All year long, members of the Durango Choral Society entertain us with music ranging from opera and the sacred to Broadway and jazz. But in May, they pull voices out of the choir and onto the front of the stage at their annual Cabaret, the organization’s largest fundraiser of the year.
On May 17, it was one “ooh,” “aah” and guffaw after another when they held this year’s outing at the Durango Arts Center. And the audience was in the mood because of their delighted stomachs.
Michelle Hegenwald, the DCS’ hospitality guru, and her husband, Frank, flew back from their second home in Florida just to cater the event.
Along with a crew consisting of Debra Lehl, Abby Bowen and Louanne Crawford, with an assist from Chuck Norton Catering, they cooked up a storm, preparing tables groaning under a menu of chicken breast Alfredo, French onion meatballs, poached salmon, vegetable, fruit and cheese trays, turkey, pork and beef brisket sliders, antipasto trays, macaroni and cheese, pimento and bacon brushetta, spicy crab and shrimp on crackers, cheese and bacon tassies, spinach dip and curried deviled eggs.
And that doesn’t count the dessert table, where cupcakes and brownies were just a few of the offerings. Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory truffles graced every table. (I’d like a count on how many truffles our hometown chocolatier donates to nonprofits every year because they do it all year long.)
It’s hard to pick just a few standouts, but I’ll try.
Without a doubt, the single most outstanding number was Sarah Choszczyk, accompanied only by Zach Barber on bass guitar. It was, in a word, stunning. Choszczyk also had some fun singing “Three Little Girls from School,” from Gilbert and Sullivan’s “The Mikado.” The other two school girls were Erin Sinberg and Mandy Gardner.
Gardner, who doesn’t know how to do anything any way other than over the top, also went for it on “Adelaide’s Lament” from “Guys and Dolls.” Choral Society Executive Director Dawn Spaeder wears many hats – including her cute black feather fascinator at Cabaret – so she greatly enjoyed “Orange Colored Sky.” You may not recognize the title, but you know the song, “I was walking along, mindin’ my own business, when out of the orange colored sky, Flash, Bam, Ali-ca-zam, wonderful you came by.” Spaeder updated the song to reflect our current cell phone, texting, social media world to great laughter.
The Durango Women’s Choir, stunning in 1950s-inspired dresses with tulle petticoats underneath, were wonderful on “Johnny Angel,” and fun on “Lipstick on Your Collar” and the “Little Shop of Horrors,” the soundtrack to enticing donors to drop money into Conductor Linda Mack Berven’s bright green bag. (Diane Welle found the dresses in Australia.)
Mack Berven says she knows which pieces were most liked in a concert by the response at the bank or City Market. So the Women’s Choir also reprised the winner of the Linda Mack Unofficial City Market Poll, Gershwin’s “Embraceable You,” featuring Alison Dance on a solo. (My vote for next year’s reprise is Choszczyk on “Fever,” Linda, just in case I don’t see you at City Market.)
While the DCS was great on the opening “Hit Me With a High Note” and the George M. Cohan Salute finale – it will be featured on the group’s first ever Fourth of July parade float – it was the completely lyric-free, a capella version of “Peter Gunn,” with a solo by Kristi Pope that, well, popped.
Curtis Storm is one of the most outstanding tenors the DCS has had, and he nailed it on “Lonely House,” from “Street Scene.” The evening was also the Durango debut of the Jewel Tones, Karla Brown, Ginny Fraser, Anna Robinson and Amy VanDerBosch, from Telluride. A female a cappella group, they wowed on “It Had to Be You,” “Mr. Sandman,” “My Romance” and “By the Light of the Silvery Moon.”
There was a lot of a cappella that night – Sue Weber also performed her own “Motor Coach Blues” about an adventure in Australia. I have to say I particularly admire people who can sing without accompaniment – I can barely sing with it.
Christi Livingston once again proved that she is one of the most talented accompanists in town. Margi Coxwell not only sings with the DCS and chairs its board, she’s a talented pianist, too, providing music pre-show and during intermission.
Stan Crapo from Star Liquors continued his sponsorship of the DCS. He says he has to because his wife, Alice, sings with the choir, but he clearly enjoys doing it.
Steve Blaylock and Alex Brunner provided technical assistance, and Kathy and John Riebau managed the front of the house.
I go to a lot of fun things – in fact, the only problem with this gig is that there are too many of them – but this is one of my favorites for sheer entertainment value.
HHH
Hoping their birthdays won’t be forgotten as they occur around or on Memorial Day are Carol Simmons, Elsa Caudle, Robert Manning, Jan Emmanuel, Josh Van Blarcum, Patty Hain, Diane Shaline, Chris Serwe, Michael LaVerghetta, Eileen Albrecht, Tom Breed, Erin Casey, Hank Walker, Marilyn Baker, Marcy Jung, Christine Wright, Leigh Nielsen, Duane Heidenreich, Graham Wendland, Jacob Behn, Paul Sheppard, Riley Wanzek, Bud Latham, JT Zink, Luke Meyer, Mike Begg, Kathy Owen, Natalie Serwe, Morgan Stapleton, Alexis Wood and Ann St. John.
HHH
It’s a rare Southwest Colorado resident who isn’t thinking about getting out and enjoying our beautiful area while recreating in one form or another. If you want to share that joy with folks dealing with disabilities, then volunteering at the Adaptive Sports Association of Durango is for you.
The organization will be holding training sessions for the summer season starting next week and running into the following.
There is great information on ASA’s website describing what people will be expected to know and the forms to fill out, which is great in advance, but can be done at the training as well. Unlike the winter ASA season, no experience is necessary to become a rafting or canoe guide or cycling coach. The training is free.
Some of the sessions are duplicated, and people only need to choose one.
All the water sports classes run from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Sessions will be held Wednesday and June 2, for rafting; Tuesday and June 3 for canoeing and kayaking; with cycling from 9 a.m. to noon Friday.
Wear the appropriate gear for the activity, put on copious amounts of sunscreen, bring a lunch and water and come prepared to have some fun. All classes meet at ASA’s offices at 125 E. 32nd St., Suite D, across 32nd Street from north City Market.
To learn more, visit www.asadurango.com or call 259-0374.
HHH
Celebrating their anniversaries with barbecues and patriotism are Robert and Marion Wengler, Lee and Bethany Bieth, George and Joan Spicer, Ron and Essie Williams, Bob and Beth Barnhardt, Frank and Tiffany Mapel, Kleber and Amanda Araujo and Jim and Virginia Martin.
HHH
Let’s all take a moment to remember those who have served our country on Monday. I appreciate their sacrifice every time I use my First Amendment rights of freedom of the press and freedom of speech.
HHH
Here’s how to reach me: neighbors@durangoherald.com; phone 375-4584; mail items to the Herald; or drop them off at the front desk. Please include contact names and phone numbers for all items.
I am happy to consider photos for Neighbors, but they must be high-quality, high-resolution photos.
