Holiday Songbook, 2013 (12/14/13)

My regular reminder—Songbook is a performance of music written by up-and-coming (and sometimes already-established) music theater composers and lyricists. Holiday Songbook includes holiday songs composed for musical theater shows as well as songs composed especially for this event. This year there were two (different) performances—I caught the one on Saturday and there was another one Monday evening (12/16), that I couldn’t make, unfortunately.

There were 16 songs on display, so I’ll hit some of my favorites. Guess What? It’s Christmas! – Music, Brad Ross and Lyrics, Barbara Campbell – was a traditional, fun Christmas song and it was a great opener for the afternoon. Everything a Girl Wants – M/L, Tim Rosser/Charlie Sohne – is from a musical in progress that involves creation of toys. The song refers to a teddy bear, so a repeating tag line is, “Everything a girl wants—from a bear.” The Snow Queen, by Micah Young, was a real classical-style, story song based on the Hans Christian Andersen tale. It was a modern-day lied that was given a wonderful performance.

My Epiphany – Andrew David Sotomayor – was a paean to that unsung, until now, holiday that received a humorous and interesting treatment. You want humor? The Egg Nog Song – M/L, Derek Gregor/Sam Carner – delivered. Written especially for this event, it started off as a traditional holiday song until we got to the hook—somebody put acid (the LSD variety) in the eggnog. It gave a new meaning to this “magic” season, and it got real laughs throughout. Outcast Holiday – Eli Zoller – reminded us that Jesus was somewhat of an outcast, as are we all in some ways. It was almost like a folk song and was accompanied by a guitar and a mandolin—you don’t hear very many mandolins on stage these days.

The Prisoner’s Song – Joe Iconis – was the closer and was quite an audience pleaser, too. It had a call-and-response section (not usually my favorite performance device) that was used to good effect here.

All of the composers, lyricists, accompanists, and vocalists acquitted themselves well (with a few minor fluffs). But some of the backstories were really fun to hear. One gal had learned her song on the day of the performance and did a bang-up job. Two sisters, who are writing partners, had only rehearsed with each other via phone, including delays in the two different speakerphones. The afternoon’s musical styles included folk, country, traditional, rock’n’roll, and Sondheim-esque treatments, among others.

The program was produced by Erica Ruff and directed and hosted by John Znidarsic, the man with the red hat. I really wish that I could have heard Monday night’s version, especially as it was all different songs, but I’m sure glad that I got to experience this holiday treat!

ConcertMeister