Silk Road Cabaret Broadway Sings the Silk Road
Conceived and Curated by Jamik Khoury
Directed by Elizabeth Margolius
Musical Direction by Gary Powell
Produced by Silk Road Theatre Project
At the Chicago Temple Building
Silk Road cultures interplay in Broadway tunes through cabaret revue
The creative mind of Silk Road Theatre Project’s Jamil Khoury has produced a terrific new cabaret revue featuring songs from Broadway depicting the culture clash of East-West. Featuring a seven person diverse cast of Chicago talents, Silk Road Cabaret is a brilliant concept that utilizes a blend of fabulous Broadway tunes with personal anecdotes from the cast about growing up in America as first generation Silk Road folks.
The three stages on the intimate table/chair setting at the Chicago Temple brings audiences close to the cast as they weave their stories with a excellent selection of show tunes selected by Jamil Khoury. Lead by Joseph Anthony Foronda, the cast includes Christine Bunuan, Dipika Cherala, Katherine L. Condit, Erik Kaiko, Govind Kumar and David Rhee. This group under the creative musical direction of Gary Powell and the smart direction from Elizabeth Margolius have delivered a most entertaining 80 minute cabaret revue. This refreshing show delights as it is sung marvelously as it contains an honest respect for the material.
With songs like “You’ve Got to be Carefully Taught” (South Pacific), “On A Slow Boat to China (Frank Loesser), to “Are You sure You Want to be Famous” (Bombay Dreams), to “Bali Hai” (South Pacific) and “Stranger in Paradise” (Kismet)—the revue is both playful and ironic in its depiction of Silk Road persona. Pacifi Overtures, Chess, The King and I, Zorba, Miss Saigon, Jesus Christ Superstar and Milk and Honey offer tunes that the cast sang with heart. Joseph Foronda’s slick rendition of “The American Dream” (Miss Saigon) was the highlight of the show. Each of the talent stepped up to showcase their vocal chops.
The concept works as one of the most refreshing cabaret revues I’ve seen in years. This cabaret show needs to be remounted at an established cabaret venue such as Drury Lane Water Tower since it is a new concept with terrific songs expertly sung and smartly staged. This innovative show stretches cabaret in new directions that need to be explored. Kudos to Jamil Khoury. Hurry, there are only have 6 more performances.
Highly Recommended
Tom Williams
At the Chicago Temple, 77 W. Washington, Chicago, IL, Call 312-857-1234, www.srtp.org, tickets $30, Wednesday thur Friday at 8 pm, Saturday at 4 & 8 pm, Sunday at 4 pm, running time is 80 minutes without intermission, though November 1, 2009
Editor’s Note: To fully appreciate this revue , here is the complete song list:
Silk road cabaret:
BROADWAY SINGS THE SILK ROAD
Song List
You’ve Got to be Carefully Taught – Govind Kumar
From the musical South Pacific (1949)
Music by Richard Rodgers, Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Next – Ensemble
From the musical Pacific Overtures (1976)
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
Statues and Stories – Christine Bunuan and Katherine L. Condit
From the musical The Light in the Piazza (2005)
Music and Lyrics by Adam Guettel
On a Slow Boat to China (1948) – Joseph Anthony Foronda, Erik Kaiko, Govind Kumar, and David Rhee
Music and Lyrics by Frank Loesser
Are You Sure You Want to be Famous – Dipika Cherala
From the musical Bombay Dreams (2002)
Music by A R Rahman, Lyrics by Don Black
Imelda Marcos Shoes Mystique – Ensemble
From the musical Imelda (2005)
Music by Nathan Wang, Lyrics by Aaron Coleman
Bali Hai – Ensemble
From the musical South Pacific (1949)
Music by Richard Rodgers, Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Something Wonderful – Christine Bunuan
From the musical The King and I (1951)
Music by Richard Rodgers, Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Stranger in Paradise – David Rhee
From the musical Kismet (1953)
Music by Alexander Borodin, Lyrics by Robert Wright and George Forest
Be Italian – Ensemble
From the musical Nine (1982)
Music and Lyrics by Maury Yeston
Here Be Oysters – Joseph Anthony Foronda
From the musical Chu Chin Chow (1916)
Music by Frederic Norton, Lyrics by Oscar Asche
Three Little Maids – Christine Bunuan, Dipika Cherala, and Katherine L. Condit
From the musical Hot Mikado (1986)
Music adapted by Rob Bowman, Lyrics adapted by David H. Bell, based on The Mikado (1885) by W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan
One Night in Bangkok – Ensemble
From the musical Chess (1986)
Music by Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus, Lyrics by Tim Rice
Surpanaka’s Tango – Dipika Cherala
From the musical Sita Ram (2006)
Music and Lyrics by David Kersnar and Jai Uttal
I Enjoy Being A Girl – Christine Bunuan
From the musical Flower Drum Song (1958)
Music by Richard Rodgers, Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Turn Back, O Man – Katherine L. Condit
From the musical Godspell (1971)
Music and Lyrics by Stephen Schwartz
Bui Doi – Erik Kaiko
From the musical Miss Saigon (1989)
Music by Claude-Michel Schonberg, Lyrics by Alain Boublil and Richard Maltby, Jr.
A Step Too Far – Christine Bunuan, Dipika Cherala, and David Rhee
From the musical Aida (2000)
Music by Elton John, Lyrics by Tim Rice
Not Since Ninevah – Ensemble
From the musical Kismet (1953)
Music by Alexander Borodin, Lyrics by Robert Wright and George Forest
Bring All the Boys Back Home – Erik Kaiko and Govind Kumar
From the musical Two Gentlemen of Verona (1971)
Music by Galt MacDermot, Lyrics by John Guare
Istanbul (Not Constantinople) (1953) – Ensemble
Music by Nat Simon, Lyrics by Jimmy Kennedy
Life Is – Katherine L. Condit
From the musical Zorba (1968)
Music by John Knader, Lyrics by Fred Ebb
The American Dream – Joseph Anthony Foronda
From the musical Miss Saigon (1989)
Music by Claude-Michel Schonberg, Lyrics by Alain Boublil and Richard Maltby, Jr.
Could We Start Again Please – Ensemble
From the musical Jesus Christ Superstar (1971)
Music by Andrew Lloyd Weber, Lyrics by Tim Rice
Encore
Shalom – Ensemble
From the musical Milk and Honey (1961)
Music and Lyrics by Jerry Herman