concert of awesome - part 2
"concert of awesome - part 1" was posted yesterday.
I thought it was weird that Daniel Reichard hadn't performed yet and began to wonder if he had dropped out last minute or something. I figured he hadn't since Emma mentioned him her in thank yous earlier, but it was still odd that he hadn't made an appearance.
Like the opening of the show, the second act started ten or fifteen minutes late. The raffle winners were announced by Jenn. Her stand-up comedy background was very obvious and very much an asset so as to not make the obligatory raffle stuff boring, like it generally tends to be. I can't fully describe all the moments but the one that sticks in my mind is her reading the name "Peter” as "Pear" and then checking up on him the rest of the raffle.
When it came time for item #4 - the autographed Wild Party CD - Julia came running out from backstage and insisted on pulling the winning ticket. She tried to read and/or pronounce the last name but failed so she rattled off the ticket number instead. As she was headed off-stage, Jenn joked that the next item was a date with Julia. Julia laughed it off with an "I like steak" comment. Yay for being a carnivore.
Daniel was the first performer out, singing three songs. Apparently the format was to have one of the guys featured in each act with the girls interspersed throughout. Interesting choice, but whatever. I wasn't all that impressed with Daniel. I mean, yeah, he has a good voice, but it wasn't anything spectacular. At least not in my book. Also, I didn't think his jokes were particularly funny.
Jenn did two more songs. She's not a performer I've spent time "getting to know" and I feel as though I must now. I really liked her a lot. She has a great stage presence and is really energetic.
Poor Julia was stuck following another awesome performance and was sure to point it out both times. First it was Tituss' "Under the Sea" and then it was Jenn's "Mr. Hopalong Heartbreak" from Urban Cowboy. She was, however, leading into "The Wizard and I" and totally got her large share of the applause after it. The pre-song Wicked story was about her prior experience in Cleveland when the tour rolled through in 2006. Apparently Cleveland was the first city in which she left in the middle of a performance, meaning it was kinda bad vibes for her. (Ironically, I remember reading a news article back in 2006 mentioned Julia's mid-show exit and actually posted it in my journal. Julia was still sick the first time I went to see the show, which was the Sunday following the call-out on Saturday night. I did end up seeing her at Thursday's show.) Unable to hold the final note of "The Wizard and I" during that performance, she hit it and then stopped singing ... while the orchestra continued to play out the big finish of the song. During the playout, Julia had to do some "happy wizard acting" and, let me tell you, it was a joy to witness. Hilarious, really (in a sad-she-had-to-do-it-'cause-her-voice-was-shot way). There was bouncing and big smiles and excited gestures and other such things. When she hit the final note at the end of this performance, she got tons of applause and it brought some closure to the prior Cleveland experience. It was also the best I've heard her sound singing "The Wizard and I" in a long time. Usually her voice sounds pinched and not quite comfortable but I didn't notice that at all. It was good.
After that, Jenn came back out to sing "For Good" then the guys joined them on stage for "Oh What a Night," where Daniel sang lead and the other three were back-up singers. Julia dashed off-stage to pick up lyrics (Jenn and Tituss shared a copy) but I don't think she used them. She was busting a move most of the song though. That amused me. Similar to the Philly Pops concert, she was far more animated than the others.
The last song was "Seasons of Love." Emma and a handful of other students from local music schools and programs joined the group on stage. Tituss sang the first part of the solo and one of the female students sang the second half with the high notes. Jenn and Tituss were sharing a lyric sheet again and seemed somewhat dependent on it. I guess not everyone knows that song, although you'd think they would. Once the song was over, everyone unceremoniously exited and the concert was over.
I thought it was weird that Daniel Reichard hadn't performed yet and began to wonder if he had dropped out last minute or something. I figured he hadn't since Emma mentioned him her in thank yous earlier, but it was still odd that he hadn't made an appearance.
Like the opening of the show, the second act started ten or fifteen minutes late. The raffle winners were announced by Jenn. Her stand-up comedy background was very obvious and very much an asset so as to not make the obligatory raffle stuff boring, like it generally tends to be. I can't fully describe all the moments but the one that sticks in my mind is her reading the name "Peter” as "Pear" and then checking up on him the rest of the raffle.
When it came time for item #4 - the autographed Wild Party CD - Julia came running out from backstage and insisted on pulling the winning ticket. She tried to read and/or pronounce the last name but failed so she rattled off the ticket number instead. As she was headed off-stage, Jenn joked that the next item was a date with Julia. Julia laughed it off with an "I like steak" comment. Yay for being a carnivore.
Daniel was the first performer out, singing three songs. Apparently the format was to have one of the guys featured in each act with the girls interspersed throughout. Interesting choice, but whatever. I wasn't all that impressed with Daniel. I mean, yeah, he has a good voice, but it wasn't anything spectacular. At least not in my book. Also, I didn't think his jokes were particularly funny.
Jenn did two more songs. She's not a performer I've spent time "getting to know" and I feel as though I must now. I really liked her a lot. She has a great stage presence and is really energetic.
Poor Julia was stuck following another awesome performance and was sure to point it out both times. First it was Tituss' "Under the Sea" and then it was Jenn's "Mr. Hopalong Heartbreak" from Urban Cowboy. She was, however, leading into "The Wizard and I" and totally got her large share of the applause after it. The pre-song Wicked story was about her prior experience in Cleveland when the tour rolled through in 2006. Apparently Cleveland was the first city in which she left in the middle of a performance, meaning it was kinda bad vibes for her. (Ironically, I remember reading a news article back in 2006 mentioned Julia's mid-show exit and actually posted it in my journal. Julia was still sick the first time I went to see the show, which was the Sunday following the call-out on Saturday night. I did end up seeing her at Thursday's show.) Unable to hold the final note of "The Wizard and I" during that performance, she hit it and then stopped singing ... while the orchestra continued to play out the big finish of the song. During the playout, Julia had to do some "happy wizard acting" and, let me tell you, it was a joy to witness. Hilarious, really (in a sad-she-had-to-do-it-'cause-her-voice-was-shot way). There was bouncing and big smiles and excited gestures and other such things. When she hit the final note at the end of this performance, she got tons of applause and it brought some closure to the prior Cleveland experience. It was also the best I've heard her sound singing "The Wizard and I" in a long time. Usually her voice sounds pinched and not quite comfortable but I didn't notice that at all. It was good.
After that, Jenn came back out to sing "For Good" then the guys joined them on stage for "Oh What a Night," where Daniel sang lead and the other three were back-up singers. Julia dashed off-stage to pick up lyrics (Jenn and Tituss shared a copy) but I don't think she used them. She was busting a move most of the song though. That amused me. Similar to the Philly Pops concert, she was far more animated than the others.
The last song was "Seasons of Love." Emma and a handful of other students from local music schools and programs joined the group on stage. Tituss sang the first part of the solo and one of the female students sang the second half with the high notes. Jenn and Tituss were sharing a lyric sheet again and seemed somewhat dependent on it. I guess not everyone knows that song, although you'd think they would. Once the song was over, everyone unceremoniously exited and the concert was over.