I've just come in from a lovely cabaret outing.
Lee Lessack and Stephen Schwartz (whom I hear is a personal friend of bk) performed at the Pittsburgh Renaissance Hotel, and what a performance it was!
Lee is a lovely person, and his parents are quite a lot of fun, too. Lee sang a lot of Johnny Mercer songs, including a medley of "In Other Words/Moon River" (the former NOT being a Mercer lyric), told Mercer anecdotes and held the audience in thrall for the better part of an hour; Stephen, who also seems as lovely person (I didn't get to spend as much time with him), sang solo for about a half an hour, opening with his "Dreamscape" and closing with his "Forgiveness' Embrace" with songs from WICKED, CHILDREN OF EDEN and THE BAKER'S WIFE in between. Lee joined Stephen for "For Good" and a rousing, closer "Day by Day."
Following the performance, there was a meet and greet in the foyer, where I finally got to meet Mr. Schwartz, who confessed to me that his singing wasn't at its peak tonight, when we discussed the gorgeous, though challenging "Forgiveness' Embrace." Refreshing to find that this award winning composer is so down to earth and brutally honest with his fans.
Mr. Lessack and I spoke before the show, he recognized me from myspace (not to mention my uncanny resemblance to Martin Mull), and after the show, he offered to let me be his guest when he returns to the tri-state area in February with "Three Men and a Baby Grand."
Lovely venue, lovely music and two very gifted, lovely men got my weekend off to a truly lovely start.
