|
Reviews
for The Best of Broadway
Show
reviews 
Orchestra reviews
Performer reviews
Letters from Presenters
Show
Reviews
"I
have never seen more talent among four people than I saw in
their performance tonight"
Bobbie Wygant, NBC 5, DALLAS
"Four fabulous performers with dynamic voices and dazzling
dramatic talent recreate memorable moments from more than
three decades of Andrew Lloyd Webber's internationally award-
winning productions."
Peggy O'Hara, FULLERTON NEWS TRIBUNE
"This
was an impressive quartet of performers and their professionalism
showed brightly at every turn and nuance at the Kirby Center.
The dynamic performers yielded a seemingly unending stream
of Lloyd Webber masterpieces. Whether it was the passion from
selections from PHANTOM OF THE OPERA or lighthearted numbers
from CATS, THE BEST OF BROADWAY turned out to be just that
both in program content and presentation."
Alexander Choman, CITIZEN'S VOICE
"You
missed out if you weren't at the Norris Theatre last weekend.
Raymond Saar, Diane Ketchie, Valerie Perri and Scott Harlan
carried the audience through many of Webber's memorable and
seldom heard compositions - all worthy of praise. The talent
on stage was palpable. The fine singing was interlaced with
excellent, well-researched and interesting anecdotes about
Webber's career. If the remainder of the year's shows are
as good as this, the Norris Theatre has a winning season on
its hands."
Frank Brown, PALOS VERDES NEWS
"BROADWAY
COMES TO CARMEL at the Sunset Center introduced its audience
to Andrew Lloyd Webber last Friday and what a success it was!
Four gifted veterans of the Broadway stage, Raymond Saar, Diane
Ketchie, Valerie Perri and Scott Harlan, created a sumptuous
evening of Webber highlights. The performers provided a roller-coaster
ride of Webber hits interwoven with a fascinating and entertaining
narrative thread. All in all, it was a joyful, intimate and
musically superb evening. Encore!"
MONTEREY COUNTY HERALD
"Musical
theater lovers will find a veritable feast served up on the
stage of the Thousand Oaks Performing Arts Center. THE BEST
OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER is a concert-style show featuring the
powerhouse voices of three Broadway veterans, all of whom have
had first-hand experience starring in Sir Andrew's musicals.
The purity of their voices and nuance of interpretations as
well as the show's up close and personal style contribute to
an enhanced enjoyment and deeper appreciation of Webber's music."
Return
to top
Orchestra
Reviews
Long Beach
Symphony - "Raymond Saar was superb as he belted out Sondheim
with real grit, making every biting word understandable."
John Farrell, LONG BEACH
PRESS-TELEGRAM
". .
. from the piano, Ketchie delivers the evenings knock-out punch,
a Victor Borge like treatment of Webber hits in the style of
Mozart, Beethoven and Rachmaninoff."
Eric Marchese, THE ORANGE
COUNTY REGISTER
"Diane
Ketchie's performance of RHAPSODY IN BLUE was rewarded with
a passionate standing ovation."
SUN LAKE TIMES
Milwaukee
Symphony - "Diane Ketchie was in splendid voice, filling
the auditorium with a sound of unpretentious clarity, superbly
supported throughout the dynamic range."
Jay Joslyn, THE MILWAUKEE
SENTINEL
Pasadena
Pops - "Ketchie and Saar were extremely powerful in selections
from PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and in a bawdy rendition of Master
of the House from LES MISERABLES." -
Robert Thomas, SAN GABRIEL
VALLEY TRIBUNE
California
Philharmonic - "the duet from THE MERRY WIDOW was simply
breathtaking due to the marvelous vocal talents of Diane Ketchie
and Raymond Saar." -
Pat Taylor, THE TOLUCAN
-TIMES
"Diane Ketchie, in a stunning display of virtuosity, whizzes
through difficult music and sings beautifully. I can think of
no one in the popular, Broadway or classical world who can do
all the things she does and do them so well."
Bernard Holland, THE NEW
YORK TIMES
"At
the core of the production are top-notched performances. Raymond
Saar's robust tenor is equally electric in his ballads and
up-tempo numbers."
Performer
Reviews
Reviews
for Raymond Saar
"At
the core of the production are top-notch performances. Raymond
Saar's robust tenor is equally electric in his ballads and
up- tempo numbers."
LOS
ANGELES TIMES
"Raymond
Saar is a splendid singer with a richly textured tenor voice
and a luminous presence on stage."
LOS
ANGELES TIMES
"Lehman
Engel's workshop at the Mark Taper Forum has showcased the
talent of many performers. None more than Raymond Saar,
whose performance of If I Had a Penny to My Name
stopped the show and filled the theater with inspiration."
DAILY
VARIETY
"Raymond
Saar's regal, feline grace commands attention as Lun Thau
(THE KING AND I) and his voice soars in the romantic duets."
HOLLYWOOD
REPORTER
"Mr.
Saar's performance of Raoul (PHANTOM OF THE OPERA) creates
the drive and passion needed in the final scene. All I
Ask of You is a standout song as Vroman and Saar's voices
blend beautifully."
SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE
Reviews
for Diane Ketchie
"Diane
Ketchie, in a stunning display of virtuosity, whizzes through
difficult piano music and sings beautifully. I can think
of no one in the popular, Broadway or classical world who
could do all the things she does and do them so well."
Bernard
Holland, THE NEW YORK TIMES
"Diane
Ketchie, looking and sounding like a young Beverly Sills,
adds a major touch of class to the production."
THE
STOCKTON RECORD
"Keep
an eye and ear on soprano Diane Ketchie. In a song recital
sponsored by the Civic Music Association, she put her powerful
and compelling instrument on display."
Roxanne
Orgill, THE MILWAUKEE JOURNAL
"With
a vocal style reminiscent of Julie Andrews, the stunning
Diane Ketchie sounds lovely in Lloyd Webber ballads and
from the piano delivers the evening's knock-out punch with
a Victor Borge-like treatment of Webber's hits in the style
of Mozart, Beethoven and Rachmaninoff. "
Eric
Marchese, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
"Ketchie
was in splendid voice, filling the auditorium with a sound
of unpretentious clarity, superbly supported throughout
the dynamic range."
Jay
Joslyn, THE MILWAUKEE SENTINEL
"Diane
Ketchie is a triple threat - combining her skills as an
actress, pianist and soprano."
BACKSTAGE
Reviews
for Valerie Perri
"Perri
is outstanding. ....She owns the stage."
Judith
Newmark, ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
"Valerie
Perri is a sensational Evita. She could easily rival the
Broadway original. She sings everything superbly, and makes
the grandstanding Don't Cry For Me Argentina the
platforming anthem it is."
BOSTON
GLOBE
"I
cannot heap enough praise on Valerie Perri's performance.
The woman can sing. Perri added 100 watts of charisma to
this production. Everything was given a fresh musical treatment."
Michael
Barnes - AMERICAN-STATESMAN, AUSTIN, TX
"Valerie
Perri is brilliant. With energy and precision, she transforms
Evita into one of the great acting-singing roles of contemporary
musical theater."
VALLEY
DAILY NEWS, LOS ANGELES
Return
to top
Letters
from Presenters
"I wanted to
express my thanks for your fantastic concert. You were professional,
congenial and delightful to work with. Both performances were
completely sold-out and the quality of the singing and staging
was excellent. Our local newspaper called it '…one of the
best performances ever to appear on the Norris Theatre's stage.'
Our audience and I unanimously agree!"
Robert Myers, Managing Director -
Norris Theatre for the Performing Arts
"Thanks so much for the wonderful show last season. My
audience is
still talking about the show and asking me when I am bringing
you back. Your rapport with the folks in the house was terrific.
Again, thanks for a great show."
Peter
Lesnik - Carpenter Performing Arts Center, Executive Director
"HOLIDAY ON BROADWAY,
featuring Broadway stars Diane Ketchie, Raymond Saar, Valerie
Perri and Scott Harlan, provided an unforgettable evening of
music that definitely put our audience in a festive mood. This
show featured not only classic holiday favorites, but also a
collection of timeless Broadway tunes that entertained and lightened
the spirits of everyone in attendance. All the performers in
this great show displayed an abundance of talent, charm, wit,
and a wonderful rapport with the audience. We definitely plan
on having them back one day in the future!"
Robert Poole - Louisburg College Auditorium
"Raymond
Saar, Diane Ketchie, Valerie Pern, and Scott Harlan are the
best at presenting top notch and audience pleasing Broadway
programs that we have ever worked with. Twice now, we have
presented this marvelous quartet. I have never experienced
a group that is more willing to work with us in an effort
to ensure a quality performance. Thank you for a great evening!"
Don
Gavitte
- Big Bear Lake Performing Arts Center, PAC Manager
"What can I
say except thank you for an exquisite show at our California
State University Performing Arts Center Theater? The audience
loved every moment and the "legitimate" standing
ovation clocked in at nearly five minutes and was fully deserved!
An absolutely first-rate, lovely and mesmerizing performance
by four terrific people! Thank you for a job brilliantly done.
We'll do it again!"
Keith Evans - California State University,
Northridge Performing Arts Center
"I want people
to know how pleased I am with all of the work we have done
together over the years. You provide some of the finest thematic
entertainment I have ever seen. The quality of your productions
I have brought to theaters in Dallas, San Diego and Palm Desert
has been outstanding. Each performer is a top professional
with years of experience. The shows are well written and the
pacing ensures a happy audience. I can certainly recommend
ETC Entertainment Company for any type of program, from corporate
function to ticketed public event."
Mitchell Gershenfeld - McCallum
Theatre, Director of Theater Presentations
| 
OOO
OOOOOO
