Thirty-five performers, including over a dozen Hoboken residents, nine professionals, and “Captain” the dog will dazzle audiences later this month at a show with all the Broadway trimmings.
Hosted by St. Francis Church, “The Best of Broadway” will mark its return after an 18-year hiatus on March 18. The wait makes the show all the more special, producer Robert Meyers told the Reporter this past week.
“St. Francis has always been known as this wonderful congregation of talented performers,” said Meyers, who worked with Director Christian Castro to make the show possible.
A hodgepodge of musicals, the show will feature hits from an array of timeless Broadway classics like “Les Miserables,” “The Sound of Music,” and “The Wizard of Oz.” Young theatre patrons will take a historic journey through the everlasting productions that have graced stages throughout the country. Meanwhile adults are assured a nostalgic trip down melodic memory lanes that fill their youth.
“Professional sound, elaborate costumes and wonderful staging will have everyone leaving thinking it was a real Broadway show.” – Robert Meyer
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The two-act production, proceeds of which will benefit the church, will close out with a grand chorus line featuring an ensemble.
The show, which will benefit the church, is also a celebration of Broadway’s overarching impact – evidenced by the set’s backdrop: a bustling time square neighborhood with Broadway posters referencing “Shrek the Musical,” “Wicked,” “Hairspray,” and “Chicago.”
“The Best of Broadway” will be held at Stevens Institute of Technology’s DeBaun Performing Arts Center at 24 Fifth St. Tickets for the show, which will not be available at the door on the day of the performance, cost $30. For tickets call Joyce Feola at St. Francis rectory at (201) 659-1772.
Performance for the ages
Meyers has been preparing the show since October of last year. He first joined the church as the musical director in 1977 at the age of 26, when the show was held for the first time under a different moniker: “Hits & Bits of Broadway.”
The last time “The Best of Broadway” was staged was in 1998 at Hoboken High School when Meyers was 47. Now, nearing the age of 65, Meyers considers this upcoming show his curtain call.
“I don’t think I will be doing it at 85,” he says between laughs. “So this is my finale.”
One of Meyer’s favorite aspects of the show is providing a stage and an audience for up-and-coming performers.
“They’re working just as hard, if not harder, to reach as close a professional level as possible,” Meyers said.
Among the show’s standout cast are Rosemary Manning, Victoria Wefer, and Sarah Weber Gallo.
A dancer for 22 years, Manning has studied jazz, tap, and ballet at the Nyles Edith Studio and later with Broadway’s Tracy Everitt at her dance school. Wefer, who has an abundance of accolades, delighted audiences from 2013 to 2015 with six leading operatic debuts.
Gallo has worn many hats in her career as a dancer, choreographer, and teacher. She is currently a senior dancer with the Metropolitan Opera ballet in New York City.
And we can’t forget about Captain. The 2-year-old Bichon Frise, who was named after New York Yankee Captain Derek Jeter, has been an active St. Francis parish member throughout his life. While he couldn’t provide a quote directly because he’s a dog, Meyers says “he feels privileged and excited that he was selected for the part of Toto.”
The show goes on
Angelo Cerrone, who many consider the right fit to take the helm as musical director once Meyers steps down, will perform “Music of the Night” and “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning” (from “Oklahoma”) during the show.
“I know people will leave the show saying they wish there was more of this available in Hoboken,” said Cerrone, a fourth generation Hoboken resident whose grandparents moved here in the 1800s. “Whether that means we’ll have a new show down the line, we’ll see. But I can say that in the very near future, we’re going to see some very high quality theatre productions in our city.”
Meyers first met Cerrone when he taught him at Hoboken High School in 1972. Back then, singing and acting wasn’t considered “cool,” so Cerrone – a football jock – was surprised when Meyers asked him to audition to be part of the choir.
“I never sang…not even to myself in the car or the shower,” Cerrone recalls, admitting that he ended up joining merely for the five credits. “It’s funny to look where it’s taken me now.”
Cerrone is most looking forward to his son Julian’s performance.
“My son, who’s 8 years old, is doing a song from the ‘King and I’ with a bunch of little kids in the show. This will be his first performance. If he’s talented and likes to sing, he’ll learn sooner than later. Today things are different; kids are fighting to get into the glee clubs.”
Steven Rodas can be reached at srodas@hudsonreporter.com.