Manship Theatre will host a dazzling night of Broadway tunes, tap dancing and stunning instrumentals with a jazzy twist at their upcoming show, “Some Enchanted Evening” at 7 p.m. on Oct. 13. Tickets are on sale at the Manship Theatre’s website and range anywhere from $45 to $65.
This performance will spotlight songs from the past 100 years of Broadway Musicals from shows like “The Sound of Music” all the way to “Hamilton.” Emmy-nominated trumpeter and featured performer in the show, Benny Benack III said “Some Enchanted Evening” will be a unique experience unlike many other touring shows.
“A lot of touring shows, you have singing and instrumentals, but then we also have a dancer, which just gives us an entirely new art form to play with,” Benack said. “I think it’s almost going to be more like a variety show where you see a lot of different angles and a lot of different players.”
During the performance, Benack will play the trumpet, Stella Cole will be the starring vocalist and Jabu Graybeal will tap dance. A five-piece band will play alongside the group, bolstering the jazzy feel of the show.
During certain songs, each performer will have solo moments, while other numbers will feature duets or the entire group. Varying collaborations among the artists will accentuate each individual’s talent and bring out something new in every Broadway tune.
“I just have so much more fun when I feel like everyone on stage is having a musical conversation,” Benack said. “Those are the moments in the show when I get to have the most fun because I’m just appreciating all the talent of everybody else that’s on stage.”
The accompanying band features Miki Yamanaka on piano, Russell Hall on bass, Joe Peri on drums and Jarien Jamanila on saxophone. Hall praised the show for its diverse instrumentals and musicianship.
“To see musicians that are equally as adept at playing jazz as they are at any other style of music is a rarity,” Hall said. “To see an ethnically diverse band playing this music on that level, it’s not really going to happen anywhere else.”
Here in the home of jazz, “Some Enchanted Evening” is sure to be a hit. Despite taking place in a large theater, the concert will bring the intimate and interactive energy of a tiny jazz club.
“We really want it to feel like it’s a party,” Benack said. “Everybody in the audience will be clapping and singing along. This is not a show where you kind of like take your phone out and start checking your notifications. We’re going to have everyone’s attention the whole time.”
Many of the performers have worked together in the past and bring a unique familial energy to the stage. Hall feels that being able to present this show in a post-COVID world is especially important.
“This is like a giant family,” Hall said. “It’s the most natural gig for me to do because I am with all my friends, and we are in this time that’s so focused on family. I think the focus is on comradery and the group’s assertion to beauty more than it is on the showcase of musicianship and the showcase of technical skill.”
The musicians will bring spirit and liveliness, and the audience will have many moments of engagement with the performance. The crowd is always encouraged to sing along.
“We really just want everybody who comes out to the show to feel like they are part of the experience and have a really good time,” Benack said. “We want everybody to feel like they can hoot and holler and clap and scream out and really be a part of the show.”
“You will never see anything like this ever again in your life,” Hall said. “If you want to see the product of 100 years of this music and you want to see what it has evolved to, this is the show for you.”
