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by Michael Portantiere

True Originals


  • True Originals

    Colm Wilkinson, the original Jean Valjean in Les Misérables, returned to the New York stage some 20 years after his last Broadway performance in that mega-hit to give a concert at The Town Hall on Saturday, October 18. The event was part of the venue's annual Broadway Cabaret Festival, produced by Scott Siegel, which this year kicked off on Friday the 17th with A Tribute to Lerner & Loewe and ended spectacularly on Sunday the 19th with Broadway Originals! Here are some in-performance photos of the last two concerts.

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    Wilkinson saved "Bring Him Home" from Les Miz for his second encore at the end of his nearly three-hour concert. When he finally performed it, he did so to the hilt, donning a jacket he wore in the show.

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    Many of the Broadway (and Off-Broadway) originals in Sunday's concert represented shows that opened decades ago, but they all still sounded and looked fabulous. Here's Lucie Arnaz (They're Playing Our Song).

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    D'Jamin Bartlett (A Little Night Music).

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    Gary Beach (Beauty and the Beast, The Producers, La Cage aux Folles).

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    Rita Gardner (The Fantasticks).

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    Stephen Mo Hanan (Cats).

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    Jerry Lanning, the original Patrick in Mame.

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    The amazing Karen Morrow (I Had a Ball).

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    Pamela Myers (Company).

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    Terri White, reprising her really-old-lady routine from Barnum.


    Published on Monday, October 20, 2008


    Michael Portantiere has more than 30 years' experience as an editor and writer for TheaterMania.com, InTHEATER magazine, and BACK STAGE. He has interviewed theater notables for NPR.org, PLAYBILL, STAGEBILL, and OPERA NEWS, and has written notes for several cast albums. Michael is co-author of FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: BEHIND THE MYLAR CURTAIN, published in 2008 by Hal Leonard/Applause. Additionally, he is a professional photographer whose pictures have been published by THE NEW YORK TIMES, the DAILY NEWS, and several major websites. (Visit www.followspotphoto.com for more information.) He can be reached at [email protected]


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