Skinner/Ripley: Live at The Pantages

October 1st, 2007
Charity Benefit for Actors Fund, The Pantages Lobby, Hollywood
Cabaret Show

Wow. One of the more memorable nights I'll be looking back on this year.

For starters, it was a chance to see (most of) their cabaret show they did at NYC's Town Hall. And secondly, it was for a great charity. But mostly, it was a rare opportunity to hear them both together. We've seen them on stage a lot, but never in such an intimate and no-holes-barred setting. As B expressed, "I like both of their voices for different reasons." Combine them, and it's a wonderful evening of two very unique and powerful voices... and comedy. :)

As mentioned in my main blog, I did get slightly teary. It's this sort of event that really drives home how special living in this city can be (of course NYC is foremost, but I'm just grateful I live somewhere that trades with NYC once in a while).

My favorite songs of the evening: Alice singing "YOU HAVE TO BE THERE," from Ulvaeus/Anderson (ABBA) musical "Kristina Fran Duvemala." Powerful. And the biggest laugh was Emily raving about Alice's version of the song, and saying sometimes she calls her on the phone and lsings the message: You have to be there, you HAVE to...." (you had to be there). And Emily just blew us all away with her sheer range and control in a song written for Barbara Cook, which I am going to call "HERE COMES THE BALLAD" (I can't remember the name, but it's a very funny send up of divas). And hearing "NO ONE IS ALONE" from "Into the Woods" was thrilling, as were both ballads from "Side Show."

A wonderful evening. More songs would have garnered the 5th star.

~S