THE HANGOVER REPORT – In “Without A Song”, the golden-voiced JASON DANIELEY magnificently sings through a spectrum of emotions

Jason Danieley performs “Without A Song” at 54 Below (photo by Adrian Dimanlig).

This weekend, I attended Jason Danieley’s latest cabaret show, which concluded its two-performance stint at 54 Below lat night. Entitled Without A Song, the show gives fans of the golden-voiced Broadway leading man an update on his emotional and mental state since having lost his wife – the glorious musical theater star Marin Mazzie – to breast cancer in 2018 (the couple were married for 22 years).

In short, the singing actor was in fine form, magnificently singing through a spectrum of emotions – from blissful love, to unspeakable grief, to gradual healing, and finally to a glimmer of hope. As always, he exhibited extraordinary breath control and thoughtful vocal stylings, resulting in a performance that gave way to a number of raw yet carefully sculpted emotional moments. Just as impressive is how gorgeously he has repurposed songs from the musical theater songbook, even borrowing from the late Ms. Mazzie’s most memorable vocal performance. Indeed, his renditions of Sondheim’s “Happiness” from Passion and “Losing My Mind” from Follies were definite highlights of the evening. It was also a treat to get a preview of Ahrens and Flaherty’s latest musical Knoxville, which Danieley starred in last year at Asolo Repertory Theatre in Sarasota, Florida (“Outside Your Window” seems poised to be a classic from the musical).

If his last cabaret show Reflections in 2021 was an understandably devastating experience, Without A Song happily finds Danieley well on the path of healing and even hope, as exhibited by his upbeat versions of “I Believe in You” from How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and “You Gotta Have Heart” from Damn Yankees. Throughout, Danieley’s longtime music director provided sensitive accompaniment on piano.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

JASON DANIELEY: WITHOUT A SONG
Cabaret
54 Below
1 hour, 20 minutes (without an intermission)
Closed

Categories: Cabaret

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