Kritzerland Soaring in its New Home at Sterling's Upstairs at Vitello's

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by Don Grigware

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On Sunday evening February 5 Kritzerland celebrated their 18th. show and second at Sterling's Upstairs at Vitello's in Studio City with a family evening of great tunes from live action films entitled Reel Imagination saluting Michelle Nicastro, a magnificent singer who passed away last year. Five remarkable female singers Alet Taylor, Juliana Hansen, Melody Hollis, Lauren Rubin and Jane Noseworthy joined music director extraordinaire Shelly Markham at the piano and Bruce Kimmel who introduced the songs in his own inimitable style with delightful anecdotes about the composers and his association with them through Kritzerland. Composer Richard M. Sherman, of Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang fame, made a special guest appearance singing and playing the kazoo on "The Chimpanzoo" cut from Mary Poppins (photo above).

Other highlights included: "In My Own Little Corner" from Cinderellasung lovingly by Noseworthy, a stupendous "I Gotta Crow" fromPeter Pan with Alet Taylor irresistibly sounding off, an adorable "Talk to the Animals" fromDr. Doolittle from adorable Hansen, a wonderful TV medley by Melody Hollis which included: the theme from "Sesame Street", "Happy Days", "The Brady Bunch", "Gilligan's Island", "The Beverly Hillbillies" and "The Addams Family". Melody also performed a beautifully low-key combo of "Chim Chim Cheree" and "Feed the Birds" from Poppins. Lauren Rubin's finest hour came with "At the Codfish Ball" from Captain January, originally sung with gusto by Shirley Temple and the lilting "Candle on the Water" from Pete's Dragon. The audience joined in after the finale of "Over the Rainbow" sung beautifully by Hansen for a rousing "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious".

This was a wonderfully fun evening for the entire family, and if you have never experienced a Kritzerland show, you do not know what you are missing. Forever humorous Bruce Kimmel presents a dazzling array of talent singing some very precious material. And there are always surprises - as this time Kimmel himself lifted his nice voice to the strains of Sylvia Fine's  "I'll Take You Dreaming" from The Court Jester. 

Next up on March 4 is a Kritzerland show presenting the lyrics of Ira Gershwin. Be there!

(photo credit: Daniel G. Lam)


Jane Noseworthy


Richard B Sherman and Bruce Kimmel


Lauren Rubin


Juliana Hansen


Melody Hollis


Alet Taylor