The home of the Travelers was transformed into \u201cThe Heart of Broadway\u201d on Saturday night, October 5th for the latest concert in the Prana Music Series. An enthusiastic crowd was delighted from start to finish by the eclectic selection of Broadway tunes performed by talented singers Eric Lumiere and Cheri Jamison, and special guests Kevin McMillan and Ariel Downs, accompanied by the illustrious Merrill Collins on piano.<\/p>\n
The show opened appropriately with a rousing rendition by the entire company of \u201cIt\u2019s a Grand Night for Singing\u201d from the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical film State Fair. Next, Cheri took the audience on a transcendent flight \u201cOver the Rainbow\u201d in her sweet, crystal clear voice that induced goosebumps in more than one listener. Romantic overtones radiated during Eric and Cheri\u2019s heartfelt duet of \u201cSun and Moon\u201d from Miss Saigon, followed by a stirring Andrew Lloyd Webber Phantom of the Opera medley; both leads gave strong, believable performances in their roles. Cheri segued into flirtatiousness with the humorous \u201cStars and the Moon\u201d from Songs for a New World, and Eric tackled Les Mis\u00e9rables with a moving, powerful \u201cBring Him Home.\u201d<\/p>\n
What came next was announced as the World Premiere of a beautiful new love song, \u201cSafe Harbor,\u201d written together by Merrill (music) and Cheri, whose lyrics were inspired by her wedding last year:<\/p>\n
Our love will be Safe Harbor
\nBeyond the great Unknown
\nLike a ship across the waters, we will sail
\nThrough all the storms of life
\nWe\u2019ll trust that guiding Light
\nIn my arms you\u2019re in Safe Harbor, you\u2019re home<\/p>\n
In keeping with this theme, the first half closed with \u201cLove Changes Everything\u201d from Webber\u2019s Aspects of Love, featuring solos by Ariel and Kevin.<\/p>\n
After an intermission during which coffee, tea and delicious chocolate chip cookies were served in the dining room, Cheri started off the second half channeling Julie Andrews in Rodgers and Hammerstein\u2019s The Sound of Music, singing \u201cMy Favorite Things.\u201d Then she showed off her impressive vocal range with \u201cSummertime,\u201d the first of three selections from George and Ira Gershwin\u2019s Porgy and Bess. Eric joined in for a duet of \u201cBess, You Is My Woman,\u201d then Merrill had everyone in the audience on their feet for the toe-tapping instrumental, \u201cOh, I Can\u2019t Sit Down.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another original song written by Merrill, \u201cNous Nous Retrouverons\u201d gave Cheri a chance to show off her singing talents in French. Merrill shared that the lyrics were inspired by a parting hug from a friend, who said “Nous nous retrouverons bientot,” a French expression that means “we return to each other soon.” The bridge is a metaphysical poem about returning to the soul realm, the last line of which was contributed by MSIA co-president Vincent Dupont, translated as:
\nI remember well the day we left home
\nWith joy we keep our eyes on the return
\nSince the fall, we discovered our wings,
\nEmbrace the sky that opens now to us.<\/p>\n
The sacred mood shifted 180 degrees into the silliness of The Lion King\u2019s \u201cHakuna Matata\u201d by Elton John and Tim Rice, performed by Cheri (as Simba the lion cub), Eric (Timon the meerkat) and Kevin (Pumbaa the warthog), a crowd-pleasing number that served up laughter all around. The fun continued with Cheri\u2019s depiction of \u201cThe Girl in 14G,\u201d a four-octave number that was especially written for Kristen Chenoweth\u2019s 2001 debut album, \u201cLet Yourself Go.\u201d In closing, the modern musical Rent by Jonathan Larson was represented by Eric with \u201cOne Song Glory\u201d and by the full ensemble in a magnificent finale, \u201cSeasons of Love.\u201d<\/p>\n