Seattle Men’s Chorus celebrates ten years at Benaroya Hall with seven performances scheduled for Seattle between December 7 and December 21 with an additional performance in Everett on December 6 and one in Tacoma on December 13. FRUITCAKE is this year’s holiday concert which is always funny, warm and delightful. I have commented on here before how much I enjoy the holiday concert even more than any of their other shows throughout the year.
This year Seattle Men’s Chorus has added a little “Holliday” for the Holidays, Two of the Seattle concerts include special guest Grammy and Tony-award winner Jennifer Holliday on December 7th and 8th. Jennifer Holliday’s show-stopping, heart-wrenching performance of the torch ballad “And I’m Telling You, I’m Not Going” in the smash hit Broadway musical, Dreamgirls, made her a household name. Holliday is both a celebrated singer and actress who has gained a reputation as a proponent of LGBT causes, performing at numerous Pride festivals.
And it looks like once again this year the Chorus will not disappoint with songs such as “Stomp the Halls,” an original composition created by the talented Eric Lane Barnes. The very funny Scott Warrander has written the concert’s title piece, “That Fruitcake Song,” an homage to the cake that won’t die.
The small ensemble Captain Smartypants will open each act of the show. The opening of Act II will feature a rendition of “We Three Kings” containing a few smarty-pants edits (there are nine kings, three of whom are Elvis). “The highlight of the concert,” as artistic director Dennis Coleman explains, “is the touching piece titled ‘The Promise,’ co-commissioned with the Gay Men’s Chorus of Houston, the Heartland Men’s Chorus, and the Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus.”
Upcoming shows of FRUITCAKE include Dec 6 at the Everett Civic Auditorium, Dec 13 at the Tacoma Temple Theatre and Dec 7, 8, 14, 15, 21 and 22 at Seattle’s Benaroya Hall. Concert tickets range from $20-$65. For info and tickets visit www.flyinghouse.org.
