Naugatuck Singer/Actress Shines on The Irving Berlin Duets Album

CONNECTICUT SINGERS SHINE ON “THE IRVING BERLIN DUETS ALBUM”

The cover of the new CD “Chip Deffaa’s 'The Irving Berlin Duets Album'” proudly proclaims: “...with an All-Star New York Cast.” But Connecticut residents can take pride in the fact that more than a dozen of the singers heard on the album—including Mary Cantoni, Clark Kinkade, Peter Charney, Bailey Cummings, Jack Saleeby, Emily Bordonaro, Veronica Johnson, Matthew Nardozzi, Theron Johnson III, Ellis Gage, Tyler DuBoys, Katherine Paulsen, Brianna Leigh Smail--have deep Connecticut theatrical roots.

Deffaa, an ASCAP Award-winning New York-based playwright, director, and producer, reflects: “Many of the best singing actors I’ve worked with over the years–performers who’ve become invaluable members of my theatrical family—got their start in productions in Connecticut. I’ve spotted them in shows at the Thomaston Opera House in Thomaston, the Warner Theater in Torrington, the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, and the Seven Angels Theater in Waterbury; and in secondary schools that present first-rate theatrical productions, like the Waterbury Arts Magnet School and the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts; and at Connecticut colleges noted for theater, like the University of Hartford/Hartt School and Yale University. Or they’ve been recommended by Connecticut theater folk I like and respect, such as Sharon Wilcox Houk, Agenes Duggan Dann, Ed Bassett, Foster Reese Evans, Rennee Purdy. I’m delighted to include them in this album—the first album ever of Berlin duets. The idea for the album, incidentally, came from Mr. Berlin himself. And I’ve picked the singers with care.

“The wonderful Mary Cantoni of Naugatuck, who won an award at CT Fest earlier this year for her work in my show 'One Night with Fanny Brice,' has starred in many different shows in Connecticut, as well as in my Fanny Brice show in New York. And she recorded the cast album of that show, too. She's got such warmth and strength, I'm happy to work with her any chance I get. On this album, she's paired with stage, screen, and television veteran Michael Townsend Wright to perform a Berlin rarity, 'Back to Italy,' that's never before been recorded. Her talented daughter, Veronica Johnson—who's becoming as familiar a presence in Connecticut theater as her mother—teams with one of the best balladeers in New York, Magnus Tonning Riise, to sing the haunting 'I Wonder.' And Mary's son Theron partners with Brianna Leigh Smail (from Wolcott)—both are veterans of shows at Thomaston Opera House--to sing 'The New Moon.'”

Many of the key singers heard on the album, Deffaa notes, “first impressed me as kids. And I've watched them mature into seasoned, highly promising performers. These young singing actors are featured on the new album—available from Amazon, CDBaby, Footlight Records, iTunes, etc.--alongside some of Broadway's most-respected men and women, and they hold their own brilliantly.”

Deffaa first spotted Emily Victoria Bordonaro, 21, from Avon, in a production at Thomaston Opera House, “Les Miserables,” when she was just 11, and he invited her to work with him. She appeared in Deffaa’s “Irving Berlin Ragtime Revue” at the 13th Street Theater in New York City. She’s sung on the cast album of that show, and on many other albums of Deffaa’s. A protégé of Tony Award-winning actress Betty Buckley and winner of the Betty Buckley Award, she's become Deffaa's most-recorded artist. “Emily can do it all,” Deffaa notes. “She sings these vintage theater songs and classic pop songs as if she grew up in that era. And yet she also writes and records her own original contemporary songs and tours with the rock band 'Uprooted,' under the stage name of Emily Victoria. She's as talented a singing actress as anyone her age I know. And she's in high demand these days. On this album, she's paired with her frequent partner Matthew Nardozzi of Fairfield, to sing a rare Berlin number, “I Love to Quarrel with You,” that was originally sung by a not-yet-famous Fred Astaire, with his sister, Adele, when they were both kids in vaudeville.

“Matt Nardozzi,” Deffaa recalls, “also got his start in Connecticut theater, doing shows like ‘Stuart Little’ with Sharon Wilcox, at the Thomaston Opera House, when he was a very little kid. I saw him on Broadway, in shows like ‘Inherit the Wind’ and ‘Dracula.’ And he’s got assorted film credits, too. He’s appeared in my ‘Seven Little Foys’ and ‘Irving Berlin’s America’–and may be heard on the cast album of the latter. And he’s won the national ‘Young Entertainer Award’ for his work in my ‘Irving Berlin’s America.’ He’s not just highly talented, he’s as reliable as anyone I know; and we created the ‘Matt Nardozzi Award’ at the 13th Street Theater. Matt’s so reliable, I let him record for this album while I was out of the country–directing a show of mine in Korea. Normally, as producer, I’m in the studio with the all of recording artists, trying to offer guidance. But Matt and Emily are so dependable, I'll let them record even if I can't be there. I really won't do that with anyone else.

"The amazing Clark Kinkade, from Litchfield, so impressed me as an aspiring teen actor, appearing in shows at Seven Angels Theater in Waterbury and at the Greater Academy of the Arts in Hartford, that I wrote the part of 'Bryan Foy'--which he originated at Seven Angels when he was just 16--specifically with him in mind, tailoring it to his strengths. Today he's one of the best younger singers in New York. When he's not recording with me--and he's enlivened a bunch of my albums and I hope will be on many more--he appears in musicals and is a key member of the vocal group 'RANGE a Capella. They've performed everywhere from the Red Carpet at the Emmys to Radio City Music Hall, and their recent 'Hamilton' video has garnered a whopping 5.7 MILLION views thus far on YouTube. You trying getting 5.7 million viewers to watch a YouTube video; it's not easy.... Clark's always been a very fine singer. But he's matured into an increasingly individualistic song stylist. He puts his own stamp on whatever I give him. And I really like that. A terrific singer. And very busy. It's not always easy finding a time when he can record.

“Peter Charney of Bethany was just 11 when I was him in my musical comedy 'The Seven Little Foys' at Seven Angels Theater in Waterbury. But already he was serious about theater and curious about all aspects of it, and utterly reliable. His parents—both of whom have performing experience—sure raised him well. I remember him at 11 playing original music on the piano in the lobby during breaks in rehearsals.

“Peter Charney and Jack Saleeby, from Southbury—who played one of Peter's brothers in the show—both contributed ad libs that became permanent lines in the script, now published by Leicester Bay Theatricals. Peter and Jack—both recent Hofstra University graduates—have remained friends since they did my 'Seven Little Foys' as kids. They recently co-wrote an original musical, 'The Bright and the Brave,' which is one of the best new works I've seen in recent years. And one of their songs was featured in the New York Musical Theater Festival this summer. Jack, who's currently touring the country as the Scarecrow in the national tour of 'The Wizard of Oz, is heard on the new album singing a duet with Tyler DuBoys from Milford, another one of my 'Seven Little Foys' alumni.

"Tyler--a graduate of NYU/Tisch School of the Arts--works a lot as a dancer and choreographer, traveling widely in his career. He performs and tours with the Streb dance company. He's currently doing a European tour with them. He'll get his copy of the CD when he eventually returns to the US. He's done a little of everything with me—from singing and acting to dancing and choreographing. I like to showcase his singing--and sometimes his tap-dancing, too--on my albums, because it's from the heart. He's been recording with me for more than half-dozen years.
"Ellis Gage, who's quickly putting down roots in the world of New York Theater, is right at home in New York. But he originally made a name for himself performing in Connecticut. I first became aware of him when he starred-playing the title role-in the world-premiere production of Pasek & Paul's musical, "James and the Giant Peach," up at my favorite regional theater, the celebrated Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Connecticut. Not many youths can say they have originated a role in a Pasek & Paul musical. Or have starred in a show at Goodspeed! I'm quite sure he's the only person in the world to have helped introduce material by both Irving Berlin and Pasek & Paul!

“Oh! And I can't forget the great Bailey Cummings, from Wolcott. He's impressed me since I first saw him in shows like 'Theory of Relativity' at the Waterbury Arts Magnet School and 'Mame' at Thomaston Opera House when he was 13. And he starred memorably, when he was just 18, in 'Into the Woods.' Like a number of my singers, he trained with master voice teacher Marianna Vagninni Dadamo. She really gives her singers a solid foundation. Bailey may be heard on such previous albums of mine as 'The Seven Little Foys,' 'Gay Love,' and 'The Chip Deffaa Songbook.' On the new duets album, you'll hear him with Katherine Paulsen, who first made her mark as a singer and actress up a Yale, in New Haven. I don't think Bailey realizes just how good he is. But he's got about as fine and pure and true a singing voice as any leading man his age.”

For more info, or to purchased a copy of the album—the 27th album that Deffaa has produced--please visit: https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/chipdeffaasirvingberlind