Any reviews on the Ray Charles Tribute show?

[Simka]

Would someone who went please post a review? I'd love to know about which songs who skated to, and what their costumes looked like. Thanks.

[Cathsk8er]

Okay, if you must know, I'll post a review of the Ray Charles Show! ;)

I didn' t take notes, so this is all from memory, plus I have a schedule which helps a lot with the song titles. All music was sung by Ray Charles, but most of it was recorded. Unless I note that he sung live, it was a recording. Ray Charles performed live three times. It was fun to see him and he was on the stage next to the ice with his piano. He really looked like he was enjoying himself, singing away.

ACT I

Opening Number: "You Are My Sunshine" sung live by Ray Charles.
This number started with Jamie Sale alone, then the others joined her, they all wore outfits that were yellow on top with white skirts. I really liked his rendition of the song.

"One Mint Julep" Skating ensemble introductions. You know how this works, one at time they skate out and do a few seconds of a jump or spin or footwork.

"Hallelujah I Love Her So" Jenni Meno and Todd Sand. This was a nice program with a big throw double axel.

"Hit the Road Jack" Rory Burghart. I was impressed with Rory's style and artistic flair in this number and throughout the show. I think she did a triple toe.

"Georgia" Steven Cousins. Really nice. I think he hit a triple lutz and a triple flip.

"Let the Good Times Roll" Brian Orser. Don't remember too much, except I liked it. But I usually like Brian Orser's skating.

"Here We Go Again" Elizabeth Punsalan and Jerod Swallow. This program had nice edges, good flow.

"If I Could" Brian Boitano. I remember the Tano triple lutz and I think a triple flip out of about 6 traveling three turns. Cool entry.

"Amazing Grace" Rosalynn Sumners. Really pretty program. Rosalynn did a nice big double axel and a few other doubles.

"Drift Away" Jamie Sale and David Pelletier with Ray Charles singing live. Nice number with a huge throw triple salchow. No triple solo jumps.

ACT II

"Two Old Cats Like Us" Brian Orser and Brian Boitano. They wore hot pink 50s swingers outfits and it was a cute number, but they were out of synch in a few parts. My favorite part was when they were going in to side by side lutzes and kept looking at each other and looking back and looking at each other and hesitating, then decided to forget the whole thing. It was very comically done and the whole place chuckled.

"Still Crazy After All These Years" Elizabeth Punsalan and Jerod Swallow. Don't remember too much, but I really like Liz and Jerod.

"A Song For You" Rory Burghart. A few popped jumps, but good flow. Huge, over-extended split jumps.

"It Had To Be You" Steven Cousins. Drool.... I love watching this guy skate...

"Makin' Whoopee" Jenni Meno and Todd Sand. They skated in bright red costumes and started on the stage. She was being flirtatious and then he lifted her off the stage. Cute program.

"My Baby, I Love Her So" Rosalynn Sumners. Started out with Brian Orser a little bit, then he left. In the middle, Roz started playing to the cameraman and went over there and he lifted her over his head. Later on, he ran alongside the rink and leaped into the air in his shoes. It was cute and funny. Of course, Brian Orser came back in the end and acted mad.

"Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying" Brian Orser. Don't remember too much about this one. But I know he popped one triple toe to a double, then singled one double axel. At the end of the show, he re-skated this part and did perfectly.

"I Got A Woman" Jamie Sale and David Pelletier. I think this was my favorite performance of the night! It was a cute program with good choreography and footwork and they played it up great. She doubled a throw triple salchow, so they came out at the end to re-skate part of it. David was funny and when they came out again he said to the audience "I don't know why we have to do this again, I didn't make any mistakes," with a sarcastic grin. They started on opposite ends of the rink next to the boards. They did the throw triple sal perfect on the second try and then kept on skating. I think they would have done the whole program all over again if the music hadn't finally stopped.

Medley "Let It Be", "Heaven Help Us All", "Lift Every Voice and Sing" Jamie and David and Brian Orser. I really loved this program. I take that last part back, this might have been my favorite performance, too! They wore all silver and skated perfectly in synch. It was really beautiful. They've got to show this one on tv. At least I hope so.

Finale "O' What a Beautiful Morning" and "America" sung live by Ray Charles. Nice finale with everyone in the shiny silver outfits.

There were only three re-takes for tv after the show was done. These were Brian Orser, Rory Burghart, and Jamie/David. They all hit their jumps on the first re-take.

Then Brian Orser came out and said the jump re-takes would be "our little secret". :) So the whole arena better not tell the tv viewing public.

I got to go to the after party following the show which was really nice. I got to meet and talk to all the skaters and I took a lot of pictures. Everyone was friendly and nice. Besides the cast, I saw Paul Wylie, Scott Hamilton, Trifun Zivanovic, and William Shatner (from Star Trek) there.

It was a great evening and I didn't get home until 1 a.m.

Hope you liked my review and sorry I couldn't remember more jump details,

Catherine

[jcspkbfan]

Thanks, Catherine! Yours is the only review of this show I've come across so far. I'm usually not too fond of shows where skaters only perform to one singer's music, but this one sounds like an exception. I can't wait to see the "cleaned-up" version on TV! :)

[erin_m]

Thanks for the review! It sounds like a great show and I can't wait to see it on TV. :D :D

[Sing_Alto]

Wasn't "Let It Be" with Jamie, David and Brian Boitano? My friend went to the show, and I thought she said that it was BB, not BO in that number.

[Josef]

There is also a review of this show at http://www.geocities.com/theskateblade/events/reports/2002raycharles.htm

[Cathsk8er]

Originally posted by Sing_Alto
Wasn't "Let It Be" with Jamie, David and Brian Boitano? My friend went to the show, and I thought she said that it was BB, not BO in that number.

Actually, now that I think about, I think you are right and it was Boitano. I remember because Jamie looked so short next to him. Sorry for the error.

Also, I had O' What A Beautiful Morning listed in the finale, but I think it was a solo by Boitano, at least for most of it, before the cast came out.

Catherine

[purplecat]

Thank you thank you! Yes, yours is the only full review I've seen! :) Sounds like a fun show...I thought about going, but unfortunately didn't. :( I'm looking forward to seeing it on TV though!

[Simka]

Thank you so much, Cathsk8er. Now I'm looking forward to seeing this on TV.

[erin_m]

Here's a link to some pictures from the show.

http://www.scratchspin.com/2002/raycharles02/raycharles02.shtml