Friday, July 23rd was the last day to be part of the “PittsburghCLO 75th Anniversary.” It was the third evening of the show and it seemed that everyone seemed to enjoy it each time.

Each performance was excellent and the stage was filled with fun and excitement. It seemed like Clay Aiken had a smile the entire evening.

Sharon Eberson is the arts reviewer at Pittsburgh In The Round. She said some great things about Clay…”

…..As noted by Aiken, opening-night weather was mercifully clear and mild, as if the stars had aligned to kick off the Broadway celebration’s Wednesday through Saturday run.
The engaging host, cheerleader, and performer was as well-versed in CLO history as he was eager to get the party started. You’d think he was a Pittsburgher the way he kvelled about the city’s talent onstage and behind the scenes

The AMERICAN IDOL runner-up and SPAMALOT star, who burst onto the CLO scene as a bespangled Teen Angel in GREASE, quipped that he was invited back so he could outdo his costume and show off “my best Liberace.”

He opened the celebration with a song by Jason Coll, UNDER THE STARS, written specifically for the occasion. Aiken later delivered one of the few take-a-breath numbers, an unexpectedly jazzy, moving arrangement of WHAT KIND OF FOOL AM I?, featuring a sax solo by Sam Eisenreich.

Stephanie Umoh (HAMILTON tour’s Angelica Schuyler, and I DON’T KNOW HOW TO LOVE HIM, soloist, in the CLO show). Umoh was tasked with presenting the history of the COPACABANA musical in Pittsburgh. Aiken then timed it just right to say, “I’ll take it from here, girl.” He sang the title song of the CLO-produced Barry Manilow musical while the ensemble danced up a storm…..

A thank you to Sharon Eberson for the nice review.

The following picture was shown at the Anniversary. It is of Clay , (of course) in his role in Grease 2 years ago at PittsburghCLO.

Enjoy!! – I hope you will stop by…just click on the comment button.