Macon Prickett: Hello, Macon! A Musical Tribute to Jerry Herman

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Macon Prickett

Hello, Macon! A Musical Tribute to Jerry Herman

54 Below, NYC, October 10, 2026

Reviewed by Jacqueline Parker

Macon Prickett

What better way to perk up a Saturday evening than to see a show packed with Jerry Herman’s hit tunes! Macon Prickett delivered this just-what-the-doctor-ordered kind of show, imbued with his natural enthusiasm and love of Herman’s songs.  This young man is destined to become a showman the likes of which are rarely encountered these days. From the minute he appeared, a-glitter in a black sequined jacket, his energy and enthusiasm were palpable and were transmitted almost instantly to the audience.

This carefully crafted and beautifully executed show seemed designed to win the prize for the ultimate feel-good show. A rousing overture arranged by music director Canaan J. Harris got the toes tapping as Macon approached the stage singing “It’s Today,” which segued into “Showtune.” These two songs share the same melody; Herman recycled the melody and wrote a different lyric to it for the score of Mame. As if the audience were not already in love with him, he strolled through the assembled guests singing “You I Like” while pointing out friends and luminaries, among whom was Marilyn Maye. Along the way he encouraged everyone to join the fun with hand clapping. A more sobering offering followed—”The Next Time I Love”—a rarely heard gem from Herman’s 1960 Off-Broadway revue Parade.

Prickett peppered the entire show with relevant and sometimes amusing patter about the songs and shows—much welcomed—such as the fact that his next song, “Love Is Only Love,” was cut from Mame but can be heard in the film Hello, Dolly! Robbie Rozelle joined him for “Put On Your Sunday Clothes” and “Elegance,” which allowed them to act  the roles of Barnaby and Cornelius, much to the delight of the audience.

A very touching rendition of “Time Heals Everything” followed, and then came a rousing “Before the Parade Passes By.” Both of these were surprising in their delivery because Prickett does not appear to be old enough to understand the importance of the lyrics. That’s true showmanship!

He seemed to relish the notion of two songs about women being scorned–”Wherever He Ain’t” and “So Long, Dearie.” He rendered them with just a tinge of spite, which added a bit of sparkle appropriate to the lyric but rarely delivered. A powerful urgency propelled “I Don’t Want to Know” and “I Am What I Am.” Both of them with messages Prickett seems too young to deliver so forcefully.

He concluded the evening in the only way that made sense: he asked everyone to join him in singing “The Best of Times.” Thanks to the band: Thomas Carley on bass, Ben Golder-Novick on reeds, and Nathan Repasz on drums. And thank you Macon Prickett for making this evening one of “he best of times!”

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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.