Stepping Out Productions has begun its cabaret series in the Stackner on a very high note indeed. Amanda McBroom has a justly famous name as a songwriter, but folks in Milwaukee didn't previously have a chance to understand her significant reputation as a song stylist with a great voice and a stunning stage presence. She was partnered on stage by Michele Brourman, who provided vital piano music to support the songs, and joins in on some of the choruses with vocal talent that fully complements McBroom.
Ms. McBroom is based in Los Angeles, where she has earned a well-deserved reputation as a major cabaret singer and songwriter. She is just as famous in New York as a wonderful cabaret performer. She sang several of her own songs including "The Rose," "Make Me a Kite" and "Hope Floats". For me the highlights were her wonderful rendition of "Marieke" by Jacques Brel and her own "Martha," a song about Martha Stewart that had the audience collapsing in stitches.
McBroom has a stage presence as solid as her voice. She could go from ballads to comic songs in the blink of an eye. In the close confines of the Stackner it was easy for her to sing to each member of the audience personally. However, the hallmark of her artistry is her reverence for the words and meaning of the songs she sings. With her singing and her profound understanding of each song, McBroom captivated everyone within the sound of her voice. In no time at all she had the audience in the palm of her hand and she kept them enthralled for the entire performance until a well-deserved standing ovation at the end of the evening.
Tom Anderson is a personable young man from the midwest who has built a considerable reputation as a singer and songwriter in San Francisco and New York. He will be at the Stackner Fri.-Sat., June 22-23.
With five awards, Andersen -- a Chicago native -- is the most decorated male singer and songwriter in the history of the prestigious Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs (MAC). He received these awards for Outstanding New York Debut in 1993; Outstanding Male Vocalist in both 1996 and 1999; Song of the Year (for "Yard Sale") in 1998; and Recording of the Year (for "The Journey") in 1999. He is the first male singer to receive the Recording award since Harry Connick, Jr. in 1990. Plus, he has a 1993 Back Stage Bistro Award for Outstanding Vocalist.
Show times are 8 p.m., Friday, and 6 & 9 p.m., Saturdays. Tickets are $30 and are available from The Rep box office, 108 E. Wells St., (414) 224-1761.
