Sager sings her heart out

What a way to start the 20th anniversary season of the Concerts Association, Jeri Sager is back at the Woodlands through September 23. Village audiences last heard the “Broadway belter” in October of 2008. She wowed us then and wowed us again last night.

Sager has what I would describe as a full throttle voice, giving it her all on every single note whether quietly pianissimo or loudly fortississimo. She has a gorgeous voice with fantastic support, flawless timing, subtle acting and a stunning presentation. But her most charming and enduring quality is stamina, the show was of the same high-energy from the opening combo of Sweet Charity’s Big Spender and Chicago’s All That Jazz to the closing encore of Cabaret.

The show from 2008 and the show today start the same way but there are lots of new numbers added to Sager’s repertoire. My most favorite new piece is the Jesus Christ Superstar medley with the rock out of Judas’ Superstar and the haunting melody of Mary Magdalene’s I Don’t Know How to Love Him. My first year of high school was in 1970 when this rock-opera took off. It was the first musical to speak to me and it did it again last night thanks to Sager.

My all time favorite song brought back from the previous performance is I Dreamed a Dream from Les Miserables. Sager appeared as Fontine in this Broadway megashow. Dream is just beautiful to start with but Sager’s rich alto tones make the hair stand up on the back of my neck. Sager equates the song to loss of innocence and that is what we hear.

On a lighter note, the Jeri Sager song is back. A cute little diddy demonstrating how to properly say Jeri and Sager. The song ends with audience participation, a quiz.

Sager’s sometimes breathy, oh so rich and always in control voice caresses each word of every song giving it love and light. Several times during the show she gave a shout out to the television show Glee. She confessed to being the first Gleek ever, practicing music from Broadway in her bedroom for at least three hours every day after school when she was growing up. Sager praised Glee for exposing countless people from across the country to Broadway music they might not hear otherwise.

Last night Sager picked tunes from Swing, Oklahoma, Wicked, A Chorus Line, On a Clear Day, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Bye Bye Birdie, Porgy and Bess and so much more. Of course, the highlight of the evening is Sager’s salute to her Cats’ character Grizabella. She finesses the song Memory into another hair raising experience.

If you saw Sager when she was here in 2008 you will not be disappointed in this week’s show. If you have never seen Sager before you are in for a delightful, soul stirring surprise.

Sager’s musical director, Scott Wooley, is amazing. He is at the piano totally in sinq with Sager and the band. He makes every effort look easy. I know better. The band, Scott Weckerly on drums, Kevin Madill on keyboards, Phil Dizack on trumpet, Denis Solee on woodwinds, Danny O’Lannerghty on bass, George Tidwell on trumpet, John Hinchey on trombone and Jimmy Bowland on woodwinds get a big hats off. They are seamless support. It is hard to tear your eyes away from Sager but when you take time to notice you will see she is surrounded by spectacular musicians.

This is a terrific show. If you don’t have tickets yet you might try www.hsvtickets.com. The site provides Concerts Association tickets for exchange or sale.