Kennedy Center NSO Pops Concert: Megan Hilty & Cheyenne Jackson

The NSO Pops concerts are a great way to enjoy a world class symphony letting it's hair down in the company of contemporary performers.  Tonight's concert featured two veterans of Broadway, TV and films, Megan Hilty and Cheyenne Jackson.  Megan I have long loved thanks to the TV series "Smash".  Cheyenne I knew of, but honestly couldn't have told you anything he's been in--I've never seen "American Horror Story" in which I now understand he had a significant role.

The concert was wonderful.  I really enjoyed getting to experience both Megan and Cheyenne in person.  In some ways, it mirrored a former NSO Pops concert I attended that featured Darren Criss (Glee, etc.) and Emily Wolf (knew nothing about her).  I bought the ticket to see Darren perform live and was blown away by Emily.  In this instance, Megan was wonderful (the impetus for my purchase)--but Cheyenne was AMAZING.  Those of you who like me may be fans of Megan can imagine how good she was, and she was that good, but I'm telling you, he was better.  At first he reminded of Michael Buble, but then I thought "no", he's fucking BETTER than Michael Buble.  I'm not kidding.  His voice was made to perform with an orchestra.  His song selections reflected the perfect unity between his range and power and the instrumentation on stage.  He was just something special.

The concert was divided into two acts with an intermission.  Each of the singers spent equal thirds performing alone and together.  The NSO opened each act with an overture from Broadway or cinema.  Megan began her set with a medley from Broadway classics (there was no Sondheim tonight) that included a selection from "Li'l Abner"!--delightful.  She also sang a stunning interpretation of Don Henley's "The Heart of the Matter" that really was breath-taking.  Cheyenne came on with Latin Classics like "Besame" and numbers from the American Song Book--think Frank Sinatra and Mel Torme.  From the first number, the clarity and range of his voice set him on a higher plain.

During intermission I struct up a lovely conversation with a young lesbian couple who were sharing the box with myself and a straight couple around my age.  They had just moved to Fairfax, Virginia from Nashville and were interested in seeing musicals locally, but hadn't figured out where to do so.  Um...DMV Theatre Ambassador to the rescue!

The second half opened with Megan performing songs from "Smash": "They Keep Moving the Line" (infinitely forgettable...) and "Baby Grand" (achingly beautiful), and then Cheyenne joined her for the duet "History is Made at Night" also from "Smash."  His set included another Classic Latin big band number, and a cover of the Shirley Bassey/Tom Jones hit "For All We Know" that nearly brought the house down.  He finished with a story about his dad and then performed a song he'd written about a time when he was 13 and his father let him know that his love for his gay son was unconditional.  Megan sang back-up, and I had a hard time seeing either of them as my tear duct chose that moment to spring a leak!  They finished with the marquee song from "Smash", "Let Me Be Your Star".  Needless to say, we stood in appreciation!  The encore was a thrilling rendition of "That's Life".   Top to bottom, a wonderful evening at the Kennedy Center.