Broadway talent lies right around the corner

Brightly colored lights, performers dancing across the stage, glamorous costuming and powerful songs resonating throughout the theater are the essential elements for the Broadway musical experience.
On Jan. 18, the SCERA theater brought Broadway to Utah with the special one-night event, “Night of Broadway.”

“You don’t have to go to New York to watch great talent or great shows, you can see it all here at the SCERA,” said David Osmond, MC for the event.

Osmond was as much a part of the show as those involved with the song and dance numbers. He played his part well, engaging the audience with laughter and what felt like casual conversation with an old friend. The audience was seemingly comprised of true Broadway enthusiasts which helped Osmond easily coax them into singing along a few bars of a Broadway tune.

As charming as Osmond was, the dance numbers choreographed by Kim Delgrosso and performed by Center Stage were even more captivating.

A dazzling tap number was performed to the music of “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” as well as an enchanting contemporary dance performed to “All I Ask of You” from Phantom of the Opera. The performers from Center Stage brilliantly danced their way into the hearts of audience members with every step.

And of course, there must be a few words said about the incredible voice talents of precocious 12-year-old Kalli Jackson, who awed the audience with her compelling rendition of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz.
The evening  was filled with many alluring songs, including a moving delivery of “Music of the Night” from Phantom of the Opera and an entertaining performance of “How lucky you are” from Seussical.

In addition, the SCERA was able to pull together some amazing local voice talents like Rebekah Osmond, Shoni Winkel, Stephanie Lewis, Korianne Orton Johnson and Emily Lewis. They performed songs from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Beauty and the Beast and Cats.

The one-night musical event was an astounding success — no need to travel to New York to enjoy big sound, fancy footwork and local stars in the spotlight.