The multi-talented
Charles Busch
brought his newest cabaret show, the award-winning
My Kinda 60s
, to Palm Beach Dramaworks on Friday evening, January 12, delighting a sold-out audience with a program that interwove memorable songs from the ’60s with stories of his childhood and adolescence.
Busch, the celebrated playwright, actor, director, cabaret artist, and gay icon, was here to take part in Outstage@PBD, an initiative launched this season that offers special performances and events tailored to the LGBTQ community.
Accompanied by his longtime musical director/arranger,
Tom Judson
, Busch served up a mixture of pop standards and Broadway tunes, including Burt Bacharach and Hal David’s “Anyone Who Had a Heart,” Jimmy Webb’s “By the Time I Get to Phoenix,” Henry Mancini and Leslie Bricusse’s “Two for the Road” (with Judson joining him on vocals), John Kander and Fred Ebb’s “What Would You Do?” and Stephen Sondheim’s “There Won’t Be Trumpets,” and shared warm and funny memories of growing up with his Aunt Lillian. He concluded the evening with Paul Williams and Kenneth Ascher’s “Rainbow Connection,” and there were very few dry eyes in the house.
At a post-performance reception, Busch did more than just mingle with the appreciative crowd. Many were eager to share their own stories with him, and he proved to be a most gracious and attentive audience.
