Theatre West celebrates Holiday Season 2023 with So Many Stars, the most glorious sixty-five minutes of songs, songs, and more songs I’ve seen and heard all year.

Syncopated rhythms start the hour off with abundant panache as the entire cast blend voices and hand claps in a rousing “White Winter Hymnal,” the first of eighteen musical numbers presented virtually nonstop by a dozen terrifically talented company members and guest artists.

Here are some of my favorites (in no particular order):

Scottie Nevil’s infectiously charming “Never Fall In Love With An Elf,” Harleigh Ford giving Kelly Clarkson a run for her money with “Wrapped In Red” and doing the same to Ariana Grande with “Santa Tell Me,” and Alyssa Rupert’s wistful “Once Upon A December” evoking memories of Christmases past (and a certain animated feature turned Broadway smash).

Michael Van Duzer putting an introspective same-sex spin on “Out Of Love,” Bryce Charles bringing tears to my eyes with “I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” and Paul Cady belting out a bluesy “Cold.”

Breakout star Vertreace Sanders proving herself the next best thing to having Jennifer Hudson live on the Theatre West stage with “Let’s Stay Together” and “Joy To The World.”

And if that weren’t already enough to evoke cheers and tears, there’s also Charles, Sanders, Jalen Ty’rone, and Charles Johnson harmonizing to soulful perfection in “Hallelujah.”

Paul Cady, Victoria Lavan, Constance Mellors, and Rick Simone-Friedland complete So Many Stars’ oh so talented cast, serving up such holiday or holiday-adjacent tunes as “Coldest Winter,” “True Colors,” “Home,” and “Ordinary Miracles.”

And the list goes on…

The latest in a series of Lavan-directed cabaret shows performed in a theatrical setting, So Many Stars proves not only a vocal showcase for the cast but an instrumental one for music director/keyboardist James Lent and a live five-piece band completed by Pete Snell on guitar, Bill Von Ravensburg on bass guitar, Mara Wells on harmonica, and James Varley on drums, with Wells in particular receiving much-earned cheers for a couple of harmonica solos to do Stevie Wonder proud.

Not only that, but the entire production looks absolutely stunning with the cast dressed entirely in silver and black (save for Ford’s song-appropriate costume change in “Dressed In Red”) against a black backdrop, jackets and gowns adorned with so many sparkles that when struck by Michael Lee’s lighting design, there truly are So Many Stars on the Theatre West stage.

Last but not least, David P. Johnson ensures a pitch perfect sound mix throughout the show.

So Many Stars is produced by Dina Morrone. David Mingrino is stage manager.

An out-of-the-ordinary holiday treat blessed with out-of-this-world talent, Theatre West’s year-end gift to L.A. music lovers is all that and more. If only its all-too-short two-weekend run hadn’t just ended, I’d be urging you not to miss out on this very special evening or afternoon of So Many Stars.

Theatre West, 3333 Cahuenga Blvd. West, Los Angeles.
www.theatrewest.org

–Steven Stanley
December 9, 2023
Photos: Carlos Hernandez

Tags: Los Angeles Theater Review, Theatre West