Broadway Songs for a Good Cause
Photo of Marist Singers performing a Hamilton Medley during their Night on Broadway show. Photo by Cora Flynn '26
On a rainy Sunday afternoon, students, families, and faculty crammed into the Nelly Goletti Theater to watch Marist Singers take on a variety of Broadway medleys and classics.
The annual “Night on Broadway'' show included three performances on Oct. 28 and 29 and raised $7,430 for the charity Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Along with supporting an important cause, the almost three-hour-long show gives students a chance to shine.
Some of the most notable numbers included junior Dora Young’s “Journey to the Past,” the Enharmonic’s Hamilton/Hadestown medley, and juniors Olivia Myers and Emme Armstrong’s “My New Philosophy.” The variety of tempos and song themes provided balance, making the show engaging for Broadway experts and newbies alike.
Ashley Theisen ‘26 enjoyed the production quality of the show. “There are many talented people in the chorus, and although I didn't know a lot of Broadway songs, I think everyone did a really good job, and it was very well rehearsed,” said Theisen.
Along with the pacing, the interactions between different numbers helped make the show feel cohesive. The fun and camaraderie between performers shone through through recurring characters like King George, played by Miles Snyder ‘26, and moments like the comedic relief from the time checks added to senior Jillian Zuch’s “A Little Bit in Love” number.
The quality of the performance, choreography, staging, and music is all the more impressive when considering it was put together in only six weeks. The team that made it happen was led by choral director Sarah Williams, conductor Bryan Lynch, and stage director/choreographer Lindsay O’Neil.
“It's a quick process from auditioning to casting and building the show and then learning all of the music and rehearsing it all,” said O’Neil. “But when the students are jazzed about what's going on, it's incredible what's possible.”
Along with donating all ticket sales, all proceeds from the raffle were donated to BCEFA. Marist has been working with the BCEFA since 2006. The fund started in 1987 and has grown to support Broadway actors in various ways, such as housing and health care.
Sunday’s performance was even more meaningful for the cast because the BCEFA wasn’t the only cause they supported.
“Our choral director, Sarah Williams, was diagnosed with breast cancer. So for the Sunday performance, we did a pink-out for her as a big surprise,” said soloist Lauren Berardi ‘26. “We all had our breast cancer awareness shirts on, and she came in, and it was such a special moment. We all care so much about her.”
Overall, the 2023 “Night on Broadway” show stood on its own as an enthusiastic and vibrant production made possible by a passionate cast, crew, and staff.