Top 10 Glee Performances

It’s hard to believe that this Friday, Glee will air its final episode after 6 seasons and over 700 musical numbers. While myself and many others are sad to see this show go, before we say goodbye I’m counting down my Top 10 Glee performances from mash-ups, solos, duets and original numbers!

10. Start Me Up/Living on a Prayer Mash-Up

Season 2

This performance is one that has just stuck with me over the seasons. I don’t know maybe it’s just how different it was or how it sounded but I have just always loved it!

9. Pretending/Light Up The World

Season 3

Yes, I’m combining these two together because I don’t think that you can talk about one without the other. It was between Pretending and Light Up The World that Finn/Rachel had that reunion kiss or as Kurt called it “The kiss that missed” at Nationals that year which cost them Nationals. Also doesn’t hurt to mention how amazing those original songs are!

8. Rise

Season 6

This original song written by Darren Criss made is his first AMAZING contribution to the Glee music catalog (his other will come in the series finale) I felt really encapsulated not only the theme of the episode it was used in but what the entire Glee club represented and stood for over the years.

7. Be Okay

Season 5

Lea Michele and Naya Rivera’s voices always sound incredible together but the combination of that with the up-beat and consistent perky feeling of the song just makes it that much more infectious and never fails to put a smile on my face!

6. Teenage Dream

Season 2

Darren Criss’s Glee debut, where we first meet the Warblers, the start of Klaine. I think myself along with countless others collectively swooned over this performance-I know that I played it and the song over and over again (still do actually).

5. Girl on Fire

Season 4

Naya Rivera has a killer voice-we all know that. But this song really showcased her voice in a powerful song.

4. Singing in The Rain/Umbrella Mash-Up

Season 2

I think that I’ve seen this one on almost every favorite Glee performance list! Guest star Gwyneth Paltrow and Matt Morrison just make the song and the choreography combined with the rain on the stage just made it visually incredible to watch.

3. Don’t Rain on My Parade

Season 1

This is one of those performances that you always seem to mention/remember whenever you talk about Glee and for good reason too. Lea Michele gave one of her best performances on this iconic song, making it slightly different while still paying homage to Barbra’s original rendition. Years later, it still blows me away.

2. Faithfully

Season 1

Maybe it’s just the die-hard Finchel fan in me but who can forget that Finn just blurted out to Rachel that he loved her right before they sang this song in the Season 1 finale. In a song that became the couple’s ship anthem Finchel was finally united!

1. Don’t Stop Believing

Season 1

Yes, call me cheesy, corny whatever but to this day this is my all time favorite Glee performance. It was when myself and others realized how special this show was. I still get a few chills when I listen to it years later!

XOXO

-Bwaygirl828

The "Unknowns" of Theater

One of my favorite parts about going to shows is getting to see all of these talented actors who are poised to become the next “it” actors of the theater! It is such a treat to get to see them perform and think that they are on their way to becoming next big thing-we’ve definitely seen it before from Brian D’Arcy James, Kristin Chenoweth, Audra McDonald, Andrew Rannells, Jon Groff, Lea Michele and now Jeremy Jordan. While considered somewhat “unknown” today these extremely talented people are bright stars of our tomorrow!

1.Barrett Wilbert-Weed

Where You’ve Seen Her:

Veronica in Heathers and Nadia in Bare:The Musical

From her breakout performance in Bare to most recent triumph in Heathers, Barrett is a standout performer with the acting chops and pipes to match-also I went to see Bare and Heathers with different friends who each said the same thing about her “Her voice is incredible-she’s going to be the next big thing!”

2.Taylor Trensch

Where You’ve Seen Him:

Christopher alt. in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, Boq in Wicked, Peter in Bare:The Musical and more

Taylor is one of those performers that is for one consistently putting out great work but is also incredibly diverse. From his funny one-liners as Matilda’s brother in Matilda to his moving and heart-wrenching performances as Peter and Christopher he has proven that he can successfully take on roles from all different genres.

3.Courtney Reed

Where You’ve Seen Her:

Jasmine in Aladdin, Carla in In the Heights and Mamma Mia

I said it before in my post about Aladdin, but Courtney is a star in the making. Playing an iconic Disney character can do that, look at Sierra Boggess but, Courtney has the presence and a voice that is comparable to Lea Salonga which will only work in her favor. I’m going to start the campaign for her as Pocahontas in a musical of the classic film(or Rapunzel in Tangled as she’s said before) and Kim in Miss Saigon now!

4.Alysha Umphress

Where You’ve Seen Her:

Hildy in On The Town and American Idiot

The breakout star of the year, Alysha has shown her impeccable comedic timing and killer voice in her star-making turn as the candidly funny cab driver Hildy in On The Town, delivering a performance that people will remember for years. Oh, she’s also a fellow Barbra fanatic-need I say more!

 

5.Joshua Henry

Where You’ve Seen Him:

Flick in Violet, Bring it On, Jake in Porgy and Bess and more

While he is no stranger to the theater-he’s got quite the resume and his beautiful performance as Flick in Violet took all the notice, I left wanting to see more work of his. Flick was one of those roles that people will look back on and remember as well as brag to their friends how they loved him in a show before he was a big theater sensation!

6.Ciara Renee

Where You’ve Seen Her:

Leading Player in Pippin, the Witch in Big Fish and Esmeralda in the upcoming Broadway Production in The Hunchback of Notre Dame

I had the pleasure of seeing Ciara when she was in Big Fish and while I missed her in Pippin, I have tickets to go see her in Hunchback at Papermill. In Big Fish, Ciara gave one of those performances that was so memorable, yet she had a smaller role. It was clear that that was not the last that we would see of her. Not only is she a dead ringer for Esmeralda but now, she too joins the ranks of the Disney stage performers something that I’m sure will present her with many more incredible opportunities! 

7.David St. Louis

Where You’ve Seen Him:

Jake in Side Show and more

In a role that was previously inhabited by Norm Lewis in the original production, David gave an outstanding and touching performance that made everyone take notice. While it still saddens me that the Side Show has closed, as well as hoping for a Tony nod for him, I know that is not the last that we will see of him.

8. Janel Parrish

Where You’ve Seen Her:

Mona in Pretty Little Liars, For the Record shows in LA and Young Cosette in Les Miserables

You might know her from the TV world as Mona on Pretty Little Liars or most recently Dancing With the Stars but Janel has been working in theater since she was a child. With past work including the L.A. production of Spring Awakening, she’s currently performing out in L.A. in the For The Record shows which celebrate the films of accomplished directors with the likes of Tracie Thoms (Rent), Lindsay Pearce(The Glee Project) and Corbin Reid(Rent Off-Broadway). Known for her acting, Janel has got an incredible voice and personality that will make all theater audiences take notice. If Miss Saigon ever comes back to Broadway along with Courtney, Janel is on my short list to play Kim!

9.Taylor Louderman

Where You’ve Seen Her:

Wendy in NBC’s Peter Pan Live! and Campbell in Bring It On:The Musical

From cheerleader to Wendy Darling, Taylor has proven not only her wonderful voice but ability to hold her own as the sole female in group of Lost Boys! As the other NBC Live! broadcast has done, it has brought Taylor some well-deserved exposure that I am hoping will lead to more incredible opportunities!

10. Matt Shingledecker

Where You’ve Seen Him:

Fiyero in Wicked, Roger in Rent Off-Broadway, Tony in West Side Story and Spring Awakening

I first saw Matt in Rent and if anything it was clear that he has a star-like quality about him. He has played some loved and well-known roles that have been done by many other iconic theater actors, not an easy thing to do. But he makes the roles his own in shows such as Rent and Spring Awakening, which have massive fan bases. I can’t wait to see him in Wicked and if you haven’t I strongly urge you to listen to his rendition of One Song Glory, you won’t regret it!

XOXO

-Bwaygirl828

I Will Never Leave You

            Late last night, rumors began to spread around the theater blogs that the new revival of Side Show would close its doors on January 4^th. Today, the rumor was confirmed and I can’t help but feel a deep pain of sadness and disappointment over this news. I saw the show live for the first time on its third preview then again, a couple weeks later on opening night courtesy of newyork.com. I was transfixed from the moment the lights dimmed and the eerie beginning of the show opener “Come Look at the Freaks” to the final curtain.

         Side Show, which was originally done on Broadway in 1996, tells the true story of conjoined twins Daisy and Violet Hilton. For as long as they could remember they were placed in circuses and side shows to perform and be paraded around as “freaks.” The show vividly tells their story as star side show and vaudeville attractions and how the girls hope that the business men promoters that they are falling for can give them what they yearn for the most- Hollywood stardom for Daisy and stability and a family for Violet. The original production, which starred Broadway staples such as Emily Skinner and Alice Ripley as Daisy and Violet, Norm Lewis as their protector Jake and Hugh Panero as promoter Buddy Foster closed after playing only 91 regular performances, now the revival is poised to play an almost similar run.

         The fan base and impact of the show however has lived on creating a large fan following. Think of it as the 2004 flop the Boy George and Rosie O’Donnell show Taboo. It didn’t do too well with the press but it gained a cult following during its short run with fans that saw the show close to 100 times. The music is stunning and the story of the girls pulls at your heartstrings.

         When I was in my mid-teens about 15 or 16 I discovered Side Show through a day of random Google and YouTube searches-one click led to another and there you go! I was taken by the story and premise of the show and intrigued that this was in fact based around real events. I did research on the Hilton sisters and the original production and was stunned to discover what a short run it had. I’m guessing that it’s what probably drew me in the most about the show. For years I have been enamored with shows that have “flopped” on Broadway so to say-one of my favorite theater books in my personal collection is Ken Mandelbaum’s “Not Since Carrie” which is dedicated to unsuccessful shows. For some reason, I find those shows the most interesting to research and delve into so Side Show was of course no exception. Some of my favorite shows have been ones that have “flopped” in a sense such as Bonnie and Clyde- I was at the first preview, Big Fish and Bridges of Madison County. I dreamed to one day see this show for myself and when I did not too long ago it in no way disappointed me.

         Emily Padgett and Erin Davie who play the infamous twins in the new revival over at the St. James Theater are honest and heart-wrenching, Robert Joy who plays their grimy guardian Sir is ghoulish in all of the best ways and David St. Louis as the girls protector Jake is nothing but moving. Director Bill Condon opens up the troubled world of the twins to the audience allowing you to see the world from their eyes where you’re loved one moment but then rejected and tossed aside the next.

The words “emotional rollercoaster” cannot even begin to describe this incredible show. Without trying to get too much into my personal life, growing up with a learning disability, I often felt like an outcast. It’s a challenge as a child going through school when there is something a bit different about you. Often feeling alone and out of place I turned to my books and my own thoughts for comfort and solace. Shows like Side Show and Wicked, which contain characters who are different and unique but just want to be like everyone else is something that we need to see more of. Daisy and Violet Hilton had a rough upbringing as the show highlights wonderfully, but they just wanted to be like everyone else and who can’t relate to that at some point in their lives? As the girls sing in one of their beautiful, emotional numbers, we all want someone to love us as we are and will stand by us through thick and thin. To me, that is what makes this show so beautiful and touching.

However, it saddens me to think that this time next month, this incarnation will no longer be beckoning us in. While the upcoming cast recording will preserve it for future generations and I’m wishing for some well-deserved Tony nominations, I hope that one day this show can finally have a long run it deserves on Broadway. Sometimes I feel that shows that “flop” or close prematurely are ones that audiences weren’t ready for yet and we’ve lost some exquisite shows this way from Bonnie and Clyde to Hands on a Hardbody to Bridges of Madison County. I was hoping that this time people were ready for Side Show-it was praised by critics deemed a must see for many fellow theater enthusiasts and being put up in a time where American Horror Story dominates televisions. While it is clearly not Side Show’s time yet, I urge you if you can to go see this masterpiece before closing day on January 4^th to witness an extraordinary and touching theatrical experience. It’s saddening to see this production close, but its message and effect will linger and stay with many for years to come.

Bwaygirl828

Here I Go

After a successful day at Broadway Flea Market, I’m sitting on my bed resting my tired feet, sipping a Starbucks iced mocha while one of my favorite goodies from the day, an opening night gift from If/Then sits beside me as re-runs of NCIS play quietly in the background. During a commercial break an ad for If/Then plays. I’ve seen this add before on the USA channel a few times-I honestly think that it’s one of the best theater adds currently making the rounds on New York TV screens and for some weird reason it felt oddly different in a good way watching this add knowing that the opening night gift is literally a mere 2 inches from my hand. I can’t explain it or the odd feeling that I had-I mean it’s one of those labyrinth puzzles that always seemed as elusive to beating as a rubix cube that just happens to have the show title, opening night date and a quote from the show “working the problem” stamped on it. It’s a puzzle and a TV ad but for some reason it got me thinking. I know that I’ve shared my story about how I discovered Broadway and musical theater when I was younger but I can’t help but think about how Idina Menzel is part of that story and in a sense like her new brilliant show, my If/Then story.

The first time that I was introduced to the work of Idina Menzel was when I was about 13. Still relatively new to the world of theater my aunt had rented the just released on DVD film version of Rent for my cousin and I to watch. Just like Annaleigh Ashford mentions in first Show People Interview with Paul Wonterek, my aunt heard that was big hit on Broadway and thought that my cousin and I would like the movie. Well, we didn’t exactly make it all the way through, we didn’t understand most of the references and the plotline-I like to attribute that to the fact that it was past midnight and we were tired! We turned it off and back it went to Blockbuster. Later on though (to clarify not that same night but a while later) I was watching YouTube videos of Idina and Kristin and the rest of the original company of Wicked when I was going through my big Wicked phase. It was one of those days when I would watch one video and then keep clicking on other ones in the related videos and the next thing you know its hours later (and don’t tell me that you haven’t done that too!) I ended up watching many Idina videos and fell in love with her old solo music from the Rent-era. Like many in the theater world I was a major fan of Idina years before Frozen or before she was called “the wickedly talented Adele Dazeem!” To this day I’m one of the only people that I know who knows her song Minuet it’s one of my favorites next to her whole I Stand album which is just an incredible listen in case your wondering! Idina was one of my early favorite theater actors I loved all of her work and played her music on a constant loop with I Stand and Defying Gravity taking major precedence thankfully I had my own IPod-a shuffle at the time so I didn’t have to put my non-musical loving parents through having to listen to my music over and over and over again! I even wrote her a fan letter when I was a young teenager though I don’t remember if I mailed it or not!

Just like I said in my Les Mis piece, I wondered if I would be hear in New York sharing this and other stories with you all if I hadn’t went to see that show. While I’ll definitely say that Les Mis was the catalyst for my introduction to the theater I have to say that sometimes it’s not always just one thing but sometimes a few other occurrences that lead us to our passions, interests and things we love. I always think about how different things would be if I hadn’t went to that school production of Les Mis but what if I hadn’t watched part of the film adaptation of Rent either. I wouldn’t have been introduced to the work of Idina, I wouldn’t have been watching those YouTube videos that one day, I wouldn’t have seen the music video for Minuet or my favorite documentary Show Business:The Road to Broadway featuring Wicked which introduced me to the realm of short-running shows that I would become obsessed with and instigated the cogs turning in my head that I want to live in New York. While Les Mis was a major moment maybe watching that portion of Rent was my If/Then moment. It’s honestly something that we always don’t know as if you’ve seen the show that or those few moments can be ones that are so small and trivial in your mind that you don’t fully realize the magnitude that they’ve made in your life.

It’s true that one moment and one small choice can change your path in life and introduce you to a world of new things. It might’ve been Les Mis, but if I hadn’t watched the beginning of Rent with my cousin that one late summer night things would be different. I would still love musical theater but who knows what I wouldn’t have discovered because of that small decision.

When I was 12 I was introduced to Les Mis and it completely changed my life but a year later my cousin and I decided to watch Rent instead of another movie and I was introduced to Idina Menzel. If that hadn’t happened who knows what would’ve changed and to think that a puzzle and 30 second commercial sparked the remberance of that one small memory from years ago. Like the line from the show says I’m still “working on the puzzle” but “still here I go.”

Also in case you haven't seen it check out the music video to Minuet!

XOXO

-Bwaygirl828