By Bart Greenberg***A strong soprano with a contemporary edge, Terri Dannenberg took the stage at Don’t Tell Mama to explore, well Everything!, which happened to be the name of her well-thought-out show. Under the guiding 
hand of noted cabaret director Lina Koutrakos, and with the excellent support of music director Gregory Toroian and his team of bassist Skip Ward and drummer David Silliman, it was a smooth and polished show with a varied set list of songs from an array of sources.
Drawing on various episodes in her own life as daughter, sister and aunt (some of which could have been expanded and clarified for more effect), the tales were by turns serious and comic. A special delight was “The Night I Ate New 
Orleans” (Susan Werner), which traded on Dannenberg’s pin-point comedic delivery. She also demonstrated vocal dexterity when she switched from her natural head voice to a powerful belt on “They Just Keep Moving the Line” (Marc Shaiman, Scott Sittman).
A highlight of the show was her musical arc commenting on her unsatisfying romantic life. Not only did this allow Dannenberg a chance to show off her vocal dexterity but her fine acting talents as well. From the first throes of romance (“I Got Lost in His Arms” (Irving Berlin)) to the struggle a relationship can go through (“How Do You Keep the Music Playing” (Alan & Marilyn Bergman, Michel Legrand) to a bitter parting, a surprisingly 
mournful “How About Me?” (Berlin). Following this trio of songs was a scorching “I Don’t Remember Christmas” (Richard Maltby Jr., David Shire).
Some other highlights of the evening included such poetic works as “Take Me to the World” (Stephen Sondheim), filled with the yearning of a young person eager to discover the world, and a more reminiscent “Do You Remember?” (Ben Pasek, Justin Paul). The show ended on a powerful note of self-fulfillment with “A Piece of Sky” (Bergmans, Legrand). Dannenberg is a fine singer, and a fine actress, and it will certainly be interesting to see “everything” she does in the future.
