A Trio of Standing Ovations at Act2

Another excellent rain storm last night; although we were all ensconced in the Casa Karma Red Room, and were unaware of the monsoon conditions as we celebrated the last Greatest Show for the Summer Season and pianist extraordinaire David Maiocco’s birthday. There was cake and heartfelt singing of Las Mañanitas that brought tears to David’s eyes. He has woven his skills and deeply warm soul into the fabric of Act2PV performing community. He leaves Monday for a couple of months and will be missed.

Highlights of the Greatest Show included a duet with Dabit on accordion and Maiocco on piano. They presented the wildly lively Johannes Brahms Hungarian Dance # 5. Whoa! Standing ovation #1. The second followed quickly, with Ale Matus joining the duo on stage and lending her haunting voice in “All By Myself. Third standing ovation went to Stephanie Wright Watts who blew everyone away with her electrifying and complicated song, “Burn” from Hamilton.

Andy Sands, always outstanding, has his next October 01 at Casa Karma, Montse (who has her first solo show tomorrow at Ovations Piano Bar!), and Luis Villanueva sang a sorrowful duet with Act2PV alum Ximena Esparza, Gabriela Heart, who has been studying with David Sabella at his Voice Workshops, never sounded better than last night.

A tour de force by all the performers, and kudos to Cate Valcic for producing excellent shows week after week. The Greatest Show is truly well-named.

Progressive “Keep Live Music Alive” March is tonight, 6 pm at La Catrina Cantina. Be there or be nowhere.