Jay Armstrong Johnson: Jay’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

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Jay Armstrong Johnson

Jay’s Not So Scary Halloween Party

Feinstein’s/54 Below, NYC, October 31, 2017

Reviewed by Joel Benjamin for Cabaret Scenes

Jay Armstrong Johnson
Photo: Magda Katz

Halloween was certainly made more colorful by Jay Armstrong Johnson’s Jay’s Not So Scary Halloween Party at Feinstein’s/54 Below. Appropriately enough, it began with Kyle Branzel’s upbeat rendition of “Witchcraft” (Cy Coleman/Carolyn Leigh).

Taking his cue from the movie Hocus Pocus, Johnson dressed as the Bette Midler witch character, Winifred, while the Sarah Jessica Parker and Kathy Najimy sister roles were taken by Amanda Williams Ware and Allison Robinson, respectively, on a trio of “I Put a Spell on You” (Jay Hawkins) and “The Chicken Song” (Logan MacWilliams), setting the faux scary mood of the evening which featured a number of talented young performers in expansive costumes and makeup singing sort of appropriate songs.

A very funny Hamilton parody, “Sanderson Sisters” (Lin-Manuel Miranda/Jay Armstrong Johnson), was a bit odd, though performed with salacious gusto by Matt Ransdell, Natalie Hinds, Maddox Martin, Cody Jenkins, Johnson, Ware, and Robinson). Even Hello, Dolly! (Jerry Herman) came in for the “not so scary Halloween” treatment.

Better was “The World Has Gone Insane” from Jekyll & Hyde (Frank Wildhorn/Leslie Bricusse), sung with a palpable sharpness by Julia Mattison, and a combination of “Spooky” (Mike Shapiro/Harry Middlebrooks/James Cobb/Buddy Buie) and “Evil Woman” (Jeff Lynne) sung with knowing winks beneath their masks by Robinson and Lee Godleski.

Cutie-pie Danny Quadrino dressed and sang as Pinocchio with an adorable rendition of “I’ve Got No Strings” (Leigh Harline/Ned Washington), while Alysha Umphress raised a lot of neck hairs with her scary “Cruella De Vil” (Mel Leven).

Rodney Bush, musical director/pianist, let an exuberant band in his witty arrangements: John Lake (trumpet); Josh Plotner (reeds); David Cinquegrana (guitar); Joseph Wallace (bass); Trey Ware (drums); Kiku Enomoto (violin); and Allison Seidner (cello).

Joel Benjamin

A native New Yorker, Joel was always fascinated by musical theater. Luckily, he was able to be a part of seven Broadway musicals before the age of 14, quitting to pursue a pre-med degree, which led no where except back to performing in the guise of directing a touring ballet troupe. Always interested in writing, he wrote a short play in high school that was actually performed, leading to a hiatus of nearly 40 years before he returned to writing as a reviewer. Writing for Cabaret Scenes has kept him in touch with world filled with brilliance.