Our dinner buffet reception was catered by Michael Mastroianni, with wine, beer and soft drinks tended by Tom Molinaro and Lindsey Bloom. Ren & Friends was a cabaret concert of popular tunes, theater songs, and musical tributes featuring the vocal stylings of the very talented Renée Albulario and some of the brilliant performers she has worked with in New York City, Los Angeles, and internationally. Lauren Stevens, Justin Michael Wilcox, Sonia Harley and Vincent Rodriguez III took stage with Renée in exciting solos, duets, and ensemble numbers; all musically directed by Chris Wade on piano, with Cristina Trujillo on guitar, Frank Abraham on bass, and Thomas Beachman on drums. The evening concluded with dessert & coffee with the cast.
All proceeds will be used to launch NEW HEIGHTS PRODUCTIONS, a new theater company whose mission is to create truly outstanding theater through the creative expressions of diverse casts, in collaboration with artist-centered directors, in productions that immerse audiences in the theatrical environment in unexpected and exciting ways.
Photos from Ren & Friends:
Renée Albulario, star of Ren & Friends: A Cabaret Benefit;
"The Life of the Party" from Andrew Lippa's The Wild Party.
Vincent Rodriguez III, featured singer;
"Made of Stone" from Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Alan Menken & Stephen Schwartz.
Justin Michael Wilcox, featured singer;
Renée Albulario, star of Ren & Friends;
"Popcorn" from Little By Little.
Cristina Trujillo, guitarist/singer;
Renée Albulario, star of Ren & Friends;
"Halo" by Beyoncé.
Sonia Harley, featured singer;
Lauren Stevens, featured singer;
Renée Albulario, star of
Ren & Friends;
"Lady Marmalade."
Vincent Rodriguez III, featured singer;
“Go the Distance" from Disney's Hercules by Alan Menken & David Zippel.
Renée Albulario, star of Ren & Friends:
A Cabaret Benefit;
"The Life of the Party" from Andrew Lippa's The Wild Party.
Cristina Trujillo, guitarist/singer;
Renée Albulario, star of Ren & Friends;
"Halo" by Beyoncé.
Vincent Rodriguez III, featured singer;
“Selections from Here Lies Love" by David Byrne.
Sonia Harley, featured singer;
Chris Wade, Music Director;
Lauren Stevens, featured singer;
Encore: "We Are Family."
Chris Wade, Music Director;
NEW HEIGHTS PRODUCTIONS
Ren & Friends: A Cabaret Benefit
Lauren Stevens, featured singer;
"That Wasn't Me" by Brandi Carlile, arr. by Ryan Nearhoff.
Justin Michael Wilcox, featured singer;
Renée Albulario, star of Ren & Friends;
"Popcorn" from Little By Little.
Renée Albulario, star of Ren & Friends:
A Cabaret Benefit;
"Ain't No Sunshine / No Diggity" arr. by Chris Wade.
Renée Albulario, star of Ren & Friends;
David Albulario, Artistic Director;
Vincent Rodriguez III, featured singer;
"Disney Animazement" arr. by Bruce Healey:
"Just Around the Riverbend" from Pocahontas, "Go the Distance" from Hercules, and "Out There" from The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
David Albulario, Artistic Director;
Renée Albulario, star of Ren & Friends;
"Safe Haven" by Chris Wade.
David Albulario, Artistic Director;
"Sir Duke” by Stevie Wonder;
NEW HEIGHTS PRODUCTIONS
Ren & Friends: A Cabaret Benefit
The cast of NEW HEIGHTS PRODUCTIONS'
Ren & Friends: A Cabaret Benefit
at the Encore Dinner Theatre, Sunday, April 3, 2016.
(l. to r.) Justin Michael Wilcox, Chris Wade, Sonia Harley, Lauren Stevens, Cristina Trujillo, David Albulario, Renée Albulario, Frank Abraham (back row), Vincent Rodriguez III (front row), Thomas Beachman.