Theatre Horizon's "Voices of Christmas'

Voices of Christmas is a departure from the story-driven musicals favored by many companies in past Christmas seasons. Instead, it's a casual cabaret evening of songs and personal stories: low-key, introspective, nostalgic, reminiscent— a change of pace from the hectic shopping atmosphere that pervades the season.

It resembles the intimate performance style of supper clubs. Except here it's multiplied by five (Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Maggie Lakis, Caroline Dooner and Ben Michael, joined occasionally by music director Jamison Forman). Instead of a chanteuse chatting and singing, we hear two ladies and two men plus a singing bandleader.

The evening's outstanding story, for me, was a personal reminiscence by Clemons-Hopkins that ended with a nice O. Henry finish. Most of the songs were contemporary and not necessarily specific to Christmas, like "Someone to Fall Back On," by Jason Robert Brown, and "Make Your Own Kind of Music," by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil. I especially enjoyed the unusual modern harmonies of a traditional medley that started with "God bless ye merry gentlemen."

Losing Nancy LaMott

As I watched and listened, inevitably my mind turned to past Christmases, and especially to bygone people and things that once gave me great personal pleasure.

It was at this time of year in 1995, for example, that the cabaret singer Nancy LaMott died unexpectedly of uterine cancer at age 43. She was one of the most-admired singers in her field, with a fuller, richer voice than most. Those of us who loved Nancy knew she was ill; she felt thin and frail when we hugged a few weeks earlier. But she had neglected doctor's visits because, as a self-employed person, she lacked health insurance and wasn't yet earning big money. By the time her condition was diagnosed, it was too late.

Demise of the Prince

I also think of the Prince Music Theater's cabaret atop the Bellevue, where many fine artists (including LaMott) performed in a romantic place for enjoying food, drink and music. The maitre d' at the Bellevue cabaret was Dan Pantano, who now heads Operetta Theatre.

That cabaret series re-located to the Prince Theater's new home on Chestnut Street when it opened in 1999. The company, founded by Marjorie Samoff, provided a valuable service to American musical theater by reviving classic old shows and premiering new works, as well as running the intimate cabaret. Sadly, the Prince filed for bankruptcy in 2010 and hasn't staged anything since then.

Finally, I harbor pleasant memories of the singer/pianist Bob Egan's showcase at Odette's in New Hope. For years, Egan entertained at that restaurant and hosted cabaret performances by dozens of guest singers. After a flood wrecked Odette's, Bob relocated to a space in a nearby motel. That collaboration ended this year, which is a loss to music lovers. Egan, happily, is as busy as ever. That's a comforting Christmas thought for the sentimentalists among us.