The Composer/Lyricist Cabaret

Phoenix Theatre New Works Festival

Phoenix Theatre, Phoenix, AZ, March 8, 2020

Reviewed by Lynn Timmons Edwards

As a part of Phoenix Theatre’s commitment to developing new American works, artistic director Michael Barnard invites individuals or teams to showcase their songs. The repertoire is chosen from musicals that have been written or are in development as well as stand-alone cabaret material. The first show of two in this year’s week-long festival showcased the work of Preston Max Allen who writes both music and lyrics. However, he was given equal billing with his collaborator, Jessica Kahkoska, who serves as dramaturg and researcher.

Associate Director Robert Kolbe Harper assembled a local team of five superb singers under the musical direction of pianist Andria Fennig. Seated on stools, the singers needed little help from the music in front of them as they brought the songs to life. The opener, “Chosen Few,” was written for a parody of the movie The Rage: Carrie 2. It is a powerful duet, perfect for Elyssa Blonder and Alyssa Chiarello’s contemporary belt.

I had the opportunity to interview the team prior to seeing the show where they talked about their commitment to strong women characters and exploring all the dimensions of the LGBTQ community in story and song. Blonder delivered a very moving “Try,” reflecting “You don’t have to be happy, but you have to be something…. you have to try.” Given the preponderance of anxiety and depression in today’s world, it hit home.

Next, they jumped right into Agent 355, a historical musical about the critical role women played during the Revolutionary War. Altogether the show featured four songs from that musical: “Kind Eyes,” “If I Ever Leave,” “Quiet Day,” and later the closing ensemble number with Chiarello on lead, “Good Guy.”  Kahkoshka sang, “Kind Eyes,” , accompanied by Allen on guitar, making me wish she had not abandoned performing. The lyrics tell a compelling story. Allen’s music has a distinctive in style, more about meter than melody, not unlike what we hear in Wicked or Hamilton.

One stand-alone piece, “The Generic Princess Song,” was charming and would be a perfect addition to Laura Osnes’ Princess Party tour. Bruno Strek-Rodrigues commanded the stage with “Valentine,” a modern breakup song, and Adam Vargas was able to show both vocal prowess and human vulnerability with the gender bender “It’s Not Easy.” “Just About Die” was commissioned for Kahkoska’s project, Letters to the President. Allen got first choice on an actual letter from a trio of teens in Montana begging President Eisenhower not to give Elvis Presley a GI haircut when he was drafted. 

Cabaret artists looking for new material should check out Allen. He mentioned that at least one song has had a Feinstein’s/54 Below debut to date. It is also likely that we will see and hear more about Agent 355 as Allen and Kahkoska take it to the next level.