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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.