Ring in the Season with "Jerry's Girls"

Performance Network kicks off the holiday season with its annual musical, this time a revue entitledJerry’s Girls. There is no real storyline to speak of, apart from some implied relationships. Rather, the piece is meant to showcase the work of Jerry Herman, the composer behind many hummable Broadway scores, including Hello, Dolly!, La Cage Aux Folles, Mack and Mabel, and Mame. In addition, Herman claims the distinction of being one of only two composers to have three shows surpass 1,500 performances on the Great White Way.

The ensemble boasts an array of fine vocal talent, including Naz Edwards, Barbara Scanlon, Leslie Hull, Erin Esposito, and Thalia Schramm. The ladies form a delightful whole, while being afforded an individual share of the spotlight. The song assignments prove to be skillfully chosen by director Carla Milarch and musical director R. Mackenzie Lewis, as they are tailored to showcase each performer’s strengths to their best advantage.

Sly references to other performers tied to particular shows, such as Carol Channing in Hello, Dolly! are bound to slip by younger audience members, but will likely amuse those who  Suzanne Young’s costumes run the gamut from nightclub chic to charmingly vaudevillian, while Mary Cole’s innovative lighting strikes all the right chords. Jerry’s Girls is a delightful holiday treat that is sure to brighten up the season.

Performances run through January 5 at Performance Network, 120 E. Huron Street, Ann Arbor. For more information on tickets, call 734-663-0696 or visit www.performancenetwork.org.