What makes the Broadway by the Year series a must-see ticket season after season? Sounds easy — you get a leader with a wry point of view (Scott Siegel), you add a small band that cooks up a robust sound (Ross Patterson and his Little Big Band), and you bring on a cast that sings, dances and communicates its heart out.

In 1944, the Battle of the Bulge was raging in Europe, England was battling its own blitz, and American families were waiting for the boys to come home. It was not a Broadway year that contributed a roll-call of familiar hit songs. It did, however, create some showstoppers, and writer/creator Siegel, musical director, Ross Patterson and director/choreographer Jeffry Denman scored gold stars once again. They found just the right performer to inject a distinctive spirit into the right tune. Nine young, good-looking talents recreated the vitality that kept 1944 theater-goers upbeat in a time that had its share of problems.

The show opened with a bravado salute to "New York, New York" (On the Town), evoking a can-do WWII spunk. This was one of theater's groundbreaking musicals by composer Leonard Bernstein, lyricists Adolph Green and Betty Comden, and a youngster, director-choreographer Jerome Robbins. This set the scene and Siegel fleshed it out with some news of the day: Jackie Robinson, in 1944, was arrested for refusing to move to the back of the bus in Texas, Coppertone suntan lotion came on the scene, and "Chiquita" brought status to the long-ignored banana. Now hear this — Scott Siegel himself sang the "Chiquita Banana" jingle. A hint of things to come, perhaps? Some highlights: William Michals delivered an joyful "Lucky to Be Me" (On the Town) unplugged. He also rendered an evocative, "Twelve O'Clock and All Is Well" from Follow the Girls (Shapiro/Pascal/Charig), and "Strange Music" (Grieg/Wright/Forrest) with Sarah Jane McMahon, from the operetta Song of Norway.

Donning mustache and sombrero, Stephen DeRosa delivered Cole Porter's "The Good-Will Movement" (Mexican Hayride), taking on both North and South America. Again using his funny flair, DeRosa offered a choice in Porter's "Is It the Girl (Or Is It The Gown)?" (Seven Lively Arts).

Tony Yazbek reprised the same soulful "Lonely Town" he performed in Encores! On the Town this season. From Encores! recent production of Finian's Rainbow, strawberry-blonde Kate Baldwin took the award for Slyest Sex in a Comic Number with "I Can Cook, Too" (On the Town). Foregoing the laughs for tears, she also scored singing Porter's haunting "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye" (Seven Lively Arts).

Not to forget Kendrick Jones and Melinda Sullivan, again showing off their singing, hoofing chops with "You're Perf" (Follow the Girls) and Shannon Lewis joining Jeffry Denman singing in Porter's "I Love You" (Mexican Hayride).

1944, as it turned out, was a very good year.

The Broadway by the Year series ends with Broadway Musicals of 1970 on June 15, 2009.

(Pictured Stephen DeRosa and Sarah Jane McMahon. Photo by Michael Portanterie.)

Elizabeth Ahlfors
Cabaret Scenes
May 11, 2009
www.cabaretscenes.org