Over a twelve year period, staring in 1977, a group of four female singers—Broadway, Hollywood and recording stars—played selected concerts around the country. The evening was titled 4 Girls 4 and, depending on the night, included a quartet of such names as Margaret Whiting, Rosemary Clooney, Helen O'Connell, Rose Marie, Martha Raye, Kaye Ballard, and Kay Starr. Agent Wayne J. Gmitter and music director John McDaniel have resurrected the 4 Girls 4 name and idea and have been touring a concert, playing dates around the country, similar to the one from over thirty years ago, but now featuring Broadway leading ladies. The participating ladies include such Tony winners and nominees as Donna McKechnie, Andrea McArdle, Faith Prince, Maureen McGovern, Randy Graff, and Christine Andreas. They stopped recently in Scottsdale for a stellar evening of song and story at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. For the Scottsdale concert the quartet was composed of McArdle, Andreas, Prince, and Graff, with each artist giving a mini cabaret concert running about 30 minutes each, under McDaniel's music direction. A superb trio led by McDaniel on piano provided musical accompaniment.

Andrea McArdle's set started with a snazzy take on Sondheim's "Everybody Says Don't" from Anyone Can Whistle. Her throaty voice and clear enunciation were used to great effect throughout. About her three co-stars, she jokingly commented that "we're all broads, in a Broad-way." She also spoke about working with Liberace, who saw McArdle as Judy Garland in the TV movie "Rainbow" and asked her to come to Las Vegas and perform in his concerts with him. She sang two of his favorite songs that Garland also sang, and that she got to sing with him in their Las Vegas shows: a cheerful "The Trolley Song" and a heartfelt "You Made Me Love You." Both received excellent deliveries. "Wherever He Ain't" from Mack and Mabel, which she sang in the Jerry Herman review Jerry's Girls, received a biting, driving delivery. She also played Fantine in Les Misérables on Broadway. It was not only the first serious musical she appeared in, but her daughter appeared in that production with her, which, she said, makes it hold a special place in her heart. She then sang a soaring version of "I Dreamed a Dream." She said Carol Channing, who she starred with her in Jerry's Girls, made her realize that having a signature song, especially when you're just 13, is an honor. Even though when she was younger she hated singing it, she said she is honored to be known for "Tomorrow" and ended her set with a beautiful, grown up take on the song that carried the message that, even with years of life experiences, one can still keep hoping for what tomorrow will bring.

Christine Andreas has an impeccable voice. "Storybook" from The Scarlet Pimpernel opened her set and her performance of that song was on par with the performance she delivered in her Tony nominated performance as the female lead in the show. She talked about how she was influenced by her mother, who sang in an unselfconscious way, and she next sang a song that her mother introduced her to, "Fly Me to the Moon," with her honey-toned voice wrapping around the lyrics and sending them flying. Her first big appearance on Broadway, in the 1976 revival of My Fair Lady, happened right after she was in high school. She said "I just knew I was going to get this show" even though 700 girls had auditioned for it. With excellent vocal control she delivered a stunning version of "I Could Have Danced All Night." She talked about how meeting lyricist Hal David was important to her, and she formed a close professional relationship with him. Her pairing of two hit songs he wrote with Burt Bacharach, "Alfie" and "What the World Needs Now Is Love," was a highlight. Another highlight was her pairing of "I Love Paris" and the song Edith Piaf became famous for, "La Vie en rose," which she sent soaring to the rafters of the SCPA.

A bouncy take on Sondheim's "Broadway Baby" started off Faith Prince's set, and it also included a portion of "Adelaide's Lament" from Guys and Dolls, the show she won her Tony for. Another Sondheim song, "The Boy From...," which he wrote with Mary Rodgers for the Off-Broadway revue The Mad Show, received a winning comic delivery from Prince. She spoke about how her road to Broadway included doing a lot of regional productions and how one experience she had in Sacramento, starring with Jack Jones in On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, was especially memorable. Prince told a hilarious story about how it was Jones' first time appearing in summer stock and he forgot the lyrics to the song "Come Back to Me" on opening night. With considerable strength and force, she delivered a stunning version of "What Did I Have That I Don't Have?" from On a Clear Day.... Prince's amazing ability to balance the comic with the serious was present throughout.

Randy Graff opened her set with a snappy version of "On the Sunny Side of the Street." She talked about growing up in Brooklyn in the '60s and hanging out on the street corner, singing the pop hits of the era with her girlfriends. An upbeat medley of '60s tunes followed. Graff has a connection with legendary composer Cy Coleman, having won a Tony for her performance in City of Angels for which he and David Zippel wrote the score. She then delivered a touching version of Coleman and Carolyn Leigh's "I Walk a Little Faster" before singing an impeccable version of "You Can Always Count on Me," a song she sang in City of Angels. Graff was also nominated for a Tony for her performance in 2001's A Class Act, which told the story of composer Ed Kleban. She ended her set telling how moved she was when she first saw A Chorus Line, and she sang a heartfelt version of Kleban and Marvin Hamlisch's "What I Did For Love" from that show.

Seeing these four stellar performers in one night was a joy. And while they only appeared together briefly—at the beginning and end of the concert, singing an upbeat and updated take on Gypsy's "Together, Wherever We Go," which was also used in the original 4 Girls 4 concerts—the joy and comfort they have in performing together and the fun they have with each other was evident. Hopefully, these women, and others to come, will continue the 4 Girls 4 tradition for many more years.

4 Girls 4 performed at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday April 17th 2015. Information for upcoming concerts at the SCPA can be found at www.scottsdaleperformingarts.org and information for upcoming performances of 4 Girls 4 can be found at www.thinkiconic.com.

--Gil Benbrook

Also see the Current Theatre Season Calendar for Phoenix