On Broadway- On the Town

I've never seen the stage version of On The Town, but I'd heard such great things about the Broadway revival that when I had the opportunity, I took it.

The first thing that hits you is the high energy of this show. The three sailors sing the memorable "New York, New York" with such enthusiasm and joy and their dancing really impresses.

Tony Yazbeck isnominated for a Tony award for his performance as Gabey, the sailor who falls in love with a poster of Miss Turnstiles and decides he will spend his 24 shore leave looking for her. His two pals, Chip and Ozzie, decide to give up their dream of sightseeing and nightclubbing to help their friend find his dreamgirl.

Yazbeck lights up the stage with his presence and when he sings, the audience is in his thrall. His dancing is also amazing and the dance he performs with Megan Fairchild's Ivy is mesmerizing and incredibly sexy. This may be Yazbeck's breakout role, and he deserves all the accolades he receives.

Alysha Umphress is another standout in the cast as taxi driver Hildy. She is hilarious and sexy and man can she belt out a tune. I adored her performance and I wasn't the only one in the audience who did. She got raucous applause every time she sang.

Jackie Hoffman, who is wonderful in everything she does, once again steals every scene she is in in her multiple roles as Little Old Lady, singing teacher Maude P. Dilly and the various night club performers. She always brings her A game to every role she plays.

I have to say that my favorite song of the show was "Some Other Time", sung by members of the cast as the guys head back to the ship and the girls realize that their night of romance is coming to an end. It was bittersweet and the blend of voices was lovely.

Joshua Bergasse is nominated for a Tony for his fabulous choreography, and in a show where everything was pretty much pitch perfect, the dancing was the best element.

If you are in NYC and have the chance, go see On The Town, it will put a smile on your face and have you dancing in your seat. This is a show worth paying full price for.

You can see for yourself here how wonderful the show is in this clip.


The website for On The Town is here.