Everyone needs a little Broadway Baby
Bryonha Marie Parham (Danielle Rae Sepulveda)
Saddleback’s production of Broadway Baby had a very special guest, Bryonha Marie Parham, a Broadway star. She joined the college’s chorale and concert choir, Mar. 9, in the McKinney Theater for a musical performance.
Parham recently performed in the Broadway production revivals of Porgy and Bess and Ragtime.
Scott Farthing, department music chair at Saddleback College, brought energy to Broadway Baby. The show kept the audience wanting more. Farthing happens to share a little history with Parham, because he was her high school music teacher.
“He taught at an all boys school in Kansas City,” parham said. “I went to the all girls school down the street, so I would come after school and do shows, and he was the conductor. He paid a lot of attention to detail, and he knew what he was talking about. He knew the voice, and he was fun, funny.”
“He wrote my college recommendation letter,” Parham continued. “When he called me to do this I couldn’t believe it, because I haven’t seen him in almost 12 years. It’s a privilege to be here and this means a lot to me to be asked to do this.”
The show featured Broadway hits performed from productions such as, Guys and Dolls, Ain’t Misbehavin’, My Fair Lady, West Side Story and Les Miserables. The musical numbers ranged from extremely upbeat, to mellow, and heart felt songs.
“Parham’s voice has such a wide range of tones,” Farthing said to Parham. “With your voice, you can do anything.”
All of the members were dressed in suits and ties (men), or classy long dresses (women). There was nothing but happy faces on their end.
The audience gave a standing ovation as the show came to a close.
Parham entered the stage once more to thank the crowd.
“This was the first time I actually got to hear her and I was blown away,” Logan Watters, 20, choir said.
“I loved every second of it, I thought it was a lot of fun and I think everyone brought everything to it,” Farthing said. “Bryonha is top notch. I was really nervous to work with her [at Saddleback], because she’s a big time star and so it was great. She couldn’t have been nicer or more gracious and she’s just lovely, she’s a kick.”
It was clear that the audience fell in love with Parham’s talent and charm. As soon as the show ended, she headed outside for a meet and greet with audience members. The word crowd was an understatement; she had fans circling around her waiting to take her picture.
“I really liked it, it was upbeat, exciting!” Kianna McManus, 19, undeclared said.
For upcoming events at Saddleback’s McKinney Theatre:
http://www.saddleback.edu/arts/
For more information about Bryonha Marie Parham:
http://www.americanrepertorytheater.org/person/bryonha-marie-parham
https://twitter.com/BryonhaMarie
Scott Farthing conducting the choir (Danielle Rae Sepulveda)
Saddleback choir (Danielle Rae Sepulveda)
(Danielle Rae Sepulveda)