If you’re “in the mood” for a fun evening of easy-listening standards, Starlight Dinner Theatre’s latest revue is for you - but you’d better be quick, because it’s only on twice more, tonight and tomorrow afternoon. (As well, you might want to arrive a tad early since “a lot” of Friday reservations cancelled due to the snow but will probably show up on Saturday/Sunday.)
To take it by the numbers, “Swingin’ on a Star” highlights 25 songs from the swing era and war years with 13 singers, 2 dancers and an onstage combo with 3 basic musicians supplemented by several of the singers who do double duty with flute, piano, accordion and French horn, all complemented with expressive choreography by Fran Ludington.
Scrupulously listing the singers in alphabetical order – some of whom are longtime favorites seen in local musicals – they are Marcy Balogh, Kelly Bitz, Bill Henson, Ellen Hoard, Rachel Mender, Charlotte Ruppert, Kelly Sandula-Gruner, Darryl Schmitz, Dave Sincox, Dan Templin, Marty Underhill, Beth & Tom Webb. Seth and Katie Burk provide some wow-type dance moves to several of the songs and even get to sing a little in the finale.
Co-directors Susan DeRosa and Beth Webb keep everything moving at a good pace from song-to-song: there’s no tedious narration to slow things down.
Among other treats, you’ll get to hear the full version of “I Remember You,” introduced by Dorothy Lamour in the 1941 film “The Fleet’s In,” yodeled to a #1 hit by Frank Ifield in 1962, then used at two different times in the Star Trek franchise 25 years later.
Speaking of treats, this is a dessert-only show, with vanilla ice cream topped by chocolate sauce, nuts and peanut-butter Reese’s pieces – although you can pick and choose from the toppings.
Two more shows 2/10 & 11
Saturday dessert at 7: show at 7:30 pm
Sunday dessert at 1:30; show at 2pm
Waverly East Intermediate School 3131 W. Michigan Ave, Lansing, MI 48917
Reservations 517-599-2779
http://starlightdinnertheatre.com