REVIEW: Once For My Baby – A Fabulous Tribute to Great Broadway Musicals

By Virginia Schneider

Photos by Billy Bennight

North Hollywood, CA (The Hollywood Times) 3/17/25 – Finally, stunning Broadway level musical theatre has arrived in Los Angeles, courtesy of the brilliant and delightful Scott Thompson and Fred Barton!  Their World Premiere production of All Roads Theatre Company’s One For My Baby had a dazzling, electric opening night performance March 15 at the 99-year-old El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood.

In his pre-show speech, Thompson teased the audience to be prepared for 1940’s Broadway evening and he wasn’t just referring to the music, the dancing and the costumes—he was hinting at the feel, the tempo, the energy, fun and spark that Broadway musicals from decades ago used to have—a special joy and vibrance.

But nothing could prepare the audience for the magnificent dance number that opened the show to rapturous applause, which was followed by dozens more throughout the evening. Each new stunning evening gown brought gasps…and the voices! This is an amazing cast of beautiful, unique, rich, stunning voices that can whisper to the wings, belt to the back row and feel as luscious as silk and velvet all night long. There is so much richness to this show on every level that it’s a visual and audible delight.  Every single performance of the 31 talented performers is stellar.

Thompson and Barton wrote the original book for One For My Baby. Thompson directed and choreographed the show. Barton arranged and conducted the 11-piece big band that nailed every one of the glorious 24 legendary songs, such as Stormy Weather, That Old Black Magic and Get Happy. Thompson and Barton took the songbook of the great Harold Arlen, with a focus on the song, Tess’s Torch Song (lyrics by Ted Koehler) about a volatile romantic triangle and wrapped it within an original story about a fictional nightclub, “Dreamland,” and all its lively characters with their personal intrigues.  The queen of the club is Panama Jones (Broadway’s Lana Gordon) a character based on two real-life women of the Nightclub era who were famous for their clubs.

Set in 1947, Panama’s not so faithful partner in business and life Duke (the West End’s Phil Pritchard), along with glamourous socialite Tess (Broadway actress Luba Mason) and her lover Rick (C.J. Eldred) and her overly devoted friend Meredith (Lianne Marie Dobbs in her LA debut) lead a stellar cast of triple threats.

Panama plays narrator of her story about the beloved Dreamland nightclub and the many talented performers who call it home. All of Arlen’s songs are showstoppers selected specifically for the stories they tell, illuminating the joys and sorrows of our cast.

For Broadway theatre buffs, this new musical combines the best of Arlen’s songs with remanences of some of musical theatre’s best moments.  We are reminded of Peggy Sawyer from 42^nd Street when Ethel, the cigarette girl (Natalie Holt MacDonald) tries to get a job singing at Dreamland. Another 42^nd Street memory could be found in Eddie (Sean McGibbon), the good guy with a heart of gold who always tries to help the girl.

The choreography, magnificent in its own unique glory, pays tribute to so many of Broadway’s greatest shows— A Chorus Line, Singing in the Rain, Chicago, Cabaret – and the cast does not miss a step, a beat or a note. The wonderful set and lighting design by Paul Black has all the splash and fanfare of the great musicals yet is deceptively simple in that it doesn’t overpower the cast but allows them to shine. Besides when you have Shon LeBlanc’s glorious gowns and costumes which change for literally every scene, there’s enough delightful glitter and glamour you don’t need much else. LeBlanc with assistant Cidney Eavey, outdid himself if that’s possible, with perfectly befitting gowns, hats, suits and accoutrements. A big shout out to Carter Thomas who created beautiful wigs.

The story is exciting, scandalous, and fun, as a great musical should be.  Thompson says it best in his director’s program note: “As these songs and dances unfold, the ultimate objective is nothing more than to leave audiences dazzled, a bit breathless, bathed in the glow of great music and exciting choreography and ultimately moved by the story of one woman who remained true to herself through it all.”  Mission accomplished, Mr.’s Thompson and Barton.

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One For My Baby plays at El Portal Theatre, 5269 Lankershim Boulevard (at Weddington Avenue), North Hollywood, CA  91601.

For Five More Performances Through March 23, 2025:

Thursday, March 20, 2025 at 8:00 p.m.
Friday, March 21, 2025 at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 22, 2025 at 3:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 22, 2025 at 8:00 p.m.
Sunday March 23, 2025 at 3:00 p.m.

Tickets for ONE FOR MY BABY range in price from $42 – $135.  For tickets and more information, call the El Portal Theatre Box Office at 818-508-4200 or buy online at www.elportaltheatre.com

Box Office Operators are available by phone from 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.  Box Office Hours are 3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. on weekdays, and from 12 Noon until show time on matinee days.