Oh, Charlie Rosen. You know him. Late of Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson and One Man, Two Guvnors, Charlie has perfected the art of being a member of an onstage Broadway band. In his latest venture, though, the band in question is all Charlie’s. If you haven’t yet seen Charlie Rosen’s Broadway Big Band, we invite you to take a gander. Especially because this band is kind of blowing up right now. After a couple of inaugural gigs at the Beechman and at 54 Below, the band now has a scheduled residence at the latter venue, beginning on May 24. And the first shows were doozies. Featuring folks like Santino Fontana, Laura Osnes, Jay Armstrong Johnson, Nick Blaemire, and Alyssha Umphress all singing along with Charlie’s massive, 47-piece (or something…) band, the sound was pretty large and in charge. And basically you couldn’t fit anything or anyone else on the stage — not even a very, very small child playing a kazoo. Here’s a little photo journal of how that first show, held on March 30 at 54 Below, turned out…
Act I: Sound Check
This is Pianist Steven Feifke, who is both exceptionally friendly and cute. He hit the stage first, while chairs were being set up for everyone else.
***
***
Here’s Alyssha Umphress singing like a rockstar — or in this case, a superstar vintage-y lady crooner. She checked her text messages during the band’s solos. Like a boss.
***
***
Just like the cue card says, this charming gal is Monet Julia Sabel, who also happens to be the Big Band’s resident lead vocalist. She’s also Charlie’s girlfriend, which is pretty cute. Our favorite moment of the sound check? When Monet subbed for Jay A. Johnson, who couldn’t make it because he had a matinee performance of Hands on a Hardbody. She sang Jay’s song, Sondheim’s “Another Hundred People,” in a decidedly manly key. If she ever wants to play Pippin or Marius on tour, we think she has a decent shot…
***
See the guitarist back there? You know, the smoldery one… um… holding the guitar? Our favorite thing about him, besides the fact that we have secret crushes on him and that we just wrote about it the internet? His name! It’s Italo Cuhna. Bellissimo!
***
If you think Hannah Elless looks good in her sound check gear, wait until you see the dress this girl has in store for the show. In fact, you won’t even have to wait that long. Keep scrolling…
***
Alyssha, Monet, and Hannah rehearse the show’s pièce de résistance — Charlie’s big-band arrangement of Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep.” It must be heard to be believed. And heard. And heard. Because it’s that good.
***
Charlie’s proud mama was in from out of town to see the show. She spent the afternoon playing photographer, just like us. Only. You know, with a flashier camera.
Act II: Backstage
***
As soon as we got backstage, we heard the show’s producer shout, “Guys, get in here, Charlie is playing bass barefoot!” We went running….
And he indeed was.
***
Here, producer Max Freidman demonstrates his most important pre-show responsibility — delivering an espresso and a whiskey to Charlie Rosen. Simultaneously.
***
Monet has been waiting all day to show us her new kicks. We can understand why.
***
Et voila — the lovely Hannah Ellis in her liquid lightning bolt of a dress. No shoes just yet…
***
***
Nick Blaemire is surrounded and we doubt he minds.
***
***
Gifts for the boys. Also, Monet’s insanely beautiful clutch. Fun fact: It was designed by the costumers behind Boardwalk Empire.
***
Roses for the ladies, obviously. This is a classy affair.
***
Immediately before we snapped this shot, Nick was pacing circles in the main lounge area, going over his lyrics and singing under his breath. It was kind of amazing.
***
***
In this photo at this very moment, Hannah Ellis is following us on Twitter.
***
Alyssha Umprhess looking fab, as per usual.
***
The girls asked us to take a shoe shot. Clearly, being the girls we are, we obliged. L-R, Hannah Ellis, Alyssha Umprhess, Monet Julia Sabel.
***
Jay A. Johnson and Alyssha Umphress have a moment.
***
Alyssha Umprhess, Monet Julia Sabel and Jay A. Johnson commiserate about how awesome they all are. Oh wait, sorry, that was what we were talking about. They were just probably talking about singing. Or Alysha’s Louboutin’s.
***
Monet and Cinderella‘s Greg Hildreth pose. And smile.
***
Greg and Santino Fontana discuss what must clearly be serious matters, as evidenced by Greg’s deathgrip on that pillow.
***
This is why he’s playing Prince Charming, folks. Santino Fontana, ladies and gents. Santino Fontana…
***
Lovely Laura Osnes backstage, straight from the Broadway Theater where she’d just gotten offstage after playing Cinderella. How’d she get to 54 Below so fast? Not sure, but our bets are on a flying pumpkin with Victoria Clark in the jumpseat.
***
I sort of suspect that Greg Hildreth didn’t know that this photo was going to go on the internet.
***
Act III: The Show
Check out more of our photos from Charlie’s gig on Playbill. These were shot by our trusty staff photog, Clay Mallory. He takes pictures on a camera that is not also a phone.
{ 2 comments… add one }
I definitely used to have to threaten Steven Feifke that he’s flunk out of Hebrew School for missing too many classes due to music-related obligations. Glad to see the music thing is working out for him.
OMG. Love!