Broadway Our Way 2023

Some quick thoughts on Broadway Our Way 2023 at Uptown Players…or all aboard the S.S. Pride

The Uptown Players annual fundraiser Broadway Our Way is an event I look forward to every year. As the producers Craig and Jeff note in the playbill, “it is a celebration of all things LGBTQ+ on stage.” Some of the Metroplex’s most talented performing and creative artists all donate their time to create the show in just two weeks.

This year’s show is written and directed by B.J. Cleveland. Music direction is by Vonda K. Bowling and Kevin Gunter, who also play keyboards and lead the excellent band. Choreography is by Jeremy Dumont. The ship shape set is designed by Dennis Canright with Scott Guenther designing lighting and Brian Christensen designing the sound. Costumes are by Suzi Cranford

For the 2023 edition we are on a cruise ship with Cruise Director B.J. Cleveland and Activities Director Micah Green as our hosts. Cleveland and Green keep the patter going and try to control that Holiest of Helens, Paul J. Williams.

The entertainment here is almost overwhelming with just about every number being what would be deemed a highlight in a regular musical. The twist here is that the songs are all sung by the gender not usually associated with the song and the conceit works brilliantly. Indeed, it is like hearing some of your favorite Broadway tunes for the first time.

There are sensational solos including Elizabeth Kensek’s “Sailing,” Seth Paden’s “Love Will Come and Find Me Again,” Coy Covington’s “Everything Changes/Boys in the Backroom,” Laura Lites replacing “Michael in the Bathroom” with herself, Sara Shelby- Martin’s ‘She’s Outta My Life,” B.J. Cleveland’s “Tahiti,” Paul J. Williams singing “Alone,” Trey Tolleson’s “Always Starting Over,” Amy Stevenson’s “What the World Needs Now,” Lee Walter rocks the heck out of “Fabulous Baby” with those pretty fabulous back up guys, and the song that I can’t get out of my head and still get chills thinking about, Cher’s “The Way of Love” sung brilliantly by David Lugo.

Some of the dazzling duets include an unforgettable medley of “Losing My Mind” and “Not a Day Goes By” by Tim Brawner and Brian Hathaway, Peter DiCesare and Trey Tolleson bringing new depth to “I Know Him So Well,” Brett Warner and Stephanie Felton absolutely tearing up “In Love,” Linda Leonard and Sara Shelby-Martin putting an all-female twist on “You’ll Never Get Away From Me,” Presley Duyck and Elizabeth Kensek giving a winning spin to “The Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me, ”and Kylie Stewart and Micah Green bring charm to “Take a Chance on Me”

The entertaining group numbers include Isaiah Christopher-Loyd Harris, Tim Brawner, Jacob Hemsath, Gerald Taylor, and Seth Paden as five of Henry’s six wives singing “All You Wanna Do.” MIkey Abrams, Brian Hathaway, David Lugo, Micah Green, and Paul J. Williams look for “The One” all over the ship’s deck and “The Winner Takes It All” by Peter DiCesare, Tim Brawner, Brian Hathaway, Brett Warner, and Amy Stevenson is one of the most thrilling moments in the show.

There’s also some top-notch dancing from Isaiah Christopher-Loyd Harris, Gerald Taylor, and Jason Hallman as they show they can certainly “Move,” and Isaiah and Linda Leonard are terrific tappers backing up the tapping marvel that is Jeremy Dumont in “Shakin’ the Blues Away.”

Broadway Our Way is always an exciting evening, and the 2023 edition proves once again how blessed we are in DFW to have this abundance of world class talent. As B.J. Cleveland said at the end of the show, the positivity and affirmation of Broadway Our Way brings laughter and tears and shows us all how important it is that we stand together.

The Broadway Our Way 2023 Company.