Mesmerizing melodies paired with unforgettable lyrics that resonate with you long after you leave the theatre—that’s Broadway.
If you can’t make it to New York, Oh Canada Eh? offers the next best thing: this season’s brand new production of Broadway Showstoppers features dozens of Broadway’s most celebrated songs, the ones that made you laugh, love, and broke your heart.
Classic hits that portray the musical plight of the underdog—and instantly make you root for them—are highlighted, including Can’t Stop Lovin Dat Man from Showboat, the sensational hit sung by star-crossed lovers, Tonight, from West Side Story, and Cabaret, from—you guessed it—Cabaret.
From Rodgers and Hammerstein, there’s a medley of their most memorable, such as People Will Say We’re in Love—from Oklahoma, Shall We Dance—from The King and I, and the brilliant Some Enchanted Evening--from South Pacific--among them.
Nominated for nine Tony Awards, Oliver exposed the seedy underbelly of Victorian-era London and burst onto the stage in 1963. Broadway Showstoppers covers both the rowdy Oom Pah Pah and the tender ballad, As Long As He Needs Me, from that epic.
OCE regular Louisa O’Keane’s rich versatility shines, as she once again demonstrates her immense range: first performing a comical rendition of The Worst Pies in London—from Sweeney Todd—followed by her haunting operatic duet of Phantom of the Opera.
Sue Thibert’s impressive range is also showcased, as she stumbles around the stage as a ditzy accomplice in the entertaining Easy Street from Annie, before belting out beautiful solos, and joining the terrific quartet that nails I’m a Woman, from Smokey Joe’s Café.
Gypsy was based on the memoirs of stripper Gypsy Rose Lee from the 1930s, and the poignant song, Rose’s Turn, vies with the heart-wrenching And I Am Telling You, from Dreamgirls in the powerful female vocal category, performed by Dayna Harold and Rose-Ingrid Benjamin, respectively.
Alexandra Reed, as the Wicked Witch, sings a spellbinding rendition of Defying Gravity from Wicked.
With wigs flowing “down to there, hair, shoulder-length or longer,” the OCE troupe performs a fun energetic version of the hippie anthem, Hair. Laced in controversy, this groundbreaking musical hit the stage in 1968, and featured fun lyrics like, “They will be gaga at the gogo when they see my hair.”
There’s lots more humour, in The Song That Goes Like This, from Monty Python’s Spamalot, and free-for-all fun in La Vie Boheme, from Rent, the latter which was credited with bringing people back to musical theatre, and celebrates the spirit of going against the grain.
As always, the performers make it a point to engage the audience, in between serving diners in OCE’s unique interactive format.
So channel your Ethel Merman and head out to the oversized Lundy’s Lane log cabin, for an iconic show, accompanied with generous family style servings of chicken, haddock, roast beef and gravy, roast potatoes, veggies, salad, pea soup, and maple cake for dessert.
Broadway Showstoppers runs until April 13.
For tickets, visit www.ohcanadaeh.com and stay tuned as the new season’s lineup will be announced soon.
