{"id":106373,"date":"2023-02-22T12:20:47","date_gmt":"2023-02-22T20:20:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forallevents.com\/reviews\/?p=106373"},"modified":"2023-02-22T12:22:54","modified_gmt":"2023-02-22T20:22:54","slug":"106373-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forallevents.com\/reviews\/106373-2\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cBlues in the Night\u201d at Meadow Brook Theatre, Rochester Hills MI"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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Reviewed by Suzanne Angeo (member, American Theatre Critics Association; Member Emeritus, San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle), and Greg Angeo (Member Emeritus, San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle)<\/em><\/p>\n

Photos courtesy of Sean Carter Photography<\/em><\/p>\n

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Jameela Leaundra, Parnell Damone Marcano, Jackey Good, Angela Birchett<\/p><\/div>\n

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Lady Sings the Blues, Steals the Show<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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Continuing their 56th<\/sup> season, Meadow Brook Theatre offers a sizzling musical revue that should appeal to just about anybody that likes music. While \u201cBlues in the Night\u201d doesn\u2019t have much dialogue, it more than makes up for it in spirit and feeling, expressed through 27 classic songs delivered by four talented performers. Chosen from among the best of the Great American Songbook, this music represents the genesis of popular music today. Director Tyrick Wiltez Jones<\/strong> says: \u201c\u2026if it weren\u2019t for Blues, the music we listen to today wouldn\u2019t exist. Pop, country, jazz, gospel, hip hop, rock and the list goes on.\u201d<\/p>\n

Conceived by American theatre director Sheldon Epps<\/strong>, with vocal arrangements, musical direction and orchestration by Chapman Roberts<\/strong> and Sy Johnson<\/strong>, \u201cBlues in the Night\u201d was first presented off-Broadway in 1980, then on Broadway in 1982. It went on to nods for a number of awards, including a Tony for Best Musical, and a Lawrence Olivier Award for Best New Musical on London\u2019s West End.<\/p>\n

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(clockwise from front left) Jameelah Leaundra, Jackey Good, Parnell Damone Marcano, Angela Birchett<\/p><\/div>\n

The setting: It’s 1938 Chicago, birthplace of the blues. There\u2019s a depression on, President Roosevelt is in office, and war looms in Europe. Three lonely ladies, all in separate rooms, and a lone gent, hanging out in the bar, are at a cheap hotel reminiscing about past lives and loves, good and bad. Songs tell the story, from \u201cBlue Blues\u201d (by Bessie Smith) to \u201cTaking a Chance on Love\u201d (from the iconic musical \u201cCabin in the Sky\u201d) to \u201cLover Man\u201d (made famous by Billie Holiday) to \u201cNobody Knows You When You\u2019re Down and Out\u201d (also by Bessie Smith).<\/p>\n

The characters are presented as archetypes: \u00a0The Woman (Jameela Leaundra<\/strong>), with lots of experience and bitter memories; The Girl (Jackey Good<\/strong>), very young, very hopeful, very disillusioned; The Lady (Angela Birchett<\/strong>), world-weary and wise-cracking, with fond memories of her life onstage and the men in her life; The Man (Parnell Damone Marcano<\/strong>) all smooth moves and a good line, looking for his next conquest.<\/p>\n

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Angela Birchett<\/p><\/div>\n

While the cast is excellent both as an ensemble and as individual performers, the real standout is Birchett, through her stage presence, body language and powerful voice. She is funny, sophisticated and raunchy. Plus she has some of the best lines \u2013 and songs! When she sings \u201cKitchen Man\u201d you sure know what\u2019s cookin\u2019.<\/p>\n

The band, led by Musical Director Brian E. Buckner<\/strong> on piano, is worth the price of admission, more than just an accompaniment or backup. With Russ Macklem<\/strong> on trumpet, Don Platter<\/strong> on sax, Jackson Stone<\/strong> on bass and Louis Jones III<\/strong> on drums, they could have a regular gig in any of the best clubs in town. A special shout-out to costume designer Karen Kangas-Preston<\/strong> who provided some of the most gorgeous dresses ever for the lucky ladies in the show.<\/p>\n

Nicely staged and choreographed by Director\/Choreographer Tyrick Wiltez Jones<\/strong>, with great lighting (Neil Koivu<\/strong>) and set design (Kristen Gribben<\/strong>), \u201cBlues in the Night\u201d is thoroughly entertaining, pleasing in sight and sound. You can just sit back, relax, and enjoy some of the best music of the past 150 years.<\/p>\n

Now through March 12, 2023 <\/strong><\/p>\n

Tickets $37 to $46<\/strong><\/p>\n

Meadow Brook Theatre at Wilson Hall<\/strong><\/p>\n

Oakland University<\/strong><\/p>\n

378 Meadow Brook Rd<\/strong><\/p>\n

Rochester Hills, MI 48309<\/strong><\/p>\n

(248) 377-3300<\/strong><\/p>\n

www.mbtheatre.com<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n

A special note: As Covid-19 is a constantly changing situation, MBT will be monitoring and adhering to the guidance given by the CDC, the State of Michigan, the Actor\u2019s Equity Association, and Oakland University. Check the Meadow Brook Theatre website at www.mbtheatre.com for the latest information on efforts to keep everyone safe.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

This theater operates under an agreement between the League of Resident Theatres and Actors\u2019 Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers of the United States. The theater operates under the agreement with the International Alliance of Theatre Stage employees, Local 38.<\/em><\/p>\n

Meadow Brook Theatre’s season is supported in part by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Kresge Foundation, the Fred and Barbara Erb Family Foundation, the Shubert Foundation and the Meadow Brook Theatre Guild.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  Reviewed by Suzanne Angeo (member, American Theatre Critics Association; Member Emeritus, San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle), and Greg Angeo (Member Emeritus, San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"yasr_overall_rating":4,"yasr_post_is_review":"","yasr_auto_insert_disabled":"","yasr_review_type":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-106373","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-greg-suzanne-angeo"},"yasr_visitor_votes":{"stars_attributes":{"read_only":true,"span_bottom":"