On Friday, October 4th, actor and singer Juan Pablo Di Pace performed at 54 Below in New York City. Michael Orland served as his musical director on the piano. “Hello, New York, hello 54 Below,” he said, greeting the Big Apple audience.
He noted that it has been seven years since he last performed at this venue. Di Pace kicked off his set with a “Saturday Night Fever” medley, where he was able to instantly lure the fans into his set (and he sang in both English and Spanish), as he brought out his inner “Tony” (who was played by John Travolta in the original film). It was followed by instrumental music from “Cats” and he segued into “Stephen Schwartz’ “Corner of the Sky” from “Pippin,” which was one of the highlight songs from the first half of his set.
Equally noteworthy were “On Broadway” and “Love for Sale,” where he displayed his controlled rumbling voice. Di Pace honored “Kiss of the Spider Woman” with “Aurora” and “She’s a Woman” prior to singing the somber ABBA ballad “The Winner Takes It All.” He praised the ’70s decade for being “the golden age of film” and a time when disco, fashion and musicals were prevalent.
It was followed by the “Rent” classic “Without You” and he picked up the pace with “Luck Be a Lady Tonight,” prior to taking his audience on a musical trip to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Sunset Boulevard.” He tipped his hat to three of his biggest influences of the ’80s (Michael Jackson.
