ONE HAND, ONE HEART Brings Bernstein Music To Life

Anyone in the non-Equity musical theatre scene knows my buddy Christopher Pazdernik . Between his day job at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre and balancing company duties with both Porchlight Music Theatre (my old stomping grounds) and Bailiwick Chicago (my current stomping grounds,) he'll still finds time to assist in one of the many musicals running in the city, then meet you at showtunes night at Sidetrack to stump you with obscure Carol Channing trivia. And even after all that, he finds the time to put on a cabaret or two. His cabarets aren't your run-of-the-mill sit and sing affairs. C.Paz (as he's fondly known to us theatre folks) always finds some sort of fresh twist in classic material. That's why I'm extremely excited for his current revue, One Hand, One Heart: The Musicals of Leonard Bernstein, which opens at Davenport's Piano Bar & Cabaret this Wednesday.

Bernstein was definitely a prolific composer. While best known for the iconic West Side Story, Bernstein aficionados also count Wonderful Town, On The Town, and Candide as his other masterpieces. True to form, Pazdernik will be digging further into Bernstein's trunk, including songs from the rare musicals 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and Peter Pan in his revue.

"I think Bernstein's music has a level of sophistication that isn't found in other musicals of his era," said Pazdernik. "Since him, we've had Sondheim and Guettel and LaChiusa, but I really do think he was instrumental (like Gershwin before him) in bridging the gap between musical theater and classical music. It's so fulfilling and satisfying, both for singers and audience."

Revue performer Sarah Hayes agrees. "Bernstein's music has a lushness and complexity that you don't always find these days," she states, counting her role as "Paquette" in Porchlight's 2008 production of Bernstein's Candide as one of her favorites. It was that production that first introduced her to Pazdernik, as well as co-star Christin Boulette who, who most recently appeared in Chicago Shakespeare's Beauty and the Beast. Adam Fane of Broadway in Chicago's Rock of Ages rounds out the cast.

"Usually, my cabaret starts with the cast," said Pazdernik, noting Boulette's "phenomenally high soprano" and Hayes' comedic skills. Also noting the complexity of Bernstein's music, Padernik continued: "I knew I needed a music director who was not only great with singers, but also an accomplished pianist to play all that Bernstein and [music director] James Morehead is all that and more."

One Hand, One Heart: The Musicals of Leonard Bernstein is a rare opportunity to experience the full scope of one the greatest American composers in history. One Hand, One Heart runs November 14, 15, 28 & 29 , 2012 at Davenport's Piano Bar & Cabaret, 1383 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago. Showtimes are at 8 PM. Tickets are available online or by calling 773-278-1830 . Tickets are $13 plus a 2 drink minimum.