Liz Callaway, American songstress, actress, Broadway star and the voice in several animated movies, received multiple ovations last Monday evening at the Riverside Theatre Supper Club, an annual benefit hosted by Friends of Riverside that each year dazzles attendees with outstanding world-class performers.
Revelers enjoyed cocktails in the Orchid Lobby as Elizabeth D. Kennedy Catering put the final sparkling touches on the black-clothed tables inside the Waxlax Stage, once again elegantly transformed into a New York supper club.
“We have been lucky enough to be serenaded by Liz Callaway warming up while we set up in here all day,” said Kennedy. “It was a real pleasure.”
Nancy Goodes is credited with initiating the successful fundraiser and, while she couldn’t attend this year, she left its continuance in the capable hands of Friends chair Emily Sherwood and Event chair Anna Bain Slater. Goodes’ legacy also lives on through a sizable contribution to ensure Riverside can get equally talented performers in the future.
“I think this was a fantastic choice, this is the kind of venue in which Liz Callaway shines and for those who have never seen her perform before it is going to be a real treat,” said producing artistic director/CEO Allen Cornell.
Slater said she had not heard Callaway before listening to her YouTube rendition of Meadowlark.
“I cannot tell you how many times I have played that song over and over and it gives me chills,” said Slater. “Our friends flew in from New Jersey and we were lucky enough to get tickets to A Chorus Line last night.
“It is beyond wonderful to have them see shows of this quality in our little Vero Beach and have them be so impressed.”
“Liz is just so talented. We have been very fortunate to have these kinds of people come to Riverside,” said Riverside Theatre Board President Heidi Waxlax. “In November we have plans to have David Pittsinger, who played the quintessential Emile De Becque in “South Pacific” at the Kennedy Center, be the performer for the fall luncheon. You should have heard the Friends Committee when they heard he was coming!”
After the Chicken Marsala was served and the last morsels of Lemon Gelato Parfait consumed, Callaway shared bits of her life with the audience interspersed with a selection of songs.
“I have achieved an important part of my career with my debut in Vero Beach,” said Callaway. “As I was sitting at the Lemon Tree putting together my song list for this evening, I knew I wanted to sing songs from Broadway, movies and the sixties.”
Then, accompanied by pianist Joseph Thalken, she launched into It’s My Party and an enthusiastic version of You Don’t Own Me.
“I’ve always said the second song should be warm and welcoming,” she said to appreciative laughter. Later, she even encouraged some audience participation, passing the mike during the chorus for a fun rendition of Downtown.
The audience gave Callaway a thundering ovation for parodies to Sondheim’s Another Hundred People and Getting Married Today.
And at the end, returning after an ovation for People, she sang Memories, a song that she said meant a lot to her, having performed five years as Grizabella in “Cats,” garnering yet another ovation.
The Friends Committee expected that the fundraiser would raise more than $50,000 to support Riverside Theatre operations.