A well-planned celebration of Barbara Clippenger’s life unfolded last Saturday at La Nueva Posada. On her 90th birthday, some 60-plus friends showed up and listened to tributes from her sons, Jeff Capri and Rob Harris, before being entertained by 13 singers and dancers performing highlights from shows that Barbara has either produced, directed, written or choreographed.
Kristine Leigh opened with Belly Up to the Bar from “Unsinkable Molly Brown,” followed by Greg Custer and Roy Haynes performing Luck Be a Lady, and Alexis Hoff’s rendition of A Person Could Develop a Cold from “Guys and Dolls.” Christy Caldwell then sang I’m Gonna Wash That Man while Ken Turner wowed the crowd with Younger Than Springtime from “South Pacific.”
Roy Haynes and the Show Girls delivered a lively performance of I Am What I Am from “La Cage Aux Folles.” Ken Turner, joined by dancers Alexis and Gregg Weiler, performed The Way You Look Tonight, leading into Patteye Simpson’s moving rendition of Some of These Days from “Tin Pan Alley.”
Ed Tasca added a lighthearted touch, jokingly roasting Barbara while celebrating her as “an accomplished dancer with a heroic soul who became Lakeside’s most popular and prolific showrunner.” He also praised Barbara for the charitable work her productions supported, benefiting those in need at Lakeside.
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The entertainment continued with Patteye Simpson performing What I Did for Love from “Taste of Broadway,” Johannys Jimenez Hartog’s lively rendition of Copacabana, and a duet by Christy Caldwell and Kristine Leigh on Happy Days/Forget Your Troubles from “Gotta Dance, Gotta Sing.”
Alexis Hoff and Christy Caldwell joined the all-female ensemble for Big Spender from “Sweet Charity,” and the evening concluded with three unforgettable numbers from “Chicago”: When You’re Good to Mama, Roxie, and All That Jazz.
Additional performers included dancers Tanya Beede, Concha Gorski, Pamela Johnson and Gregg Weiler. Bob Mazanec served as the tech director and stage manager for the evening.
Juan Grattan provided musical interludes with a beautiful medley of American standards, classic Broadway, and Tin Pan Alley tunes. The night wrapped up with a Big Band and jazz set, featuring music from Barbara and Mac Morrison’s legendary cabarets.
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