In a nutshell, My Favorite Broadway is a loosely knit collection of Broadway show tunes, interspersed with bits of dialogue from Off the Wall founder and artistic director Dale Gutzman, who serves as the evening’s host. Most of his remarks referenced the times when his theater company staged this or that musical (such as Cinderella, Grand Hotel, etc.). Songs from these shows and dozens of others entertained the delighted audience for almost two hours. My Favorite Broadway was constructed to be a casual, freewheeling evening, with a handful of patrons seated at small bistro tables onstage. The rest of the audience was split between the two sides of the stage, which increased the show’s intimate atmosphere. With the able assistance of music director Carl Chadek on piano, the show kicks off with Gutzman singing, “On a Wonderful Day Like Today.” The upbeat mood continues with Teddi Gardner’s memorable, “Younger Than Springtime” from South Pacific , and Nathan Danzer’s cheery “Surrey with the Fringe on Top” from Oklahoma! The latter number required some audience participation, and a volunteer was more than up to the task of impersonating Laurie, Curly’s love interest. The dozen or so performers came out only long enough to deliver his/her musical number, then departed backstage. The pace quickened when some of the newer musicals were announced. Among the first-act highlights was Laura Monagle’s humorous “You’ll Be Back” from Hamilton, in which she donned a makeshift robe and crown to represent an imperious King George. Other high points included a heartfelt rendition of George Gershwin’s “They Can’t Take That Away from Me” by Bob Hirschi, and the full-throttle rendition of “When You’re Good to Mama” from Chicago , delivered by Caitlin Kujawski Compton.
Other shows represented in the showcase included, The Secret Garden, Gypsy, A New Brain , West Side Story, Man of La Mancha , Sunset Boulevard and Merrily We Roll Along.
All the tunes were delivered professionally by a cast that is simply too long to list in this review. The evening’s hit number was a nod to a recent Broadway flop, The Cher Show. Laura Monagle and Bob Hirschi paired up as a circa 1969 Sonny and Cher to sing, “I Got You, Babe.” Monagle’s impersonation of Cher, from her hair toss to her distinct vocal inflections, won over the crowd with a huge round of applause. Bob Hirschi, as Sonny, was a good sport for enduring his share of “short” jokes.
All in all, the evening accomplished what it set out to do: entertain a musical-loving crowd in a casual and relaxed setting, perfect for a summer night. It also served as a fundraiser for the company, which continues to operate on a shoestring budget with excellent results.
