Concert 2011 Press
Review from Cabarethotlineonline.com
April 11, 2011 Review by Sue Matsuki below
More from Sue
HEAR OUR SONG – Friday, April 8th – NORWALK CITY HALL, CONCERT HALL (125 East Avenue, Norwalk, CT – 203-866-7004) – I was so exhausted on my drive back from teaching up in Waterbury, CT, I decided to stop over in Norwalk to catch the benefit show my friends David Friedman and the Rev. Shawn Moninger were producing, featuring the members of their church, the Unity Center for Practical Spirituality (http://www.unitycenterps.org/ ). The show was directed by Scott Coulter, hosted by Scott with the FANTASTIC co-producer and singer Christina Connors. (What a VOICE! Not since Nancy LaMott has anyone sung David’s “Listen to my Heart” like this beautiful woman! She got a standing ovation and she deserved it. I wept at her sound and heart when singing.) This was a fast moving 2+ hour show with incredible talent sharing their love and yes, UNITY as a group, offering us their gifts for the benefit of others. THIS is what “church” should be about!
Starring (and they were ALL stars tonight): the gorgeous Lucie Arnaz (even in the bunion boot Lucy!); Dr. Garrett Bennett (or as I like to call him, Dr. Handsome); his lovely bride and my dear friend Raissa Katona Bennett; the aforementioned goddess Christina Connors & co-host Scott Coulter who, with musical director Kenneth (what a talent) Gartman provided some of the most beautiful duets of the evening; the man himself, David Friedman; our own sweet Bobbie Horowitz; the DIVA-INE Lina Koutrakos; the cool and hep Rosemary Loar; Mr. Laurence Luckinbill with a spellbinding performance as Clarence Darrow; the funny and sweet Roger Anthony Yolanda Mapes; the handsome Don Martocchio, the tall and jazzy Valeria Roncoli and my new best friend (although she doesn’t know it yet_, Nancy Timpanaro-Hogan and her adorable husband Dr. Wayne Timpanaro-Hogan. WHAT A SHOW! WHAT A CAST!
We all know and love Shawn Moninger from several years back as the sound/lighting tech at Don’t Tell Mama, but the Rev. Moninger is a lovely force of positive energy and love that oozes out of his pores. As a person who knew him back then, I was moved by his “light” and passion and, as with all the people that we care about, it was nice to see him SO happy. He told us that we were all good exactly as we are and this left everyone with a sense of well being not only from the fantastic show but from this wonderful show of UNITY! (Pun intended!)
Review from Thehour.com
03/31/2011 Review by KEITH LORIA Hour Correspondent below
More from Thehour.com
NYC cabaret stars to shine for Unity Center ~ Since 1991, the Unity Center for Practical Spirituality has been housed on Main Street above the McMahon Ford Dealership in Norwalk, but the church has had difficulty letting people know it was there.
The Rev. Shawn Moninger, the founding president of The Unity Church of New York in New York City and the church’s minister, wanted to find a way to change that, and an idea started percolating in his head last summer.
“We had a retreat last summer with a lot of our members — many of them celebrities — and on the last day we put on a cabaret show and I thought it was one of the best shows I had ever seen,” Moninger said. “I thought, ‘we can reach the community this way because this is what we do best.’”
With those same celebrities on hand, the church will host its first-ever musical extravaganza, “Hear Our Song,” to be held Friday, April 8, at Norwalk Concert Hall.
“It’s going to be very exciting,” said the event’s producer (and performer) Christina Connors. “There are lots of local businesses involved and we wanted to make this a big Norwalk event, and what better way to do that then through something fun with music.”
The event will include a who’s who of Broadway and cabaret performers, including Lucie Arnaz, blues singer Lina Koutrakos and Disney composer David Friedman. Also on the bill is Norwalk’s own Broadway star Raissa Katona-Bennett.
“Being part of Unity has changed my whole life by giving me access to internal joy and peace and a sense of safety and possibility no matter what’s going on,” said Friedman, a Broadway composing veteran of eight shows. “I am participating in this concert not only to let the entire community know that this wonderful resource is available to everyone, but to give people a taste of the joy and the talent that exists within the Unity community.”
Unity music director Scott Coulter, well known on the NYC cabaret circuit, will join Connors as co-host for the evening. For his part, Moninger will hit the stage with a church favorite, “The Cookie Song,” that he wrote and sings at the retreat.
“We have a lot of talent in our spiritual community and we really wanted to share that, as well as our philosophy for positive living, with a wider audience,” said Moninger. “It’s not a religious evening but it’s certainly upbeat.”
“Hear our Songs” line-up will feature 16 performers and include solos, group numbers, duets and a finale with all performers. There will also be one spoken-word act as Laurence Luckinbill, who is known for a series of critically praised one-man shows, will present his story of Clarence Darrow.
“We are transforming Norwalk Concert Hall into a Broadway stage and I don’t think Norwalk has ever experienced anything like what we are doing,” Connors said. “Anyone who loves any type of music and incredibly talented performers will love this. It’s going to be extraordinarily entertaining.”
There will also be a silent auction that will include items such as dining certificates, trips and a Frank Gifford-autographed football.
A portion of the event’s proceeds will go to support Norwalk Hospital’s Whittingham Cancer Center and The Domestic Violence Center.
Tickets are $25, or $100 for premium seating, which includes a meet-and-greet reception after the show. For more information visit www.unitycenterps.org or call (203) 866-7004
“How often do you get to see this type of talent under one roof at this price?” Moninger said. “The whole evening is accessible to adults and children and these performers and the material they do send a great message and offer great entertainment.”
The Center holds a Sunday Celebration service as well as a wide variety of daytime and evening workshops and classes throughout the week.
“Unity itself is a spiritual philosophy for positive living,” Moninger said. “We are not trying to convince anyone of anything except that life can truly be enjoyed and appreciated in some way or another no matter what’s going on.”
