Uptown Players “Broadway Our Way”
Written and Directed by B.J. Cleveland
Music Directed by Kevin Gunter and Kelley Poche Rodriguez
Choreographed by Andrew Coopman
You know how it feels to get a big, warm hug from a friend you haven’t seen in quite a while?
That’s exactly the feeling you get at this year’s Broadway Our Way. It’s a “family” reunion where the entire family is filled with fabulous performers who gather to celebrate the LGBTQ+ experience through gender-bending Broadway show tunes.
DFW theater superstar B.J. Cleveland, who wrote and directed the show, has assembled a dynamite cast of Broadway Our Way and Uptown veterans who are giving their post-pandemic best. A year or so at home has done nothing to diminish the talent of this group whose thrilling vocals are enhanced by the terrific band led by Music Directors Kevin Gunter and Kelley Poche Rodriguez. There is also some darn good hoofing courtesy of Choreographer Andrew Coopman.
To choose highlights from this show is a bit like selecting a favorite child, but I’ll give it a shot. Amy Stevenson, Chimberly Carter-Byrom, M. Denise Lee, and Jodi Wright rocked the house with some soulful sounds from Motown the Musical. Carter-Byrom and Lee also scored with their solos “Big Love” from Memphis and “Y’all Got It” from The Wiz. B.J. Cleveland and Randy Pearlman made “Class” from Chicago a bawdy sensation. Amy Stevenson’s “Beautiful Morning” from Oklahoma, accompanied by Aaron Sutton on guitar, added to the beautiful evening. Emily Truelove, Linda Leonard, and Sara Shelby-Martin made “Been A Long Day” from How To Succeed a fun, flirtatious frolic. Peter DiCesare and Trey Tolleson had soul stirring solos with “Don’t Cry For Me Argentina” from Evita and “Heart of Stone” from Six respectively, and their duet of “As Long As You’re Mine” from Wicked was musical theater heaven. Lee Walter, after sharing their personal journey, sang a moving and heartfelt “Someone Else’s Story” from Chess that brought many in the audience to their feet. My apologies to everyone space and time prohibits me from mentioning. Everyone in this cast is a star.
To put a show of this caliber together in three weeks is nothing short of miraculous. Everyone here donated their time to make Uptown’s yearly fundraiser a tremendous success. Dennis Canright’s set, Brian Christensen’s sound, Kyle Harris’s lighting, and the costumes from Suzanne Cranford, Breianna Bairrington, and Jordan Rodriquez would be welcome on any stage anywhere.
My first Broadway Our Way back in 2018 when I was a newbie to Dallas made me feel welcome and accepted. This “homecoming” is reinvigorating and exhilarating for all of us who have been made a little world weary by the past couple of years. The unity and the love on stage and in the audience at Broadway Our Way is palpable. After all, who wouldn’t want a big hug from an old friend?
