Step Aside, A.I., Arlington’s Got a New Idol In Town
Posted by Lorin Drinkard / Monday, July 25th, 2011
Monday, July 25, 2011
Photo Courtesy of Signature Theatre
Several hundred visitors packed into Signature Theatre’s MAX Theatre on Saturday evening as the lights were dimmed and Signature Idol’s finalists took the stage. After reviewing the video auditions that poured in from around the DMV area in search for Signature Theatre’s newest Idol, eight finalists were chosen and had their chance to belt it out and prove why they deserved to move on to the final round of Signature Theatre’s second annual competition (only seven finalists performed though; the eighth didn’t make an appearance, due to a bad case of strep throat/stage fright, we’re assuming).
Hosted by Fred Shiffman & sponsored by yours truly [NoVA Mag], the Signature Theatre in Shirlington Village secured three musical theatre gurus to decide who would be “going to Hollywood” aka performing later that night in the Broadway on the Plaza concert. Grand prize: the opportunity to be cast in future shows with the Theatre.
The Idol Competition’s three critics were Signature Theatre’s Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer, Broadway star Hunter Foster and radio personality Robert Aubry Davis, each channeling their best AI judges’ personas: Paula, Randy and Simon, respectively.
After each contestant performed and received instant feedback from the trio of judges, they narrowed it down to just three contestants: Jordan Smilan-Goldstein, Chelsea Pedano and Julia Farina.
And we’ve got the scoop on the final two.
Signature Idol Finalists, Chelsea Pedano & Jordan Smilan-Goldstein (Photo by Rebekah Lowe)
Finalist Jordan Smilan-Goldstein, a George Washington University student from North Potomac, Md., crooned to the emotional, Off-Broadway ballad “Maybe I Like It This Way” from The Wild Party. Evoking deep pain and with an intensity in her voice, she gave a moving performance that had the audience listening intently and feeling along with her as she expressed her internal struggle to the sounds of a tinkering piano. Here are some of the judges’ remarks:
Hunter Foster: “Great song … performed that well. It’s tough … don’t play the victim.”
Robert Aubry Davis: “Very strong instrument … very good articulation when singing soft … try it when singing loud.”
Eric Schaeffer: “It’s sad and great and fits great with your voice.”
Belting out the four octave-range, novelty-style song “The Girl in 14 G,” made popular by Kristen Chenoweth, finalist Chelsea Pedanoa, a recent high school graduate from New Jersey, showed off what she had stocked in her musical repertoire. The catchy tune featured jazz, Broadway and operatic styles and she had the audience laughing throughout her whimsical performance. Here are some of the judges’ remarks:
Eric: “Really hard song … just for attempting that … bravo. You have the notes. Enjoy it, honey!”
Robert: “The operatic voice is so different from belting … I was impressed.”
Hunter: “Really skillfully done … you’ve got the moves, the sound.”
So which finalist became the next Signature Idol and performed in Saturday’s finale concert? Was it Jordan or Chelsea? Check out the Culture Column in our September issue for a full-length Q & A with the winning performer.
- Lorin Drinkard
Tags: American Idol, Eric Schaeffer, Hunter Foster, Kristen Chenoweth, Lorin Drinkard, MAX Theatre, Northern Virginia, Northern Virginia Magazine, nova mag, Robert Aubry Davis, Shirlington Village, Signature Idol, Signature Theatre, singing competition, The Game Plan, The Wild Party