Jamboree Sweeps Awards Across the Board

With about 100 performers, a massive production team, and even cameos from Board of Education members, Jamboree mounted an entertaining, award-winning performance at Benjamin Franklin Middle School.

Featuring 23 varied and diverse award-winning songs from over the past 100 years in Hollywood, Broadway, and Motown, Jamboree continues tonight for its final performance.

The fundraising show staged by Ridgewood High School parents will donate $100,200 in scholarships for need-based, graduating students. In its 64th year, Jamboree's cabaret-style show wove through songs that won Oscars, Tonys, Emmys, or Grammys. 

The show itself almost felt like a history of modern music, but with twists. Standard songs were enlivened with alterations, either through different arrangements, comedic choreography, or interesting staging.

Parents put on numbers as varied as John Fogerty's "Proud Mary," Michael Jackson's "Wanna Be Starting Something," and The Little Mermaid's "Under the Sea."

Some songs excelled because of their silliness—like in the all-kazoo rendition of "Dueling Banjos." Other numbers dazzled with dance, as was the case for "Feet Do Your Stuff" from the musical Hallelujah, Baby.

Beautiful vocal clarity resonated in an a cappella version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." 

A total package performance of comedy and musical excellence was exhibited in the second act series "Bad Song Zone." As director Ed Catto said last month, they wanted some of their best performers to sing overplayed, outdated songs. The six singers brought down the house by belting out songs like "La Macarena" and "My Heart Will Go On." Bill Scher singing "You Light Up My Life" was particularly excellent.

Real credit must be given to Catto and co-directors Mary and Jim Roth, along with musical director Hope Heredia, and choreography director Lois Compain for organizing the chaos and presenting a cohesive, entertaining show. Additionally, producers Tom Krenn, Elizabeth Resnick, Linda Lewis, and Nick Lewis generated the necessary funds and navigated through the administrative obstacles.

The show closed with show-stopping finale and a heart-warming tradition. In an ambitious choice, the entire cast staged Slumdog Millionaire's Bollywood-driven "Jai Ho" amid must orchestration and vocal layering.

That was followed with the traditional "Thank You, Ridgewood," led by those taking "Final Bows"—parents of graduating seniors making their final performance.

Jamboree runs one more night, tonight, at 7 p.m. at Benjamin Franklin Middle School.

Final Bows:

• Geri Azzolini
• Beth BaRoss
• Guy Barudin
• Peter Berke
• Debbie Castello
• Donna Dorsey
• Peter Fenzel
• Tony Ferreira
• Jeffrey Graf
• Kathy Graf
• Dianne Graham
• Jane Harlin
• Joan Kokoska
• John McCrudden
• Amy Nadel
• Jill Nudell
• Ameer Righthand
• Richard Righthand
• Michael Rosen
• Agnes Snyder
• Allison Wey
• Mary Zisk