Seth Christenfeld: Life, the Universe, and Everything: The Seth Christenfeld 42nd (and a half) Birthday Spectacular

Post author:Jacqueline Parker
Post published:May 13, 2025
Reading time:3 mins read

Seth Christenfeld

Life, the Universe, and Everything:
The Seth Christenfeld 42nd (and a half) Birthday Spectacular

54 Below, NYC, April 21, 2025

Reviewed by Jacqueline Parker

All that was missing was the cake, or at least a cupcake since this was not a full birthday celebration. It is rare to be taken by surprise in such a delightful way in the cabaret world. Seth Christenfeld, former literary manager for the York Theatre Company, is also an accomplished lyricist. He is known and deservedly respected for his extensive and insightful knowledge of musical theater, and the surprise lay in the fact that he is also quite an accomplished lyricist and providing the words for all but one of the songs that were presented in this show. (The composers are indicated in the parenthesis after each song title.)

This fact was evident from the beginning of the evening, when Apryl Arden began the party with “Aria for a Vengeful Soprano” (James Ballard). Her rich and powerful voice suddenly led into the lyric “Are You scr**ing her?,” a most unlikely phrase from such a beautiful voice. She returned later in the program to join Doug Shapiro and Sam Balzac in “March of the Critics” (Eric Grunin), which included a pithy lyric about a hyphen-lacking dash. Christenfeld’s contributions to the evening were peppered with such clever double entendres, reminiscent of a young Lorenz Hart or even Cole Porter.

Shapiro returned to the stage with “Listen to Me Less” (Nora Terzo) for which Christenfeld provided a suitably clever ending. There were touching and tender songs as well. Sam Simahk delivered “Lake Michigan Blue” (James Ballard) most effectively as a sentimental ballad. Ann Harada lent her stellar comedic chops to “It’s Sunny” (Amy Englehardt) and was duly rewarded with plentiful applause.

There was a loving tribute to composer and lyricist William Finn who died earlier in the month and had taught and garnered the respect and admiration of many of the performers. The musicians supporting this venture were members of The Badass All-B Band, an appropriately off-beat name for a group whose names all begin with B—James Ballard was busy with music direction and supervision as well as playing piano and trumpet; Will Buck shared piano duties on three of the songs; with Alec Berlin (guitar); Wes Bourland bass); and Brooke Trumm (drums). The other singers for the show were Sam Balzak, Aleandra de Suze, Jovan E’Sean, Lyda Jade Harlan, Alyse Alan Louis, Jesse Manocherian, Zal Owen, and Senna Prasatthong. The other composers represented in the show were Christiana Cole, Will Buck, and Paolo K Tiról.

Michael Winther brought the evening to a close with the upbeat “This Too Shall Pass” (Brendan Milburn) and spread the joy by encouraging us to clap along. Christenfeld returned to the stage to thank his audience and announced that he had been “reorganized out of a job,” but had responded to this change by writing the song “Here’s to New Adventures.” This was an evening of fun and frivolity; the love and respect all performers had for Christenfeld was palpable. Throw mine in as well!

Tags: Cole Porter, ASA, Paolo K Tiról, Guitar, James Ballard, William Finn, bas, 54 Below, Nora Terzo, This Too Shall Pass, NYC, Doug Shapiro, Piano, Brooke Trumm, Great American Songbook, drums, Brendan Milburn, songwriter, Sam Balza, Michael Winther, Sam Balzak, Broadway, Jacqueline Parker, Here’s to New Adventures, Vocalists, March of the Critics, Christiana Cole, Aleandra de Suze, Cabaret, MUSIC DIRECTION, CD, Eric Grunin, Ann Harada, Jovan E’Sean, Broadway Musicals, Singer, Listen to Me Less, Alyse Alan Louis, Lyda Jade Harlan, Sam Simahk, Cabaret Reviews, Lake Michigan Blue, York Theatre Company, Jesse Manocherian, American Songbook, Seth Christenfeld, CD Reviews, It’s Sunny, Cabaret Scenes, American Songbook Association, Zal Owen, Nightclubs, Life the Universe and Everything:The Seth Christenfeld 42nd (and a half) Birthday Spectacular, trumpet, Amy Englehardt, Alec Berlin, Senna Prasatthong, Musicals, Apryl Arden, Clubs, The Badass All-B Band, Wes Bourland, Will Buck, Lyricist, Aria for a Vengeful Soprano, composer, Will Buc

Jacqueline Parker

Like Ethel Merman, lifelong New Yorker Jacqueline Parker began her career as a stenographer. She spent more than two decades at the city's premier public agency, progressing through positions of increased responsibility after earning her BA in English from New York University (3.5 GPA/Dean’s List). She won national awards for her work in public relations and communication and had the privilege of working in the House of Commons for Stephen Ross, later Lord Ross of Newport. In the second half of her career, Jacqueline brought her innate organizational skills and creative talents to a variety of positions. While distinguishing herself in executive search, she also gave her talents to publishing, politics, writing, radio broadcasting and Delmonico's Restaurant. Most recently, she hosted Anything Goes! a radio show that paid homage to Cole Porter and by extension the world of Broadway musicals and the Great American Songbook. Other features of the show were New York living, classical music, books, restaurants, architecture and politics. This show highlighted the current Broadway scene, both in New York and around the country through performances and interviews with luminaries including Len Cariou, Charles Strouse, Laura Osnes, Steve Ross and Joan Copeland. Her pandemic project was immersion into the life, times and work of Alfred Hitchcock, about whom she has written a soon-to-be-published article. Jacqueline has been involved in a myriad of charitable causes, most notably the Walt Frazier Youth Foundation, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Sisters of Life, York Theatre, and the New Jersey Shakespeare Festival. She is a proud Founder of Hidden Water. Her greatest accomplishment is the parenting of her son, a lawyer specializing in mediation. She has many pretend grandchildren, nieces and nephews, on whom she dotes shamelessly, as well as a large circle of friends to whom she is devoted. Her interests in addition to theater and cabaret are cooking, entertaining, reading, and spending time on Queen Mary 2.