By Marilyn Lester***For 14 years, the Broadway Rising Stars concert, created, written, directed and hosted by Scott Siegel for The Town Hall, has been presenting new talent, most often fresh from their course of education at some of the nation’s premier theater schools. This edition, on July 18, featured graduates from The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA), The Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Brooklyn College, Ithaca College, Marymount Manhattan College, Circle in the Square, Nazareth College, Northwestern University, NYU Steinhardt, NYU Tisch and SUNY Cortland, chosen by a panel of judges from the industry.
Rehearsed and participating in what amounted to a week-lon
g master class, 21 young hopefuls were prepped for their debut by a team that included Siegel and his partner-spouse Barbara Siegel, vocal coach Bill Daugherty, musical director John Fischer and choreographer Danny Gardner. During the performance, the able Fischer was joined by Jerry DeVore on bass and Zak Eldridge on drums. These three musicians, often seen smiling as the show continued on, mirrored the enthusiasm of a delighted audience to witness budding talent.
Assembled onstage for their opening, “Bless Our Show” (Sister Act), the visual couldn’t help but famously conjure up A Chorus Line. Therein followed individual performances, with songs curated by the Siegels. Notably, these musical choices were superbly matched to their singers, with many not of “the usual” category, and deserving in and of themselves of exposure. A prime example of this excellence was demonstrated by Izzy Marinucci and Benjamin T. Swanson. The former had very recently lost her father, offering “I’ll Imagine You a Song” (Steven Lutvak, Carol Hall) and the latter, who was raised by his single mother with much help and support by his grandfather (who was in the audience), sang “If I Sing” (Closer Than Ever). Both performers excelled in their interpretations and in vocal nuance and dynamics—so much so that tissues were produced.
Many of the rising stars had their own very personal back-stories to sing about, from Zoie Lanning’s brave choice in “Times Are Hard for Dreamers” (Amelie) and Erika Nicole Mesa’s determination with “When I Get My Name in Lights” (The Boy from Oz), to Hannah Faith Marshall, “Mama, a Rainbow” (Minnie’s Boys), whose bir
th mother and adoptive mother were both in the audience to cheer her on.
Inspiration came in the form of Lily Arriaga, who, during the pandemic lockdown, pursued her studies from her home in Portugal, zooming from a barn on the family farm. With operatic flair, she sang a lovely “When You Wish Upon a Star” (Pinocchio). Another operatic soprano, Rose Chamblee, called to mind Sarah Brightman as she delivered “Flight” (Craig Carnelia). Those with mature presentations, exhibiting a confidence level and stage awareness already baked-in included Kylie Heyman “You’re Gonna Hear from Me” (Inside Daisy Clover), Paul J. Hernandez “I Was Here” (The Glorious Ones) and Miles Eichenhorn “Anything Can Happen in the Theater” (Maury Yeston).
Other rising stars, all comporting with plenty of talent and enthusiasm, included tapper-dancer-singers, Brionna Trilling, Quentin Fettig, Marques Stewart and Isaiah Mayhew. Rounding out the cast were Stella Katherine Cole, Henry O’Connell, Garrison Hunt, Jared Goodwin, Sara Den Bleyker, Jeremiah Garcia and Steven Martella, all of whom proved abundantly committed, spirited and talented. It was also a joy throughout to hear excellent vocal dynamics in lieu of the nonstop-belting school of vocal delivery.
In the dozen-plus years that Broadway Rising Stars began, alumni have gone on to appear in Broadway shows such as Wicked, Beautiful, Jekyll & Hyde, Hair, Les Miserables and Hamilton, as well as on on television in “The Glee Project,” “Glee” and “A Christmas Carol.” Congratulations and kudos to Team Siegel for their dedication to nurturing and supporting young and budding performing talent.
