Soprano Tynan Davis, pianist Cathy Venable and tenor Corey Trahan perform for "Strike Up The Band," at Biedenharn Garden, Oct. 15.

Back when I was attending community college in New Orleans and had my first taste of voice lessons and musical theater, I remember thinking that training to sing on Broadway would probably be easier than training for opera. After all, the expectations for vocal performance surely couldn’t be as high for someone who at the same time was also being expected to act and dance.

As it turned out, the expectations are pretty darn high, and performers are expected to be able to do it all – belt out a show tune or an aria, plus act and dance, all one cue. I did my best with it for a few years and eventually started wondering if maybe just opera training would have been simpler.

But the fact is a good vocalist usually has to be able to give Rodgers and Hammerstein the same professional treatment as Handel. Classical training, therefore, is still the foundation for this, and it often leads to some really outstanding moments on Broadway, as well as off-Broadway.

To this effect, three vocalists came together recently to show off just what operatic talent can do with songs by Cole Porter, George Gershwin and others, for a theatrically-enhanced presentation of popular music from the 1930’s to coincide with a statewide artistic tribute to The Great Depression.

The “Strike Up The Band” event was led by local favorite and tenor Corey Trahan along with soprano Tynan Davis and pianist Cathy Venable, on Oct. 15 in the Fountain Room of Biedenharn Gardens in Monroe.

The unending rain that had poured over the area for the entire week continued into this evening, and I was consequently a few minutes late to the start of the show. But I knew it was going to be good, because as I walked along the sidewalk, I could hear strong singing coming from the interior.

I made it inside and fitted myself into the only standing space left at the rear of the room, and in the direct line of sight to the performers. I felt a little awkward, but Trahan and Davis didn’t seem fazed by the strange journalist, luckily.

The show had been advertised as “theatrically-enhanced,” so I was looking for some costumes or a slideshow of show scenes, perhaps, but there was none of that. I found it to be a show-tune recital, performed by theatrically-experienced vocalists. This was quite sufficient, though, because the vocals were outstanding and gave the older audience more than enough to enjoy.

Trahan’s smooth tenor made a great base for Davis’s piercing soprano throughout the evening. They had started off well and just got better as the show moved on. I spent the first few songs putzing around with camera and video equipment, trying to get good footage of the duo, before finally being able to really listen by about the middle of the show, right around “My Funny Valentine.”

At one point about midway through the set, Trahan looked over his shoulder in the middle of a song, then lost his place and excused himself, only to return seconds later with surprise guest Louis Nabors, the voice chair at ULM, who was met with a loud round of applause before presenting us with his glorious bass on “Old Man River.” He gave this song everything it’s meant to have and really had me feeling like I was watching a very unique event. It’s not often one gets to stand just a few feet away from a voice that strong without paying for front-row seats.

Special guest Louis Nabors, the voice chair at ULM, performs for "Strike Up The Band," at Biedenharn Garden, Oct. 15.

Trahan and Davis, dressed in an off-white ball gown and tuxedo, were accompanied by the extremely capable Cathy Venable, who has served as a pianist for Broadway shows. As a mezzo-soprano also, she gave us a few solos that were perfectly placed between songs by the other two vocalists. I told her after the show that I appreciated her ability to follow the vocalists and be aware of their need to breathe, which non-singing pianists accompanists sometimes don’t take into account.

A highlight of this show without doubt was “Handful of Keys,” from Ain’t Misbehavin, sung as a trio. All three performers gathered around the piano and it looked for a bit like the two main vocalists were just there to help turn pages for Venable as she played and sang, but then all three voices joined together to create the most spontaneous and fun part of the evening. They nailed the timing on this and looked like they were having such a great time that I wanted to join in. Davis hit some very comical high notes, as well.

I really appreciated Trahan’s ability to sing softly for one of my favorite songs, “What’ll I Do,” by Irvin Berlin. It’s so easy to overdo this one, but Trahan kept it at an even keel and took advantage of the small space to show off some dynamics.

Soprano Tynan Davis, pianist Cathy Venable and tenor Corey Trahan at "Strike Up The Band," at Biedenharn Garden, Oct. 15.

Davis countered this once or twice later by singing full volume without the microphone. I was glad she made a move away from the mic temporarily — she didn’t need it, and she used the freedom to really belt some high notes on “Anything Goes.”

The most theatrical moment of the evening was held for the last, as Tynan and Corey shifted into acting mode for selections from “Oklahoma!” They played this off of each other with southern accents and some really amusing expressions, and gave us all something to look forward to if they should ever decide to perform together again.

The audience of over 80 people showed their appreciation with a standing ovation, and the trio of performers then invited all to sing along with “God Bless America,” after which everyone gathered in the reception room for a brief meet-and-greet.

For more information, email info@bmuseum.org or call (318) 387-5281.

Strike Up The Band from Eric Lincoln on Vimeo.

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ULM instructors and performers at "An Afternoon in Vienna" at Biedenharn Gardens, Aug. 30. left to right: Claire Vangelisti, asst. professor of vocal studies, Deborah McClung-Gillory, associate professor, piano dept., Dr. Lynn Clark, asst. professor of curriculum, and Dr. Mark Clark, associate professor and director of opera and musical theater.

MONROE, La. | 8/30/09
Instructors from ULM performed 19th century operettas, songs, piano and string classics for An Afternoon in Vienna in the Biedenharn Fountain Room. I unfortunately missed the event, but made the tail end of the reception, where I also missed the Viennese sachertorte, but did manage a few guest shots. Events Coordinator Abbey Ebarb said there was a standing-room only crowd and they even had to turn a few people away. The museum is planning ahead for An Afternoon in Paris, April 11, 2010, from 4-5 pm.

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