A Man of Character(s): Michael Colby at Winter Rhythms, Part 1 -

By Bart Greenberg***Lyricist and book writer Michael Colby has had a long career for a wide variety of musical theater projects. For the annual Winter Rhythms festival at Urban Stages, he created a two-part revue of some of the characters he’s created via a variety of composers’ work and his lyrics.Appropriately entitled Michael Colby’s Cast of Characters, he enlisted an impressive list of performers to help bring his inventions to life. Under the fine direction of Sara Louise Lazarus, and with impressive versatility of music director Joe Baker, two delightful performances resulted.

Being a savvy show biz type, Colby kicked off the first of the two shows show with an opening number appropriately called “Cast of Characters” (music by Ned Paul Ginsberg) shared by the entire cast. Next came a loopy romantic song for two young and not-too-bright characters, “Being in Love” (Douglas Colby), sung with soaring voices by Nikita Burshteyn and Rita Neidlich. Incidentally, none of the vocalists utilized microphones throughout the program, allowing the audience to enjoy their natural voices. Next came the tale of “Amanda” (Gerald Jay Markoe) delivered by Marina Yiannouris. Broadway veteran Eddie Korbich paid tribute to another female with “Lana Laney” (Peter Milrose), a lyric filled with great detail.

A medley of songs was presented from the musical North Atlantic, a razor-sharp parody of the Rodgers and Hammerstein genre ,with music by James Fradrich. The impressive duo of Craig Rubano and Yiannouris gave their passionate all to the material, complete with a hysterically bizarre accent from Rubano. A second medley followed from one of Colby’s best-known works, Ludlow Ladd (Markoe), a send up of Victorian literature in operetta form. Megan Styrna displayed an impressive soprano reminiscent of Kristen Chenoweth at her best. Youthful Tommy Ferolano provided support and then soloed on “The Dance” (Steven Silverstein), a disturbingly sensitive story of a potential teen suicide.

A trio of songs from the Greek mythology spoof Delphi or Bust (Markoe) were next. Obsessed in his own adoration of himself, Burshteyn beautifully delivered the egocentric “When I Gaze.” The lovelorn Cyclops (James Harkness), filled with lovely longings, proposed “Even If I’m Not Your Type” and big voiced N’Kenge burnt up the stage with her declaration of evil: “menace anyone” in “Its Own Reward,” a number worthy of a Disney villainess.

In a gentler mood, “Foster Care Square Dance” (Ginsburg), was delivered with great charm by Isabel Robin, complete with a lovely dance number. More charm followed with the sweetly funny “Mei-Ling” (Ginsburg), the tale of a Korean Jewish child, offered by Taylor Moy. Theatrical razzle-dazzle returned with “More Than Just a Movie Fan” (Paul Katz), delivered with flair by Katie Claire McGrath. For something very dark, the brilliant Mark Nadler performed “Junior” (Larry Hockman), complete with inventive use of some misbehaving sheet music. To bring Part 1 to a close, John LaLonde and Jane Seaman led the cast in a moving salute to drama teachers with “When You Do a Show” (Millrose)—a smart choice to end the program.