Hello Beautiful People,
If I may be frank, today was a day where everything, and I mean EVERYTHING was going wrong.
Everything.
But, I made it to 54 Below to see Once Upon a Time in NYC 3.
And as I sat down, and as the music filled the room, well, I could breathe a bit easier. I forgot the sheer horror of my morning, afternoon, and early evening – and I lost myself in the music. The stories. The words. The passion. The New York nostalgia just knocked me on my feet, and it was sheer. Bliss.
But, allow me to recap –
Once Upon a Time in New York City is an original concert series, produced and created by the one and only, Ms. Jennifer Ashley Tepper. The concert series features a slate of brand new songs about the Big Apple, written by some of the greatest composers and songwriters living in NYC today. And to add that personal touch, there are anecdotes from both the songwriters and singers preceding each song.
It. Is. Awesome.
And while it’s safe to say that I am a fan of everything that Jennifer does, this concert series in particular is something that I absolutely adore. You see, Once Upon a Time in New York City 2 was the first time I had the pleasure of meeting Ms. Tepper. It’s the first time I met many of the key players that were on the stage this evening, and so, I will always have a soft spot for this series. Once Upon a Time in New York City 2 left me…breathless…recharged…inspired…happy. Oh so very happy. For that concert series was the stuff that every theater lover, music lover, and New Yorker dreams of; it was just magic. And I didn’t think it could get any better…
…until tonight.
First, let it be known that I have the utmost respect and admiration for everyone on and behind that stage. So, congratulations must be paid to Katie Thompson, Sam Tedaldi, Nathan Tysen, Chris Miller, Sammy Buck, Dan Acquisto, Nick Cearley, Josh Zecher – Ross, Lauren Marcus, Dennis Michael Keefe, Alexander Sage Oyen, Anna Ty Bergman, John Sood, David Kirshenbaum, Rob Rokicki, Amanda Flynn, Micah Burgess, George Salazar, Rachel Lee, Eric Price, Will Reynolds, Jeremy Jordan, Amanda Green, Jeff Bowen, Analise Scarpaci, Lewis Grosso, Carmel Dean, Jenny Stafford, Bonnie Milligan, and of course, Jennifer Ashley Tepper. Each and every one of you exemplify what it means to be an artist in the greatest sense. There is beauty in your sounds, purpose in your words, and everyone who listens is the better for it.
But, as always, there are songs that, for some reason or another resonated with me this particular evening.
The first happened to be The City and You, by Alexander Sage Oyen and Anna Ty Bergman. As I mentioned at the start of this article, I was having a bit of a stressful day. But this song, their words, and Alexander’s performance was the perfect…escape. It was a song that completely enraptured me in its story. It was lovely.
Another favorite moment was The Music of New York City, written by David Kirshenbaum and performed by Chelsea Packard. I think my heart stopped several times within this song. You see, I was born in New York, I went to high school in New York, I went college in New York, I went to graduate school in New York. I student taught in New York. I bleed New York. There’s a pulse to this city, that is rooted in heart and spirit and passion and love and every extreme emotion one could possibly muster. And David Kirshenbaum was able to transform that into a song, and it took my breath away. This song, well, it made me laugh, it made me smile, it made me tear up, it made me remember so many different bits of life…and it was what, three minutes? It was an attack of the senses. And I mean that in the greatest way possible, as it was storytelling at it’s finest.
Finally, The Most Important Children’s Song Ever, written by Jeff Bowen and performed by Analise Scarpaci and Lewis Grosso might actually be one of the most clever songs I’ve ever heard. Ever. And Scarpaci and Grosso were just a pleasant surprise, I mean it’s not every day that you go to a show at 54 Below and see two child actors perform a song that involves naming every single Broadway theater, while simultaneously getting a crowd of adults to absolutely roar with delight. Only in New York.
Once Upon a Time in New York City it is a concert series that seems to strengthen and shine brighter each and every time it is done.
I know we all wait with bated breath for Once Upon a Time in NYC…4.
Live, Love, Learn,