SINGERS PERFORM FAVORITES IN MEDIA THEATRE'S "VOCALIST"

The Media Theatre’s “Vocalist” competition, which provides local audiences with a unique weekly concert on Wednesday nights, does not have Theme Weeks in which contestants are asked to sing from one genre or another or choose songs from various decades, etc. However, Week Two could have been titled ‘Favorites’ as most contestants used the word in explaining why they chose to sing their number of choice.

Jesse Cline, Media Music Theatre Company’s Artistic Director and the one constant judge throughout the summer event, has a short conversation with each contestant following their performance. A large percentage of them gave the following reasons for choosing Week Two’s guitar ballads, pop classics, or Broadway tunes: “Because it’s one of my favorites”, “I’ve always liked the song”, or “It sits well in my vocal range”.

Jessa Holahan, 14, of Phoenixville, performed a song from Frank Wildhorn’s little-seen Broadway show “Bonnie & Clyde: The Musical”. Dressed to the nines as a 1920’s bank robber, she belted out “Dying Ain’t So Bad”. Saying she had never seen the show (Cline had, touting its entertainment value) Holahan told the appreciative audience that Laura Osnes, who played the role during the show’s Broadway run, was one of her favorite actresses, so therefore she picked the song.

Michael Walczak,  16, of Glenolden, opened the night’s program with a nice controlled performance of “Stars” from Les Miserables. He told Cline the song ‘is one of my favorites, because I played the role of Javert in a school production’.

Others also expressed how much they loved their chosen songs. Amber Duncan, 15, of Wallingford with her rendition of “Take Me Or Leave Me” from Rent, 15 year old Malvern resident Thomas Lock with his guitar-fueled Billy Joel classic “You’re My Home”, and Courtney Schultz, 16, of Upper Darby with her rendition of Sara Bareilles’ “Brave” were also among those who would have been included in the hypothetic ‘Favorites’ category.

Ava Sullivan was one of the young singers who brought a bit of acting ability to their choices. The 16 year old from Newtown Square performed "Look At Me, I'm Sandra Dee" from Grease. 

Cline explains why he does not want to have Theme Weeks or focus on certain genres during “The Vocalist”. “It puts the contestants in a box,” he said. “It does not allow them the freedom to be who they are. We would much rather they come in to the rehearsal each week with a song they like. It’s important to sing a song that has a special meaning, a favorite that instills an emotional reaction.”

Cline also, upon learning that four of the week’s contestants were performing “On My Own” from Les Miserables, told the performers prior to the show that “It really does not matter how many people are singing a song. It’s about how you interpret it and what you do on the stage that matters.”

Sue Serio emcees “The Vocalist” on Wednesday nights. The judges for week two were Dave White of Delaware County Council, Tim D’Ignazio of Iron Workers Bank (the event’s title sponsor), and Delaware County Daily Times Editor Phil Heron. Heron added to the evening’s proceedings with a pre-show broadcast of “Live From The Newsroom” in the theatre lobby, interviewing Cline, Serio, and White. The show can be seen online.

Each of “The Vocalist” contestants have one more week to perform prior to eliminations being made. The top 3 vote-getters online will automatically become ‘safe’ from elimination and will advance to the Semi-Finals.

For tickets, voting, or information visit www.mediatheatre.org or call 610-891-0100. “TheVocalist” continues for three more weeks. “The Vocalist Junior”, its younger counterpart, takes place on Sunday nights.