Last Night’s Show: Musikids Benefit at The Zipper

Last Night’s Show: Musikids Benefit at The Zipper and Small Talk with Julia Murney

(where were you)

Last night audiences from New York, Connecticut (and many families from Wagner College) came out to support local charity Musikids, CT Inc.., a non-profit that helps musically talented students by providing musical instruments, lessons, camps, etc. Hosting the evening was the charity’s founder and Wagner alum Colin Sheehan. The evening boasted the talents of Andrea McArdle, Julia Murney, Kate Pazakis, Natalie Weiss, the Broadway Boys, the Wagner College Alumni Ensemble, and the musical direction of Brian Nash.

Highlights of the evening included the opening song, “Heart and Music”, led by Colin Sheehan and featuring the Wagner College Alumni Ensemble, a fantastic version of Cyndi Lauper’s “I’m Gonna Be Strong” by Kate Pazakis, a nostalgic rendition of “Tomorrow” by Andrea McArdle (with help from Jake Wilson of The Battery’s Down and Colin Sheehan), and a medley of “No One is Alone” and “Move On” by Julia Murney. Murney additionally sang “Raise the Roof” from The Wild Party, but agreed to pinch hit for a sick Kathy Brier and sang the aforementioned Sondheim medley with no rehearsal and the words scribbled on the back of sheet music. What a star!

We spoke with Julia after the show and she told us why she decided to participate in this event.
“I did today’s event because of Colin. Colin is great and who decides instead of having a birthday party to have a benefit for other people? And that was a beautiful thing.”

In the spirit of reminding people of the importance of music in young people’s lives we asked Julia: if she were in middle school today, and singing in the school talent show what would she sing?
“Oh my goodness…I don’t know… probably something from Wicked. I didn’t really know shows when I was in junior high.”

And if she could sing something not from a musical?
“Then probably some Alanis Morissette  or you know who I like? How do you say her name? Sarah…Bareilles?” Julia than sang “I’m not going to  write you a love song”  (from “Love Song”) “Yeah, her. I’d sing one of her songs.”

And, what is Julia doing next?
“I’m doing Evita in three weeks for eight performances in Sacramento.”

To find out where and when you can see Julia in Evita please click here.

By Jaimie Geddes and Victoria Myers