of enormous change. Has Broadway ever brimmed with more confidence or more cultural clout?
Poised roughly halfway between when Rodgers and Hammerstein reinvented the form and when Andrew Lloyd Webber seized what until then had been a mostly American medium, in 1960 the Broadway musical carried white-hot cultural relevance, spawning Top 40 hits (Bobby Darin's "Artificial Flowers"), jazz classics (Coltrane's reinvention of "My Favorite Things"), iconic careers (Dick Van Dyke), and playing host to established mega-stars (Tony Perkins took time away from filming Psycho to rehearse his lead role in Greenwillow).
I know I am not the only musical theater fan (nerd) who has wished to go back and revisit this tuneful, remarkable era when the Great White Way was the Main Street of popular culture. Fortunately, for the last ten years, Chicago's Porchlight Music Theatre has created a theatrical time machine of sorts with its "New Faces Sing" program. The idea is simple: feature fresh, young talent singing Broadway melodies from a specific year—simultaneously looking forward and back. ""New Faces" has not only proven a favorite with Porchlight's audience, but also a launching pad for many of the young performers, most recently Darilyn Burtley, now headlining the national tour of Tina.
Hosted by Chicago stage vet Johanna McKenzie Miller, artistic director at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre, and directed by Frankie Leo Bennett, this year's production neatly showcased the embarrassment of riches brimming on the Broadway stage in 1960.
Beginning with the full company performing Bye Bye Birdie's fun "The Telephone Hour" and then Kaitlin Feely's clever mash-up of the same show's "How Lovely to Be a Woman" paired with Flower Drum Song's "I Enjoy Being a Girl," the evening started with familiar favorites. Some lesser-known numbers followed: "Our Language of Love" from French import Irma La Douce and Greenwillow's "Never Will I Marry" (the last song tenderly and touchingly performed by Z Moore).
Songs from the little-known Maureen O'Hara (!) (?) musical Christine, the Gwen Verdon triumph Redhead, and the Walter Pidgeon/Jackie Gleason crowd-pleaser Take Me Along followed, illustrating the sheer star wattage common on the Broadway boards 65 years ago.
The first act closed with a pair of particularly pleasing performances: Lisa Buhelos' beautifully sung (and acted) "When Did I Fall in Love" from Fiorello, and then host Johanna McKenzie-Miller channeling Barbara Cook in The Music Man's "Will I Ever Tell You" (accompanied, of course, by a barbershop quartet harmonizing on "Lida Rose")
The second half of the show boasted similar treats. Particular highlights include Mary Laura Godby, the power of whose soprano on "My Gentle Young Johnny" (Tenderloin) lingered long after the song had ended. Equally affecting, Nicholas Roman's wistful handling of the Comden and Green classic "Make Someone Happy" (Do Re Mi) captured the song's message of hope and connection. And Nicholas Ian's "If Ever I Would Leave You" (Camelot) displayed remarkable emotional depth in the Lerner and Loewe standard.
In addition to standout performances (ably accompanied by music director Micky York on the piano), the evening featured sing-alongs ("Everything's Coming Up Roses," "Do, Re, Mi") and truly brain-stumping musical theater trivia led by Porchlight artistic director Michael Weber.
Whether you are a longtime fan eager to revisit classic tunes or a newcomer interested in Broadway’s rich legacy, Porchlight’s New Faces Sing provides a direct connection to the spirit and optimism of a remarkable era. The good news is, you don't need a time machine to enjoy this year's production—but you'll have to be quick: Porchlight has added one additional performance, this Monday, October 6, at Metropolis Performing Arts Center, 111 W. Campbell St., Arlington Heights.
Did you enjoy this post? Please consider supporting Third Coast Review’s arts and culture coverage by making a donation. Choose the amount that works best for you, and know how much we appreciate your support!
