Darrin Newhardt is the pianist for Broadway Nights at the Woodlawn Theatre every Saturday night at 10:30PM, and
has been since March of 2013. Broadway Nights is an Open-Mic type Cabaret
setting. Darrin has said that this event is based off of Jim Caruso’s variety
show Cast Party at the NYC jazz club Birdland. Jazz clubs have been very
popular since the 20’s; however, Newhardt has said there is “nothing else in
San Antonio like Broadway Nights.” The closest comparison that came to mind
was the Comedy Club. Caruso’s Cast Party is known for its laid back, Open-Mic
Jazz and Broadway atmosphere. Newhardt
says that each Broadway Nights there is a featured artist just like Cast
Party. Just a few weeks ago I had the opportunity of being the featured artist
and performed a Jazz standard called “Misty” with him. Usually Broadway
Nights starts with an opening number, in the past it was performed by all of
the “Cast Members” but recently Hostess Rebecca Trinidad has gone solo. Then
they have the featured artist close the show and then the farewell song is
sung.
This is the Birdland Jazz Club
This is "Broadway Nights" at the Woodlawn
Aesthetically, Cast Party and Broadway Nights might both be housing the same genres of music. But Cast Party has more guidelines; one of their “rules” is no sad songs because people come to laugh and have a good time. Although these sad or dramatic songs might still be performed, they are much more infrequent. However, at Broadway Nights it seems as if everyone lives for a dramatic sad song to pour their heart into. I’ve noticed that the featured artist will usually have a comedic song, an up-tempo, a classic, a belt song, or a ballad to perform. Neither is the better way, it just makes for different atmospheres.
The Links Below lead to different performances held at Cast Party
Not only does Darrin play for Broadway Nights, he is also the Music Minister at Forrest Hills Presbyterian Church. Interestingly, Newhardt said that the structure of church parallels that of Broadway Nights. So despite the fact that they are different genres of music, have different contexts, and different settings; the bare bones of having an opening, something special in the middle (the feature), and a closing song at the end, helps make Darrin flexible between the two settings. Being apart of the church gave Darrin the opportunity to write a song called “Commune With Me.”
Darrin Leading the FHCP worship team
One idea that Darrin explained to me that he was passionate about was music and politics. When Broadway Nights first started there was a “Cast” of about six or seven people: himself, Rebecca Trinidad, Melissa Gonzalez, Walter Songer, Jason Mosher, David Blazer and a few floaters that switched off. When Broadway Nights first began, these “Cast Members” would be the main featured artists rather than people from the community. Darrin mentions that at this level of community theatre it is important to be a little sensitive. Being aware of hurt feelings, not featuring one person over the other, not telling people “they suck.” Newhardt says that it is important to be fair because people aren’t spending hundreds of dollars to see these shows, and this is the environment where people can be exposed to new things, and be allowed to grow. Now, he isn’t saying to build people up and give them more praise then their talent calls for. “The secret is to be nice,” Newhardt insists. Little to do people know, that all the people at the top of the ladder are sweet people. It is the ones climbing to the top that are unprofessional and mean. Darrin truly believes that being nice plus your talent will get you places.
Darrin Newhardt
Born: October 6, 1996
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