By Andrew Gans
28 Oct 2005

Question: You also have a new musical director.
Eder: Well, I made a lot of changes in my life. [Laughs.] Even though I wasn't looking forward to it, I knew that it was coming and I needed to make the change, although I didn't want to because a lot of emotions were invested. But I have to say that it's been really wonderful. John Oddo is an amazing guy. He's worked with so many great people, a lot of years with Rosemary Clooney. He just brings a new element. When you go too long with the same thing, you tend to stay in that same thing and you can't really grow. And I think I had reached a point in my career where I needed to [change].

Question: Do you have any other projects in the works?
Eder: I have a project that I can't really talk about at this point. [Laughs.] Right now, the Garland show is new. My plan is to do this in the United States for several months . . . and then for the first time, my plan is to take it to Europe. I've had people asking me to come over there for a long time, but seven years ago I got pregnant, and I don't like to fly anyway, so I wasn't really that eager to go. My career was thriving here, and I didn't really feel the impetus to go over. Now that [my son] Jake is older and I've been really seriously asked so many times, and this record company, Angel, really wants me to do that. And I think it's the right time with this particular album.

[Carnegie Hall is located in New York City at 57th Street and Seventh Avenue. Visit www.carnegiehall.org for more information.]

EUAN MORTON & EDEN ESPINOSA SING BROADWAY
Two Broadway up-n-comers, Euan Morton and Eden Espinosa, were featured in concert this past Saturday night at Town Hall, part of the first annual Broadway Cabaret Festival produced by Scott Siegel. Morton, who made his Broadway debut as Boy George in the short-lived Taboo, performed the first half of the Town Hall evening, while Espinosa, seen in Wicked and Brooklyn, was featured during the second half.

Though I attended the concert because of Espinosa's appearance, I have to admit that Morton was the more engaging performer. The young actor has an easygoing, impish stage manner, is quite funny between songs and boasts a unique voice that is especially beautiful in quieter moments. Morton opened his evening of Broadway tunes with a wonderful pairing of "I Am What I Am" and A Chorus Line's "Who Am I Anyway?" before segueing into Guys and Dolls' "Luck Be a Lady." Highlights also included powerful versions of two ballads originally written for women: Taboo's "Talk Amongst Yourselves" and Oliver!'s "As Long As He Needs Me." His finale, an a capella rendition of "American Tune," brought the audience to its feet, and the 45-minute set also included impressive renditions of "If I Loved You," "They Can't Take That Away From Me," "I Won't Dance," "Not While I'm Around" and a Medley for Loiterers ("Leaning On a Lamp Post," "On the Sunny Side of the Street" and "On the Street Where You Live"). Eleasha Gamble and Tracy Olivera also provided wonderful back-up vocals.

In February 2003 I was first introduced to the talents of Eden Espinosa when John McDaniel — in his Joe's Pub cabaret act — featured the singing actress as a guest soloist. Espinosa dazzled with superb renditions of the pop song "Get Here," Brooklyn's "I Still Bleed" and Stephen Schwartz's "Meadowlark." Since that time I've been impressed by her performance as Elphaba in Wicked as well as her vocal work in Brooklyn, so I have been eagerly awaiting her debut solo concert. Perhaps my hopes were too high, but I was a bit disappointed with her recent concert, although that had much more to do with the arrangements of the songs than Espinosa's delivery. Someone misguided the young performer to offer several jazz arrangements of Broadway tunes, even changing the melody line on the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic "Some Enchanted Evening." Espinosa is one of the most exciting Broadway singers to emerge in recent years — at this point in her career, she should be belting out great Broadway tunes, not exploring the jazz world. That said, however, her concert did have many high points: She scored with Wicked's "Defying Gravity" as well as a medley of Brooklyn tunes that allowed the singer's voice to soar throughout Town Hall. Espinosa also charmed with the John Lennon anthem "Imagine," and she brought powerful tones to Jason Robert Brown's "And I Will Follow."

DIVA TIDBITS
Is there a diva lover on your holiday list? A Broadway Diva Christmas may just be the answer. The new holiday revue will begin previews at Off Broadway's Julia Miles Theater Nov. 23 with an official opening Dec. 4, and the limited engagement will play through Dec. 31. The production — which will feature a host of Christmas tunes — will star Maya Days, Christine Pedi and Marla Schaffel with special guest star Ellen Greene. Also in the cast are Natalie Joy Johnson, Tedi Marsh, Kate Pazakis and Sally Schwab. Brian Nash is musical director. A Broadway Diva Christmas is being presented by Parker Russell Productions, Tom D'Angora and Michael Duling. The Julia Miles Theatre is located in Manhattan at 424 West 55th Street. Tickets, priced at $70, are available by calling (212) 239-6200 or by visiting www.telecharge.com. For more information go to www.abroadwaydivachristmas.com.

In November DRG Records will release a new DVD featuring Ute Lemper, the German chanteuse who made her Broadway bow in Chicago. "Blood & Feathers — Live at the Café Carlyle" will be available in music stores beginning Nov. 8. Lemper's latest act was recorded live at the famed Carlyle Feb. 24 and 25, 2005, and the DVD has a running time of one hour and 27 minutes. The complete track listing for the new DVD includes "Pirate Jenny," "Milord," "Blood and Feathers," "The Ladies Who Lunch," Moon Medley ("Bilbao Song," "Moon Dance," "Moon Over Bourbon Street," "Moon of Alabama," "Moon at the Window," "It’s Only a Paper Moon" and "Grapefruit Moon"), "Lilli Marlene," "Muenchhausen/ The Baron of the Lies," "Accordeoniste," Cabaret Medley, "Surabaya Johnny" and "September Song." Visit www.drgrecords.com for more information.

Broadway performers will sing country tunes, and country singers will croon theatre fare at an upcoming concert at the Frederick P. Rose Hall titled Broadway Meets Country. The Nov. 12 evening, which will benefit The Actors' Fund of America and the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, will be co-hosted by Brian Stokes Mitchell and Lee Ann Womack. Those scheduled to perform include Broadway stars Jason Danieley, Reneé Elise Goldsberry, Marin Mazzie, Andrea McArdle, Idina Menzel, Donna Murphy, James Naughton, Marian Seldes, Ben Vereen and Patrick Wilson as well as country recording artists Trace Adkins, Glen Campbell, Billy Currington, Raul Malo, Richie McDonald, Jamie O'Neal, Julie Roberts, Carrie Underwood and Trisha Yearwood. Stephen Oremus will be the musical director for the concert, which begins at 11 PM. Concertgoers can expect to hear Glen Campbell's rendition of "You'll Never Walk Alone," Billy Currington's "On the Street Where You Live," Marin Mazzie's "9 to 5," Andrea McArdle's "Fancy," Donna Murphy's "Walking After Midnight," James Naughton's "I've Been Everywhere," Carrie Underwood and Patrick Wilson's duet of "Suddenly Seymour," Ben Vereen's "King of the Road" and Trisha Yearwood and Idina Menzel's pairing on Wicked's "For Good." Frederick P. Rose Hall is located in the Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center, Broadway at West 60th Street. Tickets, priced $350 (show only) and $1,000 (concert plus pre-show cocktail reception with the performers), are available by calling (212) 212-869-4535.

Cabaret singer Lisa Mullane Viggiano will make a rare New York City appearance beginning Oct. 30 at The Duplex. The singer, who possesses a voice that is clear, focused and strong while also quite pretty in its upper register, has titled her new show The Viggiano Monologues, and performance dates are Oct. 30 at 5 PM, Nov. 12, 13 and 19 at 7 PM. Backed by Christopher Marlowe on piano, cabaretgoers can expect to hear such tunes as "I Can't Give You Anything But Love" and "Mountain Greenery" as well as new works by David Zippel, Tim DiPasqua and Annie Dinerman. The Duplex is located in Manhattan at 61 Christopher Street. There is a $15 cover and a two-drink minimum; call (212) 255-5438 for reservations.

Well, that's all for now. Happy diva-watching! E-mail questions or comments to agans@playbill.com.

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