Past Reviews

Regional Reviews: San Francisco/North Bay


Laura Osnes
Feinstein's at Hotel Nikko
Review by Richard Connema | Season Schedule

Also see Richard's reviews of The Boy from Oz, Hamlet, The Lion, and Anne Boleyn, Eddie's review of Enchanted April, and Patrick's review of The Heir Apparent

Two-time Tony nominee Laura Osnes returned to Feinstein's at the Hotel Nikko on April 22 and captivated her fans with a wide-ranging group of songs and patter showcasing her beautiful voice, personality, and style. Laura Osnes has played five roles on Broadway including Nellie Forbush in South Pacific and Hope in Anything Goes. She received Tony nominations for playing Cinderella in Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella and Bonnie in Bonnie and Clyde.

With her light soprano voice, she opened the show with the bubbly "Not for the Life of Me" from Thoroughly Modern Millie and then segued into the softly heartfelt "Far From the Home I Love" from Fiddler on the Roof. She beautifully belted out the comic "All for You" from Seussical. She shined on "When I Fall In Love" from Lindsay Warren Baker and Amanda Jacobs' Pride and Prejudice, "Soon" from A Little Night Music, "Popular" from Wicked, and "Heather on the Hill" from Brigadoon. She had pitch perfect resonance on "I Could Have Danced All Night" from My Fair Lady, "Let Me Be Your Star" from the television series "Smash," and "Green Finch and Linnet Bird" from Sweeney Todd.

Osnes talked about her audition rejections—and she had her fair share of rejections. Rather than navigating her career's great successes she also spent a lot of the 80 minutes talking to the audience about the Broadway shows she almost was in. She never cried over these rejections but continued onward and upward.

Her longtime friend and musical director Fred Lassen was a great asset backing her on piano.

For the upcoming schedule at Feinstein's at the Hotel Nikko, visit www.hotelnikkosf.com/feinsteins.aspx.