“New Faces” sing Broadway NOW a special Porchlight evening

Highly Recommended ***** While I know that what you are about to read about will be gone before you finish reading it, I truly feel that everyone should know more about Porchlight’s exciting “New Faces” program. They find some of the brightest “new faces” in Chicago, some working on our stages, others, newly arrived,and ready to set this town on its heels, The young performers are terrific. The evening, done tonight in Evanston’s “Space” a “cabaret” in Evanston on Chicago Avenue, just south of Dempster. Space is the “back room” so to speak of the Union , located at 1245 Chicago Avenue. There is also a second performance at The Arts Club of Chicago, but that one is sold out. The reason I tell you this is so that next time you hear that Porchlight is presenting a New Faces program, you RUN-do not walk to make sure you get in on the action. What an evening it was!

An opening message from Michael Weber, who introduced us to the concept of “New Faces” and the years that Broadway’s great discoveries came into the limelight. He then turned the “mike” over to one of Chicago’s favorite talents, Lorenzo Rush Jr., who introduced us to the musical director, David Fiorello and the ten amazing, talented performers that are either gracing a Chicago stage, have graced a Chicago stage recently or are about to make their mark on the theater scene here!

Remember these names! Just as Broadway’s “New Faces” brought the best of the best to the stages of New York, what we saw and heard at the Space, were a very talented group of young talents who will be around here ( and possibly off to New York) for years to come. As you know, I think we have more talent here than the “big Apple” and even London. Actors all want that Broadway hit, so I can understand them desiring the NY stage, but this is where it is at!

The shows represented tonight were “The Lion King”, “King Kong”, “Waitress”, “The Prom”, “Dear Evan Hansen”, “Beautiful”, “Hamilton”, :The Book of Mormon”, “Come From Away”, “The Cher Show”, “Pretty Woman”, “The Wiz” and a fantastic rendition of “The Phantom of The Opera” ( Trevor Vanderzee and Cecilia Iole NAILED IT)!

Each and every performer showed their brilliance on the stage and the packed house had two wonderful hours, most not wanting the show to end.  Pay attention to one of the New Faces that will surely be handling many comic roles in the future. Nick Druzbanski can sing, play the guitar and has solid comic timing. If you see he is in a play, you know you will have a solid experience. In fact, one might say that each and every name I am going to list is one to remember, because surely they will be here for many years to come. Thank you Porchlight for bringing them to us!

Darilyn  Burtley, Satya Jnani Chavez, Chloe Nadon-Enriquez ( proving big things come in small packages), Kaimana Neil, Jerome Riley Jr., Drew Tanabe and the afore- mentioned, Mr. Druzbanski, Ms Iole and Mr. Vanderzee.

To keep up with Porchlight, visit www.porchlightmusictheatre.org