Heartfelt Holiday 'Sounds'

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Outstanding vocalists highlight Tropicana's 'Sounds of the Season'

By Lori Hoffman

Add Comment | Comments: 1 | Posted Nov. 13, 2008

Photo by Lori Hoffman

During tough economic times, Americans have traditionally turned to entertainment for comfort and joy. The Tropicana is buying into that theory with the return of an excellent holiday show, Sounds of the Season - A Musical Journey.

In Sounds of the Season, 12 dancers and aerialists, five musicians and three vocalists create an entertaining show with a sing-along component, turning the Tropicana Showroom into a giant chorus.

Produced by the same French-Canadian company that brought Best of Broadway and Piano Men to the Trop, Sounds of the Season presents the cream-of-the-crop vocalists from those previous shows. Energetic Martin Lacasse, who brought Billy Joel's music to life in Piano Men, brings plenty of fun to the rocking holiday songs. Yoland Sirard from Best of Broadway, specializes in the operatic carols, as well as a comedic touch when he morphs into a singing and dancing Santa Claus. Best of all is the versatile Nancy Fortin, from Best of Broadway, who rocks with Lacasee and joins Sirard for some amazing high-note moments.

The show also features high-stepping dancers who delight the audience when they are in Rockettes' mode with the high kicks, and five musicians who manage to sound like a full orchestra when needed.

Songbird Fortin

Nancy Fortin, who is appearing in her fourth Atlantic City show, grew up in a small town in the Province of Quebec. She chatted with AC Weekly earlier this year. Fortin was destined to sing. She explains, "I began singing when I was very little because everyone was singing in my family. For my birthday I was given singing lessons. I loved it and my parents decided to help me continue on this road. When you are in music, some people don't think it's real work. I was a little afraid [about making a living] so I studied psychology. When I was really sure I wanted to be a singer, I went back to college and studied music. After college I started to work right away."

Her work has included being the go-to musical dubbing artist when it comes to translating American movies into French. "I did Cinderella, Toy Story II, Chicken Little, Little Mermaid, Lady and the Tramp, and lots of other films."

Fortin enjoys being by the sea. "I know the Boardwalk because I go for a walk every morning." -- LH

The high points in a show like this depend very much on what songs have been your personal favorites over the decades. Some of my favorites included Lacasse's take on "Let It Snow," and his "Merry Christmas, Baby," based on the Springsteen rendition of the song. Sirard and Fortin combined for a high powered "The Prayer" and the classic holiday song "White Christmas." Sirard also had a blast dressed as Old Saint Nick for "Santa's Gonna Rock and Roll," joined by the dancers. Fortin had fun with "Rockin Around the Christmas Tree" and was mesmerizing with her "Ave Maria," and one of my all time favorites, "I'll Be Home For Christmas."

The trio teamed up for some fun and frothy numbers including "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" and "Feliz Navidad," the latter being one of the designated sing-alongs.

Sounds of the Season provides just what the title suggests, presented by a trio of outstanding singers and some leggy dancers.

It just might make you forget your economic woes for 75 minutes.

P.S. If you go, make sure you stop and enjoy the Trop's free holiday light show in The Quarter. The show is presented every hour. The 100,000 computer controlled LED lights on the beautiful tree dance to the sounds of "Parade of the Wooden Soldiers," "Joy to the World," "Brazilian Sleigh Bells," "Greensleeves" and "The Nutcracker Suite."

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