Urban Stages Winter Rhythms 2025: the 17th annual award-winning series for the benefit of Urban Stages’ Outreach Programs wrapped up this year’s festival, which began on Wednesday, December 3, and ended on Sunday, December 14.
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Here are the comments for the final two days, Saturday, December 13 and Sunday, December 14.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13 at 3:00 PM: Michael Colby presented Cast of Characters – Part 2
Read the review by Ron Fassier for Theater Pizzazz here.
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14 at 3:00 PM: Amy Engelhardt presented Do You Her What I Her?
The penultimate show was a celebration of songwriters who “just happen to be women,” curated and hosted by Amy Engelhardt, with Musical Director Tracy Stark at the keys. Engelhardt, dressed as a pregnant Virgin Mary, kicked off the show with her cheeky and irreverent original song, “How D
id This Thing Get in Me?” Vinya Chhabra followed with the amusing “Camping for Christmas” (Nicky Phillips, Sara Ziegler) proving sometimes parents do know best. This young lady is certainly headed for Broadway! Elaine Romanelli sang the wistful “At Christmas” (Georgia Stitt). Katrina Michaels sang the fun and romantic “Hanukkah with You” (Nico Juber).
Rita Neidich, a singer born in Ukraine, sang “This Isn’t Christmas” (Katya Stanislavskaya), in which a woman tries to explain to her date, Rabbi Bernstein, that she does not have a Christmas tree: she has a New Year’s tree to celebrate Ukraine’s national holiday. And, yes, the eggnog is kosher. Annie Sherman sang “Underneath the Frozen Snow” (Linda Good), a beautiful song that would be equally at home in Winter Rhythm’s annual Songs of Hope. For the jazzy portion of the show, Deidre Rodman Struck presented her original “most Christmassy” song “Christmastime in New York,” with Rodman Struck olaying piano and provding vocals, and a wonderful vocalist daughter Mirabelle Struck. Brendan McGrady, one of two men in the show, sang the very funny Christmas vs. Hanukkah song “WASP in Love” (Amanda Yesnowitz, Doug Katsaros) from the musical May/December. The Kennedys: guitarist Maura and ukulele whiz Pete,with Engelhardt, followed with the festive “Jesus Was a Dreidel Spinner” (Jill Sobule).
Tracy Stark performed her sweet original song “Perfect Christmas,” noting that she was continuing the tradition of “Jews who have written Christmas songs.” Next, vocalist Lauren Marcus with ukulele, Kat Sherrell and Engelhardt sang “Global Warming Christmas” (Kat Sherrell). Mary Foster Conklin and Engelhardt sang the final song “Hard Candy Christmas” (Carol Hall) with the cast joining in at the end. For those on the lookout for new, original holiday songs, this was the show to see. – By Kati Neiheisel, NiteLife Exchange for Sue Matsuki
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14 at 7:00 PM: Tom Toce presented Songs of Hope VIII
This year’s Winter Rhythms closed with the eighth edition of Songs of Hope, a perennial favorite, produced and hosted by Tom Toce, with Musical Director Jon Delfin. D.C. Anderson joyously opened the show with his original song “Spirit of the S
eason,” sung a cappella. Amy Englehardt sang her original song “Deep Blue Sea,” and urged us to “look out for each other.” One of four songs performed by Toce, was his premiere of the new “Much Too Soon to Call It Love,” written with his oldest friend, Patrick McCarthy.
Guitarist Maria DiFabbio, in gorgeous voice, with guitarist Sean Kiely , performed her original song “My Home Is in the Blue Ridge Mountains.” Ellen Mittenthal performed a beautiful medley of “Home” (Larry Kerchner, attributed to Charlie Smalls) from The Wiz and “Home” (Alan Menken, Tim Rice) from Beauty and the Beast, arranged by Delfin. Ethan Mathias, a 16-year-old with a strong voice more mature than his years, sang a moving rendition of “Hope” (Jason Robert Brown).
Dana Aber premiered “Where I’m Going” (Seth Christenfeld, Hali Alspach), an uplifting song written specifically for Songs of Hope. Alexandra Palting sang an original song and spoke about her show 0874: A Filipino-American Love Story, which had me in tears. Aaron Morishita sang the timely “No More”/”Children Will Listen” (Stephen Sondheim) from Into the Woods. Janet Fanale lifted the mood with the comedic “My Simple Christmas Wish” (David Friedman), a mood Toce carried into the hilarious “The Christians and The Pagans” (Dar Williams). Sue Matsuki closed the show and the festival with the enchanting “Christmas in New York” (Tom Toce, John Forster). I look forward to next year’s Songs of Hope IX! – By Kati Neiheisel, NiteLife Exchange for Sue Matsuki.
Urban Stages would like to thank each and every person who participated, attended and reviewed this year’s Festival.
Happy 2026 everyone! See you next year!
