 e |
| Cast presenting "Grease" segment. |
Even as Branson is celebrating 50 years of live music shows, “Broadway, The Star Spangled Celebration” stands out. From beginning to end, this show has the audience enraptured with the beauty of its dancing, vocals, choreography, costume changes, and energy. The lyrics from the Gershwin song “I Got Rhythm,” used to close the first half of the show contain a phrase that pretty well sums up this show as an entertainment experience, “Who could ask for anything more.”
“Broadway, The Star Spangled Celebration (Broadway)” is a kaleidoscope of some of Broadway’s most memorable musicals presented in a dynamic, exciting, varied, and fun filled manner. The flow of the show, from one number to the next, is seamless in spite of the costume changes, numerous styles of dancing, and vocal integration involved. This show is quality spectacular entertainment and fun for children as well as adults.
From their opening vocals, it is obvious that this show has two outstanding lead vocalists in Gene Yaws and Laureen Niamesny. Throughout the show their vocals, as well as the supporting vocals Fran Elkins, Mo, and Victoria, are choreographed with some of the best dancing in Branson into an entertaining and fast paced spectacle of Broadway’s best musicals.
In terms of the entertainment experience Broadway offers, it is the skill and energy of the shows dancers, their costuming, and the choreography that makes it a unique Branson entertainment experience. In a word, the dancers are “superb.” It’s amazing to watch them not only perform different styles of dancing as they transition from a show like “Cabaret” to “Oklahoma” or “Grease,” but to witness the energy, grace, and preciseness with which they do it.
The shows costuming is constantly changing as the cast goes from one Broadway show to another. And it’s not just that it is changing. The costuming is elegant and, like all of the other elements of the show, is seemingly choreographed into the show to add color, excitement and variety to the show.
Part of the shows excitement comes from the fact that the audience just does not know what to expect next. Oh they know it’s going to be a Broadway musical, but what they don’t know is how it will be presented.
What will the costuming be? Will it be a vocal solo or a full ensemble number with both vocals and dancers? The costuming, vocals, and dancing style involved with the shows “Oklahoma” segment is entirely different than those same elements when presented in “Grease,” even though both numbers involve most of the shows cast.
One moment, the show is moving along with a full cast number and then, seamlessly, gracefully, and beautifully, the pace changes. The shows female lead, Laureen Niamesny, is singing “Memory” from the show “Cats” and a duet of dancers is gracefully and elegantly dancing to the music she is singing. Then, in seemingly the twinkling of eye, the whole cast is back on stage and has transitioned into the fast paced colorful “Grease” segment.
The show has been described as, “The greatest Broadway spectacular this side of Times Square.” Based on the energy, scope, costuming, choreography, and level of dancing and vocal skills in the show, that just might be an understatement.
