Stage Notes (and all that jazz): Listen To The Beat

Listen to the beat....listen to the beat.....yes, those words have been drumming in my head since I saw Memphis the Musical last Sunday. It's the hook from the song Steal Your Rock & Roll which they sing at the end of the show. Pretty catchy indeed! The show felt like a mash-up of Dreamgirls and Hairspray with a huge dose of social relevance. It's set in the 1950's and involves Huey Calhoun (Chad Kimball), a white radio dj, determined to have R & B music (his kind of music) playing in the airwaves. In the course of the story, Huey also falls for a very talented black singer, Felicia (Montego Glover) and promises to make her a star. The story is about the birth of rock and roll. Although the book was a bit predictable, I appreciated how the book writer didn't compromise with the ending. I have to commend him for that.

Montego Glover is such a powerhouse. She has a great voice and it's amazing how easily it flows out of her tiny body. I did love Chad Kimball's singing specially in the song Memphis Lives In Me. Why, he even made me so proud of Memphis' music heritage and I'm not from that city! His southern drawl was great I thought, but I did have a problem with his posturing during the show. It was a bit too much for me. James Monroe Iglehart is a joy to watch onstage. He plays Bobby the janitor at the radio station who discovers his talent for singing. What great dance moves he has! And for a big guy, he has lithe feet! I loved him. The energy and enthusiasm of the supporting cast and ensemble made this musical even more enjoyable.

If you get a chance to go to NYC, go and see it. An enjoyable, feet tapping fun!

After the show, we were lucky enough to go backstage. Betsy Struxness (Ensemble/Double Dutch Girl) was generous enough to share her time with us and led us onstage. It was as if I was stepping on sacred ground! Just think of all the theatre royalty who have tread these boards! It was also a bit daunting standing center stage and looking at the house with all those seats. I don't know how these actors do it and not get stage fright.

Betsy took time answering our questions and even relayed her Tony Awards night experience with us. Pretty thrilling to hear. I must say though that being able to stand on the stage of the Shubert is one of my favorite experiences in NYC. I couldn't resist and danced some of the show's choreography from Steal Your Rock & Roll just so I can say I was able to dance on a Broadway stage. Lame, I know but I guess now, I can scratch that off my bucket list!

Some photos I took that day: