'THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT' | A review A crowd-pleasing performance

Terrific tunes were matched with the area's talent.
By L. CROW
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
Just when you think it can't possibly get any better ...
Easy Street Productions has brought together some of the best song and dance numbers from some of the best Broadway and Hollywood hits, and combined them with some of the best talent in the area in a show called "That's Entertainment." What entertainment it was! The audience went wild.
Easy Street directors Maureen Collins and Todd Hancock were joined by David Jendre, James McClellan, and Illa Willis, and three awesome young ladies, Katy Collins, Elysia Shutrump, and Colleen Crish, who made her debut as a featured soloist. Also included were the Easy Street Little Rascals, the Easy Street Dancers, and The Easy Street Little Big Band, under the direction of Jeff Sanders, who traveled from Chicago to direct these fine musicians this weekend.
There was a little for everyone: humor, jazz, cabaret, sentimental., and just for kids stuff; singing, dancing, and two screens where show logos and video footage were projected. And the energy! No matter what ails you, this show will probably make it feel better.
One of the most touching moments was Shutrump's gorgeous performance of "On My Own," from "Les Miserables." She brought goosebumps to her listeners with this expressive and mesmerizing piece.
More talent
Equally impressive was Katy's beautiful Judy Garland solo, "You Made Me Love You," which she sang as video footage of Clark Gable was projected onto the screen.
And Crish just knocked the socks off everyone with her high-energy song and dance to "All That Jazz," from "Chicago," assisted by the dancers.
McClellan, in his dapper tux, wowed the audience with "Steppin' Out," surrounded by dancers in slinky white dresses. He later impressed the crowd with his magnificent falsetto, in a great interpretation of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," followed by Willis's tender rendition of "Circle of Life," also from "The Lion King," assisted by the dancers in jungle-print costumes.
And speaking of jungle, Hancock entertained us with "Bare Necessities," and some awesome lighting: yellow and green combined to create an eerie lime. Hancock's presence on stage kept a thread of wonderful humor woven throughout the show.
Then there was the totally silly. Maureen sang a jazzed-up version of "He's a Tramp," with howling harmonies from the guys wearing dog ears. She can sure belt out those Broadway tunes. Her solos, such as "Broadway Baby" and "Get Happy," with the dancers in black shorts, tux jackets and top hats, were a sheer delight.
The talented Rascals alone performed "Hard Knock Life," in music from "Annie."
Jendre showed 'em all he could sing and tap, joined by the dancers and a cheering crowd, as they moved to "I Got Rhythm" and "42nd Street."
The company sang a heartfelt performance of the exquisitely beautiful "Seasons of Love," from "Rent." And the crowd was treated to some great Spanish dancing in gorgeous red, black, and white dresses, as the ladies sang "America," from "West Side Story."
The finale resorted to sheer, unabashed hysterics as a medley of tunes were connected in the most clever way. The company, wearing placards of cartoon characters quickly entered and left the stage. Willis, wearing a cabaret body, sang "Big Spender" to Hancock, wearing a placard of a huge fat man, who responded with "If I Were a Rich Man."
XThe final performance is 2:30 p.m. Sunday, at Boardman Performing Arts Center, (330) 743-8555. This is a benefit for The Matthew Fund.