The Cast Photo courtesy of The Bridge Initiative

A Grand Night for Singing combines close to two dozen songs from the duo's extensive catalog with Rodgers' strong musical compositions and Hammerstein's succinct and often romantic lyrics into a musical revue structure, offering a mix of well-known classics and lesser-performed gems from shows like Oklahoma!, Carousel, South Pacific, The King and I, and Cinderella. The concert's format, though scaled down from a traditional musical theatre production, maintained a smooth flow, with each song naturally leading into the next under Trisha Ditsworth's passionate but playful direction. The absence of a full orchestra didn't detract from the overall experience; in fact, the stripped-back approach allowed the performers' voices and the timeless lyrics to shine under the expert musical skills of pianist and music director James May.

The cast of five singers–Loren Battieste, Lauren Berman, Linsey Maxson, Nick Gunnell, and Kim Richard–delivered exceptional vocal performances, with clear, rich tones and precise harmonies that made each number shine. Their vocal precision and emotional depth were particularly moving in upbeat ensemble pieces like "It's a Grand Night for Singing," which opened the show with a burst of joyful energy, to the solo that came toward the end of the concert, the gorgeously sung and soaring "This Nearly Was Mine" from South Pacific, which Battieste delivered beautifully.

In between were many other highlights, including Richards belting out "A Wonderful Guy" from South Pacific, Gunnell delivering comical versions of "Maria" (the only song from, arguably, the team's most popular show, The Sound of Music, included in this show) and "Surrey with the Fringe on Top" from Oklahoma!, Linsey Maxson's comical "I Cain't Say No" from Oklahoma!, and Berman's beautiful delivery of "Something Wonderful" from The King and I. There were also bright versions of a few lesser-known comical tunes, including "Don't Marry Me" from Flower Drum Song and "It's Me" from Me and Juliet, which proved that even if one of their shows was not as successful or as popular as their hit musicals, the songs still shined.

Whether performing beloved duets or tackling more introspective ballads, the cast demonstrated a deep understanding of the material and brought a fresh energy to every song under Ditsworth's clear direction. The orchestrations by Michael Gibson and Jonathan Tunick offer different takes on many of these classic songs and May's crisp music direction showcased the five singers' ability to blend harmonies beautifully. With only a piano, the music still felt rich and full, allowing the vocals to take center stage while remaining true to the spirit of the original scores.

With outstanding music direction and a gifted cast, A Grand Night for Singing at Bridge Initiative proved to be a wonderful tribute to Rodgers and Hammerstein's songbook, filled with rich vocal performances, excellent piano accompaniment, and heartfelt interpretations of these classic tunes.

The Bridge Initiative's A Grand Night for Singing ran October 6 - 7, 2024, at ASU Kerr Cultural Center, Scottsdale AZ. Information for upcoming The Bridge Initiative productions can be found at bridgeinit.org.