Theatre Frisco presents Side by Side by Sondheim
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
and music by Leonard Bernstein, Mary Rodgers, Richard Rodgers, Jule Styne
Director/Sound Design Andi Allen
Music Director Cody Dry
The Players
Man 1 David Noel
Man 2 Ken O’Reilly
Woman 1 Alana Fabio
Woman 2 Andrea Fernandez Tom
Woman 3 Jodi Crawford Wright
Stage Mgr/Light Board Kathleen Cindulla
Asst Stage Mgr Elena Kate Tirado
Costume Design Dallas Costume Shoppe
Set Design Rodney Dobbs
Set Construction Alex Rain
Lighting Design Meghan Settle
Property Design Elise Knox
Sound Board Keyes Larsen
Lobby Display Diane Rogers
Graphic Design Cindy Tremmel
Musicians
Keyboard I Cody Dry
Keyboard II Joey O’Reilly
My thoughts on Side by Side by Sondheim or…. it’s warm and rosy and oh so entertaining.
It would be hard not to love this Sondheim revue that Director Andi Allen and Music Director Cody Dry have made a solid and slick entertainment. The songs are like the old friends that Sondheim memorialized in Merrily We Roll Along. While there are no songs from that Sondheim show here, there’s plenty to sit back and savor. The show uses the conceit of performers meeting up backstage, but to me it has the feeling of one of those nightclub acts from days gone by. You know the ones where you could sit back in your tux or evening gown and sip martinis while famous entertainers crooned just a few feet away.
Music Director Cody Dry serves as our charming host for the evening, playing the keyboards, introducing songs, and sharing bits of trivia. Dry is ably assisted by Joey O’Reilly also on keyboards. The sound is so sweet and strong that it’s hard to believe there’s not a band hiding back there somewhere.
The joy is nonstop here and if your favorite Sondheim shows are Company and Follies, you are really in luck. There are also songs from Gypsy, Funny Thing, Anyone Can Whistle, West Side Story, A Little Night Music, Pacific Overtures, Do I Hear a Waltz?, the tv film “Evening Primrose” and even The Mad Show from which the delightful Jodi Crawford Wright masters Sondheim’s tongue twisting “The Boy From…”
Director Allen gives all five of the sensational singers chances to shine in the cleverly staged musical numbers. Ken O’Reilly and Andrea Fernandez Tom have a beautiful duet of “Being Alive” and O’Reilly’s gender switching “Could I Leave You” works wonderfully. David Noel and Tom team up for a lighthearted take on “Barcelona” and Noel and Crawford unite for a powerful “Buddy’s Blues.” Crawford brings heartfelt gravitas to her solo “I’m Still Here.” Tom and Alana Fabio sing a stunning duet of “A Boy Like That/I Have A Love” and Fabio’s soul piercing soprano ignites both “Broadway Baby” and “Losing My Mind.” Almost every song in this show is a highlight.
Side by Side by Sondheim is an embarrassment of riches and Director Allen and Music Director Dry have served up a winner here with some of the best voices around paying homage to Sondheim’s genius. Don’t let “a day go by” before you try to score a ticket..
