Los Angeles Concert Preview: RAÚL ESPARZA SINGS SONDHEIM (Valley Performing Arts Center)

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by Tony Frankel on November 13, 2012

in Theater-Los Angeles

BEING ALIVE IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT

When the senseless Leap of Faith had its out of town tryout at the Ahmanson before its crash-and-burn on Broadway, there was only one thing which made sense: the pyrotechnic performer Raúl Esparza. This magnetic talent made evident that he could sing the listings from a phone book and make them interesting. But what happens when he collides with Broadway’s pioneering Stephen Sondheim? According to Ben Brantley in the New York Times, Esparza brought transporting ecstasy to the agony of “Being Alive,” in which his character Bobby finally joined the band of human life in Company (fortuitously recorded for PBS).

Coming up this week at the Valley Performing Arts Center, Broadway star Raúl Esparza presents an evening of songs that we can only guess by the title, will be mostly, if not all Sondheim. Raúl Esparza Sings Sondheim will play one night only on Saturday, November 17 at 8:00 PM, and based on the fact that both composer and singer have rabid fan bases, I suggest pouncing on tickets while you can.

Tony Frankel’s Stage and Cinema preview of Raúl Esparza Sings Sondheim at Valley Performing Arts Center

Since his debut on Broadway in the The Rocky Horror Show, Esparza has taken the theatre world by storm, performing in works such as the revival of Tom Stoppard’s Arcadia, Kander and Ebb’s Cabaret and two Sondheim revivals: Sunday in the Park with George, and, more recently, Company. Over the last few years this talented singer/actor has crafted and developed his own personal solo performance shows which showcase his wonderfully cool and expressive voice and his multi-faceted personality. Any guesses what the encore number will be? Regardless of the selection, the entire concert will no doubt make anyone happy that they are aware of being alive.

Raúl Esparza Sings Sondheim
Valley Performing Arts Center in Northridge
Saturday, November 17, 2012 at 8:00 PM
for tickets, visit VPAC

{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }

Erin M November 13, 2012 at 6:08 pm

No doubt Raul will be amazing. He was not in The Rocky Horror Picture Show. He was, however, in The Rocky Horror Show.

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Tony Frankel November 14, 2012 at 11:31 am

Thanks Erin! Consider it corrected.

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