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Below are excerpts of reviews of
roles Hugh Panaro has played over the years. If you come across a review,
please send it and it will be added here.
Broadway Melody Concert
UTAH SYMPHONY, Scott O'Neil conducting, with guest soloists Lisa Vroman
and Hugh Panaro; Abravanel Hall, Friday, April 6. Second performance
Saturday, April 7, 8 p.m. Tickets available through ArtTix (355-ARTS).A
slice of Broadway found its way into Abravanel Hall Friday evening. The
Utah Symphony under assistant conductor Scott O'Neil and singers Lisa
Vroman and Hugh Panaro joined forces in a program of favorite show tunes
from the past century.
However, this wasn't just a rundown of popular melodies. There was more
to it than that. The program's creator, Matthew Inge, wove a story line
in and out of these songs, tying them together and fusing them into a
cohesive whole -- and in the process creating an evening of music that
was original, innovative and just plain magical. The story that was told
in song was a simple one of two people meeting and falling in love. And
as the couple, Vroman and Panaro were perfect. Both have starred in
numerous Broadway productions, and they brought a strong dose of wit,
charm and style to the show. Vroman and Panaro have wonderful voices,
and they were equally matched in lyricism and expression -- and they
could also belt it out when needed. After a rousing performance of the
overture to "Gypsy," the show got under way when Vroman and Panaro came
onstage doing "Tonight" and "I Could Have Danced All Night," which were
cleverly combined into a duet. That segued into a medley of "Lullaby of
Broadway," "Love Makes the World Go Round," "Make Believe" and "This
Can't Be Love." Vroman soloed in a lovely rendition of "Somebody,
Somewhere," after which Panaro was spotlighted in a dynamic version of
"Love Changes Everything." A delightful segment featured both singers
hamming it up in a set consisting of "Vanilla Ice Cream," "Sara Lee" and
"Coffee In a Cardboard Cup," all done in a semi-serious, operatic
manner. After this, both singers once again sparkled in a couple of solo
numbers. Vroman was fantastic doing "Unexpected Song," while Panaro
nearly brought the house down with his version of "The Impossible
Dream." The first act of the show ended with a passionate performance of
"I Am Loved" by both soloists. Even though the opening half of the
concert lasted for over an hour, the rhythm of the presentation was so
taut and fast paced that noting dragged, and everything flowed along
marvelously well. The second half was much shorter, but it also
contained some of the best material of the evening. It opened with the
orchestra playing the overture to "Funny Girl." Vroman then gave a
heart-stopping performance of "Think of Me" from "The Phantom of the
Opera," in which she's currently starring on Broadway. And Panaro was
once again in top form singing "Maria," unquestionably one of Leonard
Bernstein's absolute best songs.
****
"Singing this weekend will be two of Broadway's brightest stars, Lisa
Vroman and Hugh Panaro. "The singers are just top of the line," said
Inge. "Hugh is a sweetheart with a beautiful voice. He was the original
Marius in the American production of 'Les Miz,' he sang Ravenal in 'Show
Boat,' both on the West End (in London) and on Broadway, and he just
finished playing Martin in 'Martin Guerre.' ""
Call Me Madam
"Musical director Peter Matz creates stirring vocal moments, especially
in the show-stopping duet "You're Just in Love," belted by Morrow (a la
Ethel Merman) and Hugh Panaro, whose voice simply soars. "
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
"As Dorothy's love interest, the dashing Henry Spofford, Hugh Panaro
owns the show's most impressive voice, and he's handsome enough to
prompt a collective female gasp when he makes his first entrance. "
And Hugh Panaro, another star of ''Side Show'' on Broadway who starred
with Pettiford in the London production of ''Show Boat,'' plays the
dashing young Englishman with whom Dorothy gets smitten. ''I love
Hugh,'' Pettiford said. ''He is just a gem. When he opens his mouth, I
am in awe. I feel the same thing with Alice Ripley.''
A Holiday Cabaret 2000
"Anne Kerry Ford's equally witty 'Santa Spoof' imagined a sung version
of the transcript from Santa Claus' therapy sessions, and Hugh Panaro
was hilariously on target with 'My Simple Christmas Wish' (written by
David Friedman). Both Ford and Panaro also revealed their exceptional
vocal skills in other numbers--Ford with a lovely reading of "Count Your
Blessings" and Panaro in a touching duet with Kristien on 'White
Christmas.'"
South Pacific
"In the subplot, which is also about racial prejudice getting in the way
of love, Hugh Panaro is a capable, believable Lieutenant Cable, and he
sings the message song, 'Carefully Taught' with ease."
Sweeney Todd
"Anthony Hope, the sailor who falls in love with her, replies with the
thrilling "Johanna," sung with a fine heroic tenor voice by Hugh Panaro
as the orchestra swells underneath him."
****
"Hugh Panaro reveals a plucky, powerful tenor as her idealistic suitor,
Anthony"
****
"Hugh Panaro plays the good sailor who captures Johanna's heart. When
his powerful tenor wraps around the soaring "Johanna," he gives you the
shivers. "
Symphony Center Irving Berlin Concert
"Whether singing robustly in the ensemble numbers or softly and sweetly
in "Once Upon a Time Today," Hugh Panaro proved himself by far the most
charismatic and vocally substantial tenor of the evening."
What's A Nice Country Like You Doing in a State Like This?
With the accompaniment of only a piano draped in a red cloth and a
simple backdrop of newspaper headlines, director Suzanne Astor Hoffman
makes a virtue of the limitations by having the lively cast of five act
out the numbers. A tall stunning Jane Brucker plays off the three men --
handsome Hugh Panaro with a talent for accents, curly-haired dance freak
Steve Mulch and hyperkinetic Rob Resnick -- while Missy Baldino keeps
popping out in a mac to revise news of her sex life.

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