THE HANGOVER REPORT – Liz and Ann Hampton Callaway sparkle in the return of their cabaret act BROADWAY THE CALLA-WAY!

Ann Hampton Callaway and Liz Callaway in “Broadway the Calla-way!” at Feinstein’s/54 Below.

This week at Feinstein’s/54 Below, cabaret favorites Liz Callaway and her sister Ann Hampton Callaway have brought back their latest show Broadway the Calla-way!, which they originally unveiled in the fall of 2019. As in their previous sister act Sibling Revelry, their latest – which features an excellent trio led by their longtime musical director Alex Rybeck – basks in the striking contrasts between the Callaway sisters’ vocal styles and personalities, resulting in some lively but loving banter and gorgeous harmonies (note that individually, they’re each accomplished cabaret artists in their own right).

Although Ann has dabbled in musical theater, she’s come to be known primarily as a jazz and pop vocalist, successfully showcasing her smooth and agile voice and expert musicianship to great acclaim. Liz, on the other hand, is a Broadway baby through and through, having appeared in a string of Broadway shows in the 1980s and 1990s. Happily, both are currently in extremely fine voice – indeed, Ann is exuding the confidence and vocal attack of seasoned pro, while Liz’s straightforward, clarion voice is sounding more youthful than ever. Together, they sparkled and their act went down like fine champagne.

As you can already gather from the title of the Callaways’ show, the evening focuses on the Broadway songbook and their respective relationship with the Great White Way. The concert features songs by Stephen Sondheim (“Broadway Baby”, “Not a Day Goes By”), Stephen Schwartz (“Corner of the Sky”), Maltby & Shire (“The Story Goes On”), Jerry Herman (“Mame”), Marvin Hamlisch (“The Music and the Mirror”), among others. The cabaret act concludes with a delirious mash-up of Broadway sister/sibling songs that sends the audience out into the night on cloud nine.

RECOMMENDED

LIZ CALLAWAY & ANN HAMPTON CALLAWAY: BROADWAY THE CALLA-WAY!
Cabaret
Feinstein’s/54 Below
1 hour, 15 minutes (without an intermission)
Through January 8

Categories: Cabaret, Music, Other Music

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