James Donegan
So Much Spring
© 2006 James Donegan (663445129721)
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James Donegan brings power and pathos to a range of (mostly) contemporary musical theater songs.
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James Donegan is a New York-based actor whose credits (both in New York and regionally) include: Bobby in Company (Actor's Express), Max in Lend Me a Tenor (Northern Stage), Agis in Triumph of Love (AMN at Lincoln Center), Zeppo in Minnie's Boys (NYC Jewish Rep.), Jesus in ...SUPERSTAR (Allenberry) and numerous others.
James is a proud member of Actor's Equity and the American Guild of Musical Artists. Other theater recordings include Stephen Dolginoff's MAC-nominated Journey to the Center of the Earth.
As a professional choral singer, he can be heard on two Grammy-winning choral recordings (John Adams' On the Transmigration of Souls with the New York Philarhmonic and Dvorak's Stabat Matter under the baton of the late Robert Shaw).
REVIEWS FOR "SO MUCH SPRING":
"Sexy newcomer Donegan makes an auspicious debut... [the CD] could come off muddled were it not for Donegan's ability to plumb the excitement of most every trac with his rich, warm tenor. He dominates 'The Spark of Creation' from Schwartz's Children of Eden as easily as he finds the pathos is 'I Feel So Much Spring' from William Finn's A New Brain." -- NEXT Magazine
"On this disc's 13 tracks, Donegan displays a charming, often delightful felicity, with a wide variety of musical theater tunes. The first track on So Much Spring is "The Spark of Creation" from Children of Eden, which Donegan delivers with a clarion tone and almost exultant exuberance.... From this auspicious beginning, Donegan with ease from the jazz-y "Easy Money" from The Life to the pop-sounding ballad "A Breeze Off the River" from The Full Monty, in which Donegan uses his light tenor to bring out the full emotion in composer/lyricist David Yazbeck's song.... for my money, its on tracks such as "She Cries" (from Jason Robert Brown's Songs for a New World) and "What More Can I Say?" (from William Finn's Falsettoland) that the singer really shines." -- BroadwayWorld.com
"The next performaer was on my radar screen, as I'd heard him before and was going this week to a show he's in... It shouldn't be under your radar either because it's a very encouraging solo debut... I'm particularly impressed that the singer is equally effective whether his heroic persona is called upon or he is presenting his sensitive side. He doesn't overplay either role; it's called "trusting the material." James' head tones can be quite pretty without venturing anywhere near the danger level of precious or saccharine." -- TalkinBroadway.com
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What More Can I Say?
author: Scott Whiteley CarterJames sings some of my favorite songs -- which can be a dangerous thing to do. I know how I want them to sound. James does justice to all of the songs on this CD. There is not a throwaway track. "Finishing the Hat" is one of my favorite songs, but does usually work outside of the show. James transforms it into a stand alone song. Not only does he perform my favorite songs well, but he is making me re-examine my thoughts about other songs. "The Spark of Creation," "Sweet Liberty," and "You'll Never Walk Alone" are often sung so overly-earnestly that I want to run from the room screaming. James finds simplicity and subtlety in these songs. He really tries to serve the songs and the composers, not himself. This will have a lot of playtime in my cd player.
Eclectic and Sensitive
author: Paul G.James Donegan's elegant tenor wraps itself around an eclectic mix of lesser known musical theatre songs. The pieces showcase a sensitive performer who gives sensitive renderings of all the songs, while staying true to the context of the music. In the midst of beautiful ballads, you get the deliciously wicked and wry "My Simple Christmas Wish", which is a favorite of cabaret performers. My personal favorites are Stephen Sondheim's "Finishing the Hat" from 'Sunday in the Park With George', a song about being true to your life, your love, and your art, and "A Breeze Off The River" from 'The Full Monty', about a father's often unexpressed love for his child. The album closes with Rodgers and Hammerstein's "You'll Never Walk Alone" from 'Carousel', and Donegan gives it a spritual touch, without going for over the top vocal theatrics. A well done, thought out album.