Back in 2021, the Artistic Director of Six Points Theater (then called Minnesota Jewish Theatre) Barbara Brooks created a virtual musical revue called
Promise of America: A Celebration of Jewish American Song as part of their "Theater Six Feet Apart" season (which also included
outdoor programming). I watched it, but have no recollection of it; the COVID years are a blur at this point, five years removed. Barbara noted in the program that she's gotten many requests to bring this show back, live and in person. She decided to do it now, to conclude Six Points' 31st season, in honor of America's 250th birthday, as a celebration of the many contributions of Jewish Americans to this country, specifically in the area of songwriting. In this new, expanded, and LIVE version of
Promise of America, four excellent singers perform songs from the early 20th Century through today by artists from Irving Berlin and the Gershwin brothers, to Nissim Black and Regina Spektor. Jewish people and Jewish culture are an inextricable part of America, and this show beautifully highlights their contributions in the area of popular music.
Join the musical celebration at Six Points Theater now through May 17.
The title Promise of America feels a little ironic right now, when it seems like America is failing on many of its promises to those who need it most (immigrants, women, people of color). But this show is full of stories of immigrants, and children of immigrants, who came to America for a better life, and found it, making America better in return. Barbara Brooks wrote the book for this show, which proceeds more or less chronologically through the 20th Century and into the 21st. The show is well constructed, the songs well chosen to give us a few dozen highlights from this rich and deep catalogue of music. We also get to learn a little bit about each songwriter, their history and inspiration, before we hear their music.
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Imani Harris, Ben Dutcher, Kim Kivens, and Randy Schmeling
(photo by Sarah Whiting) |
Kim Kivens and Ben Dutcher return from the 2021 virtual production, joined by Randy Schmeling and Imani Harris. This fab four are all great singers and storytellers, as they pass the narration back and forth, taking turns singing solo, and the best part - join together in gorgeous harmonies. They're unmiked in the intimate theater space at the Highland Park Community Center, nothing coming between their voices and our ears. Music director Raymond Berg (who also provided the musical arrangements) leads the three-piece onstage band on keyboard, joined by Joey Van Phillips on percussion and Christian Wheler on guitar and other stringed instruments. They're seated center stage on a raised platform, against a backdrop of weathered red, white, and blue squares, some of which light up in different colors. Director/choreographer Shelli Place makes good use of the space, with the performers moving around in front of and on the raised platform, sitting on stools or the side of the set, and performing some fun, appropriate, but not too showy choreography. The focus is the music, as it should be. (Scenic design by Brady Whitcomb, lighting design by Reemtsma.)
The song list includes early 20th Century standards, lots of mid-century musical theater, and the Brill Building musicians of the '60s and '70s. Almost every one of these songs is familiar, and it's so great to hear them in this space with these performers. Highlights include Imani's lovely "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man" (Kern/Hammerstein), Randy's funny "Mack the Knife" (Weill/Brecht) and sweet "Edelweiss" (Rogers/Hammerstein), Ben's gorgeous "Bridge Over Troubled Water" (Simon), Kim's heart-rending "Send in the Clowns" (Sondheim) and "The Way We Were" (Hamlisch/Bergman/Bergman), as well as songs from Lieber and Stoller, Carole King, Billy Joel, Leonard Cohen, and the obligatory "Sweet Caroline" (Diamond) singalong. This would be a great 90-minute no intermission show... if not for the intermission. But the intermission does allow for a costume change, the performers dressed in chic cocktail attire in jewel tones (costume design by A. Emily Heaney).
There's nothing really new or revelatory about this compilation of songs, I'm not sure I learned anything I didn't know before (except about the modern artists), but it's a nice overview of 20th Century Jewish American songwriting. And hearing these familiar and beloved songs from many different decades, all together in a historical narrative and performed by this fab group, is a treat.
