"Musical Mondays" at LUSH, April 2018

I know it's hard to believe today with all of the snow, but it's April! And with the beginning of a new month comes the fabulous monthly cabaret series Musical Mondays at LUSH! It's the 57th installment of this series, and as co-host Max Wojtanowicz noted, they're not running out of talented performers; the talent pool in this town is that deep. This month, six performers sang songs from Tony Award-winning musicals or performances. Because of that I knew most of the shows referenced, but as always there were a few surprises/educational moments. And of course, many entertaining, funny, and thrilling musical moments.

For a $5 donation (all of which goes to the artists), attendees are entered into a drawing to win theater ticket, which this month included:

• NEWSIES at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres (now playing through the fall)
• DANCE TIL YOU DROP at History Theatre (now playing through April 15)
• FIVE POINTS at Theater Latte Da (opening this weekend)
• GUYS & DOLLS at Old Log Theatre (now playing through June)
• Todrick Hall at the Varsity Theater (April 8)

Here's a list of performers and where you can see them on stages and in pits around town:

• Katherine Fried: currently starring as Amalia in Lyric Arts' delightful production of She Loves Me.
• Cathy Fuller: she jokingly said "I will never work again," which cannot be true, so someone needs to cast this talented veteran performer pronto!
• Jaclyn Juola: currently on stage (and in the aisles) in the Collide/History Theatre collaboration Dance 'Til You Drop, and soon appearing in another production of She Loves Me at Daleko Arts next month.
• Christian LaBissioniere: playing young Ben in Follies at Artistry, opening next weekend.
• Jon-Michael Reese: This Bitter Earth at Penumbra, opening later this month.
• Daniel Vinitsky: web design until the next show comes along.
• Co-host Sheena Janson (not present): the rolling world premiere of Mermaid Hour: Remixed, opening this weekend at Mixed Blood Theatre.
• Co-host Max Wojtanowicz: Ten Thousand Thing's Good Person of Szechwan next month.
• Music director Bradley Beahen: playing in the orchestra of Lyric Arts' She Loves Me.
• Bass player Shannon van der Reck: playing in the bands of Mermaid Hour: Remixed and Minneapolis Musical Theatre's site-specific High Fidelity at the Electric Fetus next month.
• Drummer Matt Nielsen: TBA.

And the list of songs, along with details about the Tony Awards won by the show or performer:

• A Musical (Something Rotten) - Daniel
• 2015 Tony for Christian Borle (see the Broadway tour in Minneapolis this week!)
• Johanna (Sweeney Todd) - Cathy/Christian/Daniel/Katherine
• 8 Tonys in 1979, including Len Cariou as Sweeney
• Not for the Life of Me (Thoroughly Modern Millie)
• 7 Tonys in 2002, including Sutton Foster in the title role
• A Hymn to Him (My Fair Lady) - Cathy
• 6 Tonys in 1957, including Rex Harrison as Henry Higgins
• At the Grand Hotel (Grand Hotel) - Jon-Michael
• 5 Tonys in 1990. including Michael Jeter, who sang this song
• The Light in the Piazza (The Light in the Piazza) - Katherine
• 6 Tonys in 2005
• Falling Slowly (Once) - Bradley/Jon-Michael
• 8 Tonys in 2012
• You’ll be Back (Hamilton) - Christian
• All of the Tonys in 2016
• Cell Block Tango (Chicago) - all
• No Tonys for the original production in 1976, 6 for the 1997 revival
• Shopping Around (Wish You Were Here) - Jaclyn
• 2 Tonys in 1953
• Send in the Clowns (A Little Night Music) - Cathy
• 6 Tonys in 1973
• As If We Never Said Goodbye (Sunset Boulevard) - Christian
• 7 Tonys in 1995
• Uh-oh (Tovarich) - Jaclyn/Jon-Michael
• 1963 Tony for Vivien Leigh
• Breaking All the Rules (Catch Me If You Can) - Daniel
• 2011 Tony for Norman Leo Butz
• Easy As Life (Aida) - Jon-Michael
• 4 Tonys in 2000, including Heather Headley who sang this song
• My Man (Funny Girl) - Katherine
• According to IBDB Funny Girl did not win any Tonys. Disqualified! But I'll overlook it because Katherine's performance was incredible (she is One To Watch).
• Found/Tonight (Hamilton & Dear Evan Hansen) - Max/Bradley
• Dear Evan Hansen won 6 Tonys in 2017
• Aquarius (Hair) – all
• No Tonys for the original production in 1969, but it won the Tony for best revival in 2009

Mark your calendar for the next Musical Mondays on May 7, when hopefully there will be no snow left. Watch their Facebook page for details.

the cast of Musical Mondays (@cherryandspoon Instagram)