Jersey Boys Blog

Tituss Burgess in Concert (With Cassondra Kellum & Marty Thomas)
Monday March 12, 2007 at The Triad
By Special Correspondent Howard Tucker ([email protected])

Background

Both my friend Jessica Calderon and I have seen Jersey Boys multiple times with Tituss Burgess, and saw his heart, soul, and humor in each of the scenes he’s in. (“Who are these guys??” ; “Can you make it out to: Love, Muffin?”; “I’m tearin’ up!”). But as soon as he started singing “There’s a Boat That’s Leavin,” Jessica and I looked at each other and simultaneously said, “Wow, this guy can sing!!” (We did have a hint, since we both heard Tituss’ wonderful CD “Here’s to You” many times.)

My friend, JBB Fantastic Fan #1, Dee Dugan, did clue me in to Tituss’ talent after having seen him in “Rockers on Broadway: 2006”. Quoting Dee: “Not only is he an amazing talent, but he is also sweet and lovable, and simply a down-to-earth nice guy.” Ditto, Dee.

Tituss himself did all of Monday evening’s arrangements.

The Cause

Tituss and his entire crew performed pro-bono for ASTEP: Artists Striving to End Poverty. ASTEP is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to mobilizing the global community of artists to create positive change for young people in need worldwide. ASTEP has established arts camps in South Africa and Florida, an arts-based orphanage in India (which Tituss intends to visit shortly), and outreach in NYC for impoverished children who have limited access to arts education. Producer Michelle Miller told me that Tituss was the very first artist to perform in the ArtCents Concert Series presented by ASTEP for this wonderful cause.

The price of admission was a donation of your choice to be placed in a huge jar. The jar was overflowing at the end of the evening! (No one was asked to produce a checkbook, and no one was pressured.)

The Artists (all donating their time)

The Star: Tituss Burgess
Featured Performers: Cassondra Kellam, Marty Thomas

The Band

Seneka Black: trumpet
Mary-Mitchell Campbell (potential 2007 Tony nominee for Company and founder of ASTEP): piano
Celina Charlier: flute
Eric Day: trombone
Kevin Dow (from Jersey Boys): drums
Michael Pearce (from Jersey Boys): bass
Justin Smith: fiddle
Jeff Widenhofer: guitar

The Show

Tituss began with a comedy routine about the interruption of his world tour to perform in New York City and Astoria (a remote section of Queens , NY ). He liked Astoria so much, he decided to settle there!

“There’s a Boat That’s Leavin’”: Our discovery that Tituss has some powerful voice. (Mama Rose in Gypsy—my second favorite musical behind Jersey Boys– would never have to admonish: “Sing out Tituss!”)

“It Ain’t Necessarily So” (from Porgy and Bess): This song “questions” some of the biblical truths we’ve all accepted over the years, such as David and Goliath, Jonah and the whale, and Moses being found in a stream. It’s been decades since I’ve seen Porgy, but the Methusaleh line is still the best, “Methusaleh lived 900 years, but who calls that livin’ when no gal’ll give in.”

“Can’t Take My Eyes off You” (Lauryn Hill Version): To quote Paula Abdul, “You made this your own, Tituss”. You certainly had the crowd rockin’ and roarin’ to this one. Tituss had us doubled over in laughter discussing his “audition” for the Frankie Valli role in Jersey Boys. Neither Frankie nor John Lloyd Young could be reached for comment! (And Jersey Boys drummer Kevin Dow and bass Michael Pearce couldn’t keep straight faces, hard as they tried!)

“Cruisin’”: Before singing this Smokey Robinson classic, Tituss called his Mom in Athens, Georgia over speakerphone to discuss her favorite song, “Cruisin’” and group (The Miracles), as well as touching on the more mundane, such as what she made for dinner Monday evening. (She made reservations, as she had gone to a restaurant!) Mom was a wonderful sport and the crowd adored her!

“Next Ten Minutes with Cassondra”: This duet is an adaptation of the song “The Next Ten Minutes” from the 2002 Drama Desk Award-Winning Musical The Last Five Years. Featuring Tituss’ strong pipes and Cassondra Kellam’s beautiful voice, the duet culminates a five-year relationship between Tituss, a rising novelist, and Cassondra, a struggling actress.

Preceding this duet is an unorthodox backstory told with Cassondra traveling backwards in time (beginning at the end of their marriage) and Tituss traveling forward (starting with their first date). The two meet at their wedding and celebrate “The Next Ten Minutes with Cassondra.” We were all emotionally drained at the bittersweet song’s conclusion.

Tituss noted that Cassondra is not a professional performer, but rather a PhD candidate in theology. After tonight’s performance, Cassondra, your public might vote for an additional calling!

“Speechless”: A beautiful original composition by Tituss that demonstrates that there are times, however rare, that this adjective even fits him.

“Spread a Little Sunshine” (from Pippin): Pippin is one of the few Broadway shows I haven’t seen, but Jessica has, and loves this song, and tells me Tituss’ rendition more than did this one justice.

“Cabbage Head” (a tribute to Ruth Brown): A great highlight of the evening. In full dress, wig (see slide show), and voice, Tituss did a magnificent and hilarious rendition of Ruth’s classic “Cabbage Head”. Tituss was Ruth’s #1 fan, and touchingly recollected exactly where he was when he heard of her untimely passing in November, 2006.

All of us know Ruth from her role as local DJ Motormouth Maybelle in John Waters’ film “Hairspray”, but long before that, in the early 1950’s, she was the acknowledged “Queen of Rhythm and Blues”. Her hit “Teardrops from My Eyes” was #1 on Billboard’s R&B chart for 11 weeks beginning in October, 1950. Brown was a Tony and Grammy winner, and a 1993 inductee into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.”

Tituss, it was a funny yet poignant memorial to a real icon, whom many later blues artists such as Bonnie Raitt credit as their inspiration. Rest in peace, Ruth.

“Since You’ve Been Gone” (duet with Marty Thomas): This was a beautiful touching ballad with two marvelous performers and voices. There were no dry eyes at the end, and even Marty and Tituss were fighting back tears.

In 2004, Marty released an album of his most popular cover tunes he performs with his band around New York City. From Country/Funk to Gospel, to Blues, to Rock to R&B, to Showtunes, this album covers all bases and is bound to be a sure fire hit with all those who love real music.

Most recently, since leaving the cast of Wicked, Marty has been traveling the world. He was just cast in the brand new Broadway musical, Xanadu. Xanadu is a staged adaptation of the 1980 classic cult film of the same name starring Olivia Newton-John. Rehearsals begin in April and a Broadway opening is expected for mid-June.

We all remember Marty for beating a then-unknown Britney Spears as junior vocalist on “Star Search” in 1992!

Come see Marty this Monday, March 19, at Splash Bar in NYC. He’ll be doing a set of showtunes…belting, belting belting. Gonna be fun….Special guests abounding! He goes on around 12 Midnight, there is a $5 cover after 10, and it’s free before!

“Under the Sea” (from The Little Mermaid): Tituss’ rendition of Horatio Thelonious Ignacious Crustaceous Sebastian (aka “Sebastian’s” classic from Mermaid), presented with his million-watt smile, provided a hand-clapping upbeat “conclusion” to a marvelous program, before the crowd’s prolonged standing ovation brought our hero out for his curtain call, as noted below.

“Love is an Action” (an original composition by Tituss): What a great encore, Tituss. Another touching and beautiful song. This was a great conclusion to a great evening.

The Performers

The Triad on 72nd Street in NYC had no back door, so all the performers had to negotiate their way through an adoring crowd. Marty and Cassondra happily posed for pictures, as did the band members, including Jersey Boys’ Kevin Dow and Michael Pearce (see slide show).

But it was Tituss who really mesmerized the crowd, posing for photos, signing autographs, acknowledging everyone with his huge engaging smile, and hugging everyone he could. In fact, Jessica was complaining all the way home that I received a “full hug” while she had to settle for “half a hug.” (So far, she’s buying the story that I challenged Tituss to try to fit his arms entirely around my waist…..shhhhhhh……..).

We had a marvelous time with a wonderfully dynamic performer. Thank you, Tituss, and we all look forward to your next gig.

Jersey Boys Blog would like to thank Special Correspondent Howard Tucker for this in-depth review of Tituss Burgess’ phenomenal benefit concert at The Triad!