Broadway’s D. Sabella (Chicago), returns to drag after 25 years, in Amanda Reckonwith Returns, on Saturdays September 24, 2022 at 9:30 PM and October 1, 2022 at 7:00 PM.The show is conceived, written, directed and performed by David Sabella, with music direction by Mark Hartman.
International opera diva and Broadway legend in her own mind, Amanda Reckonwith aims to razzle dazzle with high comedy and even higher notes! Once a lyric soprano, Reckonwith reached international stardom on both Broadway, and opera stages around the globe, before settling down (way down) to have children, raise them, and have them eventually leave her (they all do). Now known to the world as her generation’s most famous “Spento” soprano, she returns to the stage, from a bygone era, having lived a life unchronicled and shrouded in mystery—and ready once again to take the musical world by storm!
Sabella is an award-winning singer and actor, and an internationally known voice teacher and author. As a male soprano (countertenor) in classical music/opera, Sabella was integral in the formation of the “American tradition” of countertenor voice in the mid 1990s. Along with colleagues David Daniels, Brian Asawa and Mark Crayton, he is credited as one of the originators of the “American sound,” and the only one working in the popular music genres of Broadway, pop, and Great American Songbook.
Sabella is best known for his years on Broadway in the musical Chicago, having begun his professional performance career as a member of the all-male opera comedy troupe “La Gran Scena.” His 4+octave range also provided opportunities in voice-over work for both Disney and Fox Animation. In 1995, was a winner of the Luciano Pavarotti International Voice Competition, going on to win the The New York Oratorio Society Competition at Carnegie Hall, The Leiderkranz Competition, The daCapo Opera Competition and the eastern finals of The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.
On Broadway, Sabella originated the starring role of “Mary Sunshine” in the 1996 revival of Chicago, remaining with the show for the better part of ten years, both on Broadway and on the national tour two of them. Then focusing on raising a family, Sabella became a vocal coach and “Singing Voice Specialist” (SVS), working with medical teams to assist and retrain recovering singers after injury, illness or surgery. His highly seminal research on the “High Contemporary Belt” was published as part of the 52nd Conference of the National Association of Teachers of Singing, and lead to him being featured in So You Want to Sing CCM, a textbook profiling 12 international teachers, credited with creating a new Contemporary Commercial Music pedagogy. Sabella is also the author (with Sue Matsuki) of So You Want to Sing Cabaret. He returned to cabaret and concert performance in 2015, performing at major venues in New York and nationally.
There is a $25 music cover (cash at the door)/$20 food/beverage miinimum person (credit cards accepted). For reservations, click here or call 212-995-0900.
Pangea is located at 178 2nd Avenue (between 11th & 12th Streets), NYC
