"Musical Mondays" at Hell's Kitchen, November 2016

I don't know about y'all, but it's been a pretty busy and stressful week for me. So it's taken me a few days to get around to writing this, but I don't want to let the 4th birthday of Musical Mondays at Hell's Kitchen go by unmentioned! This fabulous monthly cabaret series hosted by super talented local actor/singers and real life BFFs Sheena Janson and Max Wojtanowicz began in November of 2012. Four years, 43 shows, over 200 performers, and over 300 musicals (what?! who knew there even were that many musicals!) later and they're still going strong. On the first Monday of every month, from 7 to 9 pm (morning people everywhere rejoice) at Hell's Kitchen in downtown Minneapolis, some of our top local talent can be seen singing songs from musicals beloved and obscure. The goal is to provide performing and networking opportunities, to celebrate musical theater, and to have fun! Their next event is on December 5 when the theme will be a grown-up Christmas wish list. Watch their Facebook page for more details.

One of the cool things about Musical Mondays is that I get to hear songs from musicals I've never heard of, as well as songs I know and love. And they always post the songlist on Facebook the next day, in case you're wondering, as I often do, "what is that song from?" Here's the selection from this week's show, performed by McKinnley Aitchison, Lars Lee, Norah Long, Jen Maren, Memo Rodriguez, and Bryan Wells with musical director Andrew Fleser:

Anything Can Happen (Mary Poppins) - all
["anything can happen if you let it" - scarily true in light of recent events!]
When It All Falls Down (Chaplin) - McKinnley
Anthem (Chess) - Memo
Forest for the Trees (Spitfire Grill) - Lars
Unsuspecting Hearts (Carrie) - Norah and McKinnley
Don't Rain on My Parade (Funny Girl) - Jen
Savin' It (by Carner/Gregor) - Bryan
Eternal Optimist medley - Norah
Hero and Leander (Myths and Hymns) - Sheena
The Song That Goes Like This (Spamalot) - Lars and Jen

INTERMISSION

excerpt from The Passage - 7th House
[a new original musical written by David Darrow premiering at the Guthrie next weekend]
I Love the Way (Something Rotten) - McKinnley and Memo
Disneyland (Smile) - Jen
Orphan Girl (by Miller/Tysen) - McKinnley
Stranger (Big Fish) - Memo
The Spider & The Fly (by Michael Gruber) - Norah and Bryan
Santa Fe (Newsies) - Lars
Migratory V (Myths and Hymns) - Norah
Voting Song (Vote (for me!): A Musical Debate) - Bryan
One Day More (Les Mis) - all

At the end of the show, theater tickets are raffled off (did I mention this event costs only $5?), which this month included the upcoming Orphan Trail, Company, and The Passage or What Comes of Searching in the Dark (all shows I'm super excited to see). Finally, in one of my favorite parts of Musical Mondays, the performers tell us where we can see them next. Go see these talents in one (or all) of these shows, and mark your calendars for the next Musical Mondays on December 5.

• Andrew Fleser: music directing Orphan Train at the History Theatre, opening November 19
• Bryan Wells: the return of Theater Latte Da's exquisitely lovely All is Calm, December 15-18 at the Pantages
• Jennifer Maren: the possible return of History Theatre's smash hit Glensheen next summer
• Lars Lee: currently appearing in Chanhassen Dinner Theatre's lovely Camelot
• Max Wojtanowicz: All is Calm, December 15-18 at the Pantages
• McKinnley Aitchison: nothing on the schedule (someone please hire this talented young woman!)
• Memo Rodriguez: A Midsummer Night's Dream at Park Square Theatre (student matinees in December)
• Norah Long: Orphan Train at the History Theater, opening November 19
• Sheena Janson: Ten Thousand Things' Fiddler on the Roof, opening in February

the lovely and talented cast of Musical Mondays