Full Reviews
Rogers owns Broadway
So fast paced it will make your head spin.
Friday August 2, 2002
HARRY CURRIE The Kitchener Record
David Rogers' one-man show is nothing short of a triumph for all concerned.
Rogers is one of the most high-quality, versatile performers you could ever hope to see on a stage, and this show had more variety in it than any other one-person show I've ever seen. The expectation, of course, is that you're going to see a performer stand on a stage in front of a band and sing songs from various Broadway shows, and that it would all be very pleasant but nothing you haven't seen a dozen times before. This show is so fast-paced and full of switches that it'll make your head spin. Rogers runs the gamut of doing shtick one minute, and in the next he's pouring his heart out in one of the big songs like All I Ask of You from Phantom of the Opera.
What amazes is that he's completely believable in the comedy as well as the drama, and his voice is so flexible that it, too, runs the gamut from one extreme to the other. And not only does it adapt to the various styles, his normal baritone range can soar up to tenor notes and down to some pretty low bass sounds, and it can ease off to bel canto or sotto voce but launch into controlled and powerful full voice right through his range. And this show doesn't stick one complete song after another -- there are several clever medleys, arranged to overlap the tunes and switch back and forth between them often with only a phrase from each. A case in point was the medley using girls' names. Rogers brought four ladies up from the audience and, using props, sang various songs to each of them, switching props and songs along with the names -- Gigi, Lola, Rose Marie, Marion, Mona Lisa, Mame and more. This was both clever and hilarious.
There was a Jolson medley, one from Rodgers and Hammerstein, as well as one with Andrew Lloyd Webber tunes, and a general Broadway medley which was a capsule history of the Broadway musical from Sigmund Romberg and The New Moon (Stouthearted Men) through Vincent Youmans and Great Day (Without a Song), Showboat, Annie Get Your Gun, Camelot and Carousel. One of the dazzling weaves was the use of two "tonight" songs -- Tonight at Eight from She Loves Me and Tonight from West Side Story.
The switches in style, mood and timing were unbelievable; Rogers makes an incredible task seem like child's play. The sequence that got to me was the song from Cats about Gus, the Theatre Cat, with a poignant bit of puppetry by Rogers. You couldn't find a better evening's entertainment.
Hurry to Give Your Regards (with the Hamilton Philharmonic)
Broadway heartthrob connects with the very soul of everything he sings.
March 26, 2004
GARY SMITH The Hamilton Spectator
Anyone who loves the Broadway musical --and in particular its wonderful legacy of song -- should hurry to this show. This entertaining evening from David Rogers and The Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra is a sensational theatre concert.
It celebrates the glory of Rodgers and Hammerstein, Lerner and Loewe and just about everybody in between.
A salute to the great leading men of the Broadway stage, it also proves a terrific showcase for the considerable talents of long, lean and handsome David Rogers. He not only looks like an angel, he sings like one too. And he holds the stage in such a casual way you feel he's singing just to you.
Rogers' between-song patter is friendly and loose. But when he lets go with those glorious pipes this Broadway heartthrob connects with the very soul of everything he sings. Whether he's clowning through a medley of name songs extolling the charms of Mame, Dolly and Rose Marie, or leaning into the passionate wail of that quintessential theatre anthem The Impossible Dream, Rogers makes miraculous music.
Backed by the talented members of the Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra, he charms the socks off his audience. Charm you see, is a commodity in short supply these days, particularly in the theatre, so when it comes along it really ought to be embraced.
Hit Musical opens Season
Rogers completely captivated the audience and brought them on his musical journey.
June 4, 2004
DOUG AVRAM St. Thomas Times-Journal
The audience erupted into a standing ovation in appreciation of an electrifying performance by David Rogers as the Port Stanley Festival Theatre opened it 2004 summer season with Broadway Heroes, a salute to the great leading men of Musicals.
Rogers’s phenomenal talent brought the colour, sound, and power of the best of Broadway to Port Stanley and then to top it off with even more, he added the fullness of the Pantages Theatre with songs from the Phantom of the Opera.
Rogers has a rich tenor voice with wonderful range into baritones, which makes listening to him pure pleasure.That would have been enough, but opening night offered even more. Rogers imbues each note, each word, every song, each nuance with power and richness making every song a living story. The emotional depth of each song whether it was just a phrase of a song or the whole song, each was given its own meaning.
From the very opening note to the emotional encore, Rogers completely captivated the audience and brought them on his musical journey through some of the most beloved songs of the musical stage. His own interpretations are crisp, clean, emotional, powerful and rich.
Truly, this is one of the very best musical revues that anyone will ever experience and it is happening at the Port Stanley Festival Theatre- not in Toronto, new York, or and other large centre.
Broadway Heroes runs to June 12 and I would suggest that you get your tickets reserved now. This is too good to miss.
Rogers Gives his Regards to Broadway
Warning: Wear comfortable shoes, you will be doing a lot of toe tapping.
July 27, 2005
LYNDA HILLMAN-RAPLEY Lakeshore Advance staff
Grand Bend- You are going to love this guy…no really, you will take the risk of falling in love with David Rogers if you go to see his show at the Huron Country Playhouse.
This production is created by and stars Rogers with the amazing arrangements of Mark Camilleri.
Sit back and relax because for the next two and a half hours you are entertained and in some cases caught off guard. Rogers takes you to Broadway and to the leading men who gave us the passionate, sometimes funny classics we love to hear.
You will literally close your eyes and sigh when Rogers croons the sounds from all time favourite performances. He actually paints a picture with his voice. There is no wonder that Rogers is considered one of the most gifted performers in Canada today.
Favourites from Phantom of the Opera and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Coat are as thrilling to listen to as songs from Cats, Oklahoma! Man of La Mancha.
After a very lengthy standing ovation, Rogers sang The Impossible Dream to an audience that was already spent with delight and awe of the performer. Warning: Wear comfortable shoes, you will be doing a lot of toe tapping.
Broadway Lights Shining on STC (Sudbury Theatre Centre)
…the idea leading man awaits!
January 15, 2003
JUDI STRAUGHAN Northern Life
If it’s possible for the lights of Broadway to reach beyond the Big Apple, then they are surely shinning on the Sudbury Theatre Centre.
David Rogers has starred in major musical productions ranging from Broadway revues to mega-musicals and from operettas to rock operas. But all that counts for naught if a singer can’t vocally seduce an audience onto the magical carpet of escape from Sudbury’s sub-zero January temperatures. And serenade an audience he can! Ask anyone who sat in the audience and watched him… For those who long the hear some of the hit tunes from the seasoned, more classic musical such an Camelot, Oklahoma, Fiddler on the Roof, My Fair Lady or Man of LaMancha, Rogers is brilliant. To be whisked off to Broadway for a tiny fraction of the cost, David Rogers, the idea leading man, awaits!
A Standing Ovation Truly Earned
It’s like getting the best of Broadway all in one evening.
July 1,2005
JENNIFER HARKER The Mirror
Audiences are in for a treat this week at the King’s Wharf Theatre as Drayton Entertainment launches its second show of the summer season.
It’s a super show and wonderful walk led by many leading men of the stage. A perfect vehicle for David Rogers’ rich baritone voice and a thoroughly entertaining evening. Rogers has been describe as Canada’s favourite leading man and has played many parts in many places. Although it is a one-man show, you leave the theatre feeling like you’ve been entertained by more than one person. On stage, you’ll hear the Phantom of the Opera, Joseph singing about his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Al Jolson songs, Curly from Oklahoma, Tevye from Fiddler on the Roof, Don Quixote and many more of your favourites. It’s like hitting the best of Broadway all in one evening without having to limit yourself to choosing just one show.
Rogers’ rich voice blends beautifully with the backdrop of a full nine-piece orchestra packing plenty of personality of their own led my music director Mark Camilleri. Rogers’ voice is playful, powerful of passionate depending on the character. There are show-stopping numbers, like the Jolson signature piece Rock-a-Bye Your Baby, and softly sung haunting songs like Music of the Night.
Along with the magical music, there’s humour and patter between the songs to keep the evening light and enjoyable.
The first-half of the show focuses on some of the early innovations on Broadway, like Jolson and features several medleys of musical moments from classic long-running favourites, like Camelot, Mame, and Man of La Mancha. The tribute to the ladies in his life requires him to select members of the audience which leads to lots of laughter.
During the second-half, Rogers slips easily in and out of the many characters he brings to life in contemporary musicals, such as Cats and Phantom of the Opera.
Rogers was rewarded with a well-deserved standing ovation at the end of the show. While an ovation is always a nice tribute to the performers on stage it’s awesome when it is freely given because it’s been truly earned.
One-Man Show has Show-Stopping Tunes
David Rogers’ energy never waivers and his voice never fails
July 24, 2006
MARY ANDERSON Live! On Stage!
When I first heard that this was going to be a one-man show, I was feeling vaguely disappointed? How could just one-person do justice to a Broadway revue? As it turns out, what makes this show amazing is the fact that it’s a one- man show.
David Rogers’ energy never wavers and his voice never fails as he carries the entire show, currently on stage at Huron Country Playhouse in Grand Bend. Rogers has just finished directing the Kander and Ebb revue The World Goes’ Round that is now running at Playhouse II. HCP audiences will remember him as Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, which ran in 2002.
In this current production, he is playing a plethora of Broadway’s leading men, singing old and new show tunes. Occasionally he adapts his wardrobe to the song, pulling costume pieces from the various trunks and suitcases scattered on the stage.
Rogers is backed up by a full 9-piece orchestra, which shares the stage with him. Act one opens with a nostalgia trip down Broadway, featuring old favourites like lullaby of Broadway, Luck Be a Lady, and They Call the Wind Maria.
The second act begins with a salute to Rodgers and Hammerstein, featuring Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’. and Surrey with the Fringe on Top. He also included a trick song of Danny Kaye’s called Russian Composers- where a list of Russians with the most difficult names to pronounce is sung in less than 38 seconds.
The real audience pleaser is when Rogers sings a selection of songs to leading ladies. He finds ‘volunteers’ in the audience to join him on stage, so that he can serenade them. The impromptu cast includes the roles of Maria, Gigi, Rose Marie, Mame, Marion the Librarian, Once in love with Amy, Anne of Green Gables, Mona Lisa, and Whatever Lola Wants. These somewhat reluctant stage stars bring the house down as the audience react with gales of laughter, Rogers even finds a most unusual volunteer to take on the role of Dolly, as he sings Hello Dolly. He points out that now no one needs to travel to Stratford to see the Festival’s version.
Each song is a show-stopper in its own show – here you have a string of hits, one after the other. The opening night audience, as usual, was very appreciative, extending the standing ovation until Rogers returned for his encore, The Impossible Dream.
Musical Revue Salutes Broadway’s Leading Men
The show is about more than just singing
STEPHANIE MANDZUIK Times Advocate
July, 2006
The very talented David Rogers pays tribute to Broadway’s great leading men. Music director Mark Camilleri also deserves a bravo for his arrangements and leadership of the nine-piece orchestra .
However, the show is about more than just singing. At one point, Roger chooses three leading ladies from the audience to join him on stage. There had been no rehearsal and the real-life response from the trio to the flirtatious Rogers is hilarious! Rogers doesn’t forget his audience and encourages everyone to sing along to Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin’. And if you’re a fan of the musical Cats, Rogers’ take on Gus, the Theatre Cat will leave you purring. As always the best is saved for last when Rogers sings the Music of the Night. Rogers is no stranger to this song. He played the roles of Raoul and The Phantom in the Phantom of the Opera and his rendition of this tune will make the hair of the back of your neck stand up!
Selected Quotes
“David Rogers' one-man show is nothing short of a triumph for all concerned. You couldn't find a better evening's entertainment.”
-The Kitchener Record
“Anyone who loves the Broadway musical --and in particular its wonderful legacy of song -- should hurry to this show.”
-The Hamilton Spectator
“Rogers imbues each note, each word, every song, each nuance with power and richness making every song a living story.”
-St. Thomas Times-Journal
“To be whisked off to Broadway… David Rogers,
the idea leading man, awaits!”
-Northern Lights
“Rogers’ voice is playful, powerful of passionate depending on the character.”
-The Mirror
“What makes this show amazing is the fact that it’s a one- man show.”
-Live! On Stage!
“His rendition of this tune (Music of the Night) will make the hair of the back of your neck stand up.”
-Times Advocate
“..with the amazing arrangements of Mark Camilleri.”
-Lakeshore Advance staff
“Truly, this is one of the very best musical revues that anyone will ever experience.”
-St. Thomas Times-Journal
“His self-effacing acting style and rich vocal prowess infuse his characters with great charm”
- Stratford Beacon Herald
“Rogers is definitely in the heartthrob category.”
-Scene Magazine
“David is truly one of the most gifted performers in Canada today. He has the ability to paint a picture with his voice and take the audience to places unimagined.”
-Alex Mustakas- C.E.O. Drayton Entertainment
The response to "Broadway Heroes" with the Sault Symphony Orchestra was extraordinary!
Never in the 33 year history of the Sault Symphony has a performer ignited our audiences such as David Rogers did earlier this year. The response from members of our orchestra was immediate! When we returned to our office on Tuesday following the "Broadway Heroes" performance, numerous e-mails were awaiting from members of our orchestra, season subscribers and the public who attended the concert. Every single comment was positive and many of the people requested that we bring David back to perform with our symphony.
-Patti Gardi -The Sault Symphony Orchestra
