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Cabaret Scenes - Elizabeth Ahilfors

Finding a sunny side of Kurt Weill can be a challenge for a cabaret performer, but these upbeat tunes do exist, and Gerta Grunen found them and enthusiastically took them on.  She brings "A Lighter Shade of Weill: Kurt Weill's American Music" to Danny's Skylight Room.  You won't hear Surabaya Johnny or Mack the Knife here.  She chose a mix of the less familiar, September Song from Knickerbocker Holiday and from the same show the less well known, "There's Nowhere to Go But Up."

Grunen has an obvious love for Weill's music that probably extends to his darker songs as well as the optomistic.  Backed by the robust piano of Christopher Denny, she delivers selections with spirit and warmth, opening with "One Life To Live" from "Lady In The Dark" (lyrics by Ira Gershwin). 

From the same show, Grunen tells "The Saga Of Jenny" with a naughty flair, perched on the piano.  She neatly extracts the jaunty "Would't You Like To Be On Broadway?" from Street Scene, Weill's opera for Broadway written with Langston Hughes.  Grunen seems to reslish the story-telling part of the songs.  She has adept acting ability and mines the emotional core from the song, communicating easily all parts of the room. 

She engages her audience with an outgoing personality and an obvious love for the Kurt Weill Cannon. ( March 12, 2006)

BackStage - Roy Sander

"This was an intelligent and entertaining evening with informative patter and the chance to hear several worthy but obscure songs as well as familiar favorites...this relatively diminutive lady delivered a pretty gutsy rendition of "Moonfaced, Starry Eyed" from "Street Scene."

The New York Post - Chip Deffaa

"...she's taken care to create a distinctive show...which should be of interest to the "Weill-o-philes" and other show music affionados."

This Month On Stage - David Lefkowitz

"...Thoroughly professional and nicely thought out evening...unexpected treats...a cabaret artiste."

New York New York - Rick Wilson

"What defines a star? None other than Gerta Grunen!"

Cabaret Scenes - Keith Meritz

"Starting atop the piano, she served up a sassy song of, Jenny ... with Gerta's revue she makes us ponder ...what other treasures he may Weill have created."

WVOX Westchester 1460 AM - John Michael Koroly

"Charisma in abundance!"

Punch In International Syndicate - Laurie Lawson

"Gerta Grunen is a bundle of personality ... September Song and My Ship are poignant and her medley from Huckleberry Finn is spirited."

Cabaret Hotline - Maryann Lopinto

Gerta Grunen calls herself a "Weill-o-phile" and indeed she is - her interpretation of September Song is priceless."

Cabaret Hotline - Stu Hamstra

"This show features Weill's American songs and Gerta has done a fantastic job of collecting and presenting them in a most entertaining and instructive way!"