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Cavalcade for 6/20

BY: VIOLET SPEVACK Columnist

The SELREC Singers perform a glitzy “Forty & Fabulous” musical revue.

Forty & Fabulous

It was “another opening, another show” for the enduring SELREC Singers at the Brush High School Performing Arts Center for three performances last weekend. And this one was, in a word, spectacular. “Forty & Fabulous” was a glitzy, glamorous, well-staged and

-costumed musical revue of highlights from the group’s 40 years of entertaining musical shows.

From its opener of “The Joint Is Jumpin’” (performed in ’06) to its splendiferous finale of “Rhythm of Life” (’74, ’76, ’87, ’93, ’02), the 30-member SELREC Singers and its new director, Jennifer Cochran, captivated the audience with an off-Mayfield-Broadway production that sizzled with talent and verve. Soaring-voiced soloists and agile dancers included SELREC stalwarts Sherry and Tom Niederkorn, Aubrey Cox, Carolyn Kottler, Nanette Sherwood, Marti Katz, Scott Lewis, Stewart Hoicowitz, Alan Sills, Staci Vincent and Laurel Angie. Laurel is the gorgeous, super-talented redhead who wrote the script as well as the bouncy jingle for Dr. Steven Marsh’s dental commercial (’07).

Harriet Siebert and Evan Komito were cute and sassy in shticks between numbers. Sensational was the performance of “All That Jazz” (’83, ’99, ’07) by five sensuous singers. Everyone looks forward to another 40 years of scintillating musicals from the SELREC Singers as the performers again “Turn the Beat Around” (’99).



Cavalcade for 6/15

BY: VIOLET SPEVACK Columnist

‘Spirit of Broadway’ …

It was “another opening, another show” for the multitalented, toe-tapping, body-swaying, high-spirited, 36-member SELREC Singers, who sang their hearts out in the troupe’s June extravaganza “Spirit of Broadway.”

The musical revue had three performances last weekend at Brush High School Performing Arts Center. Against the backdrop of a glittering 42nd Street and Broadway marquee with special lighting; gorgeous, glitzy costumes; and a terrific orchestra, the troupe saluted Broadway musicals of the past century.

In marvelously choreographed musical numbers, they pealed out with such memorable favorites as “You’ll Never Walk Alone” and “All That Jazz.” The SELRECs have an incredible edge with fabulous soloists endowed with exquisite voices and superb performing skills. To mention just a few: Laurel Angie, the gorgeous, red-haired soprano who scripted the show, to peripatetic singer, performer and journalist Staci Vincent and actor Wayne Merholz, a guest performer who dialogued between scenes.

Outstanding numbers included “Do You Hear the People Sing?” and a dazzling finale of “Give My Regards to Broadway” with the troupe high-stepping with canes and wearing gold derbies. Most towering applause at the closing Saturday-night performance came with a surprise offering of a powerful, emotionally tinged solo of “This Is the Moment” by multigifted R. Scott Posey, his swan song to the SELREC Singers he has led as musical director for the past three years.

Performing “All That Jazz” at SELREC’s musical revue are, from left, Julie Pavlock, Martha Cox, Staci Vincent, Marti Katz and Aubree Cox.