My Broadway: The Roles I Could Play
Winter Park Playhouse
Spotlight Cabaret Series
Starring Michael Scott Ross
Musical Direction by Chris Leavy
Mr. Ross may be cute and personable, confident and tall, but he reports some flaws: he’s too young to sing “If I Were a Rich Man”, too old to tackle “Sixteen Going on Seventeen” and too white to pull off “Old Man River”. But that doesn’t make them bad songs, just ones he makes funny. Mr. Ross only came to this stage recently, and tonight he starts out with a little Sondheim (“Something’s Coming”,) a little Webber (“As If We Never Said Goodbye”) and quick greatest hits medley (“Consider Yourself,” “Never Never Land,” “Street Where You Live”.) We hear the stories of audition hell and getting going in the musical trade. He even fired his mother as his agent at 13 and started getting leading roles. This guys a trouper. There were even props: A small Audrey for “Grow For Me” and a cake for “Sara Lee.” Other highlghts include “Mr Cellophane” from “Chicago” and a few tunes from “Les Mis”. The turnout was surprisingly low; while he may not yet have the name appeal of the regulars on this stage, his act was every bit as fun and entertaining. True, he only has three first names, but don’t hold that against him.
