"Children and Art" - A Cabaret Performance by the Cast of the Guthrie's "Sunday in the Park with George" at Lush

In what was essentially a very special episode of "Musical Mondays," the sublime cast of the Guthrie's Sunday in the Park with George (now playing through August 20) gathered at Lush on Monday night for a cabaret performance. Hosted by cast member Max Wojtanowicz (who also co-hosts the usual "Musical Mondays at Hell's Kitchen" on the first Monday of every month), the theme was "Children and Art," and the proceeds of the night went to an organization called Project Success. Partnering with the Guthrie and other theaters in town, Project Success provides support and activities (including theater and the arts) for young people in order to "motivate and inspire them to dream about the future, help them take steps to get there, and give them the tools the need to achieve their goals." A worthy cause, and a wonderful celebration of music.

This cast is crazy talented, so needless to say all of the performances were wonderful. The program for the evening was as follows (accompanied by Jerry Rubino on piano):

• Britta Ollman (Frieda/Elaine) and Sasha Andreev (Franz/Alex): "Our Children" from Ragtime (which they performed last fall with Theatre Latte Da)
• Benjamin Lorhberg (Soldier/Waiter): "Giants in the Sky" from Into the Woods
• Christian Bardin (Celeste #1/Photographer): "Nature Boy," first recorded by Nat King Cole but which we musical theater nerds know from the movie Moulin Rouge
• Christine Toy Johnson (Old Lady/Blair Daniels) and Randy Harrison (George): a charming song written by Christine for a musical that she's working on (accompanied by David Darrow on guitar)
• David Darrow (Soldier/Dennis): a song he wrote cut from one of the many musicals he's written, from the perspective of astronaut Michael Collins
• Cat Brindisi (Celeste #1/Betty) and Erin Mackey (Dot/Marie): a beautiful duet of "Children will Listen" from Into the Woods (arranged and accompanied by David)
• Ann Michels (Yvonne/Naomi): "The Glamorous Life" from A Little Night Music
• Emily Gunyou Halaas (Nurse/Mrs./Harriet): "I Won't Mind" from The Other Franklin
• Lamar Jefferson (understudy): "Middle of the Moment" from James and the Giant Peach
• Norah Long and Joel Liestman (understudies): "When the Children are Asleep" from Carousel
• T. Mychael Rambo (Mr./Charles): a super fun audience participation song about The Signifying Monkey
• Max Wojtanowicz (Louis/Billy): "Come Down from the Tree," a song cut from Once on This Island
• Natalie Tran and Maia Hernandez (Louise alternates): An adorable duet of "We Do Not Belong Together" from Sunday in the Park, in costume as Dot and George
• The cast: a beautiful mash-up of "Children and Art" from Sunday in the Park and "No One is Alone" from Into the Woods, arranged by Jason Hansen

Take-aways:

1. We have some amazing talent here in #TCTheater!
2. Check out the work Project Success is doing, and if you like what you see, consider supporting them in whatever way you can. You can find more information on their website.
3. Visit Lush Bar for fun events like these, with reasonably priced and delicious food and drink available before, during, and after the show. See their website for a schedule of events.
4. Go see the stunning Sunday in the Park with George at the Guthrie before it closes on August 20! Visit their website for more information and to purchase tickets.

the cast of "Children and Art"
(photo credit: @cherryandspoon Instagram)