Posted: 8/15/26 at 11:48pm
I didn't see a post on this yet so I am wondering what people think of the festival in Kingston so far. They have already done both Friday and Saturday so curious as to the feedback.
Here is mine so far:
Friday-Highlights- Reeve Carney and Eva Noblezada- I had not seen their cabaret show together before and really enjoyed it. They did a duet from Hadestown and a bunch of other songs. Reeve really has a rock star voice and Eva was really cute and funny.
The Big Show- Alex Newell blew the roof off and sang 3 songs- 1 from each show he is best know for- When you're good to Mama from Chicago, Independently Owned from Shucked and Mama will Decide from Once on this Island. Tremendous performance.
Mandy Gonzalez did With one look from Sunset as well as a duet with Chris Jackson from In the Heights. Then Chris did One more time from Hamilton with Javier Munoz. Jasmine Amy Rogers also did a couple of numbers including one from Betty Boop.
Saturday- a longer day starting with Seth with Kelli O'Hara and Andrea McArdle. Both told stores and sang and it was lots of run. Seth is always hilarious. The 80's jukebox was fun. The bway stars can really rock- especially Norbert Leo Butz and Jenn Colella. Kelli O'Hara and Renee Elize Goldsberry did an LL Cool Jay song that was fun.
Jason Robert Brown's show was rocking- He's a really good singer especially for a composer and he had Kelli O'Hara sing from Bridges as well as Norbert singing If I didn't believe in you from The Last Five Years which he said he hadn't sung with Jason in 27 years. Jason played a new song from a show he is writing which was very good and another he cut from Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil which was also very good.
The Rent Reunion was the highlight of the weekend. 13 of the 15 original cast members attended. Only Idina and Jesse Martin weren't there. Lauren Patten stepped in for Idina on the What you Own duet with Fredi Walker and they were both fantastic. There were a few errors on songs with some having to start again and Taye Diggs was the most obvious in not knowing his part, but he was charming just the same. Everyone sounded in great voice 30 years later and the stories they told about Jonathan Larson were very touching. A really special night for Rent fans and the crowd went crazy.
It's too late to go on about the big show Saturday, but I would love to hear what other people thought.
The logistics of the festival were pretty good considering it was the first time. The talent and shows were produced very well- Jerry Mitchell directed and John Rua had some great choreography. The on site parking was a bit of a mess, and there should have been more food stands, but overall it was managed quite well.
One more day tomorrow.
