Written by Dennis Sy – November 11, 2009
The final result doesn’t even begin to tell half of the story.
By the end of the show, a world class talent stood tall in one of the most prestigious concert halls in the heart of New York City, triumphant in a command performance that will long be remembered by those who were lucky enough to have graced this particular concert, and with the goal of building an entire village for 30 Filipino families having been successfully attained.
But beyond the prestige and the glamour associated with any Carnegie Hall event, THIS was an arduous journey that can either define you as one who has faced your challenges head-on with steely determination, or as one who was cowed into submission by forces seemingly thrust upon you simply to test your will.
The challenges were many, and often times they were quite unexpected. It’s the nature of the business, and quite typical of any production. More so for a production of this magnitude and significance.
But it is the indomitable spirit of one Stephanie Reese that ultimately carried this production to its successful realization. Beyond the angelic voice, the soaring notes, the comedic timing, the emotional renderings, and the expected standing ovations, Stephanie Reese is a performer who knows what she wants, what she’s great at, and what’s the best way to deliver this to her audience in one seamless package that can only lead to one enchanting evening pure entertainment. This was truly a labor of love, and her conviction cannot be denied.
Of course, no successful production stands simply on one leg, as Stephanie surrounded herself with an extremely talented supporting cast, led by Musical Director John Florencio on piano and vocals, Robert McCullough on bass, Sonny Ratcliff on drums, with special performances by uber smooth tenor Calvin Keen, dancer Sergio Viglini, and special participation by musical arranger Glenn Lemen. Running the show and putting all these pieces together fell on the very able hands of Technical Director Ted Benito. Lastly, the designation of “line producer” is a gross understatement of the significant role Elton Lugay played in this production.
Worthy of acknowledgement too was the invisible crew of dedicated and selfless volunteers who took care of all the little details that in a BIG WAY contributed to the success of this show: Jon Reedyk, Vin Limjap, Ingrid Rogers, Kimberly Rogers, Karla Lim, John Paul Su, and Wence Abad.
Congratulations to producers Sylvia Cancio, Pete and Shirley Domingo for bringing us the Stephanie Reese at Carnegie Hall concert, and for undertaking this project for the benefit of the Gawid Kalinga organization.
Sometimes it really takes a “village” to make a difference, because on this one special night, everyone came together to actually build an entire village for families in need back in the Philippines. That’s one evening very well spent.
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