Less is definitely more when it comes to “Ella.”
The Omaha Community Playhouse’s production of “Ella,” which runs through March 30, honors the life and music of jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald.
The production starts with Fitzgerald and her band rehearsing for one of her biggest performances. It becomes obvious rather quickly to the audience that Fitzgerald just went through some sort of tragedy. It is also apparent that Fitzgerald is apprehensive of a certain audience member coming to the show.
Ella then starts to reflect on music’s influence in her life. She was discovered as a young girl at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem during their amateur night.
She then connected with Chick Webb, eventually took over his band, did some work in Hollywood and caught Norman Granz’s eye.
With Granz in charge, tours quickly became Fitzgerald’s life.
The next act took place during Fitzgerald’s big performance night, and the audience sees Fitzgerald discovering if her special guest will be in the audience and explaining her tragedy.
Most musicals have a large cast and many different sets. However, “Ella” is different in this aspect. There are six characters total: Ella, four men that make up her band and Norman Granz. The set was constant throughout the show; it features a platform for the band members and pillars surrounding Ella and the band.
The character Ella was played so perfectly. Kathy Tyree, who has performed in Omaha for over 30 was very fun to watch. She had the perfect attitude for the part of Ella, was able to switch flawlessly between drama and comedy throughout the production. She had to learn over 20 musical numbers for this production.
Although the music and acting in this production were fantastic, this production was definitely meant for an older adult audience, or an audience that is more familiar with Fitzgerald’s music. I only recognized a few of the songs and I was the youngest audience member there.
I would give this show a B. The Omaha Community Playhouse put on a great production, but not a production most college students would pay to see.
Kathy Tyree, who has performed in Omaha for over 30 years, plays Ella Fitzgerald in the Omaha Community Playhouse’s production of “Ella.”
Kathy Tyree, who plays Ella Fitzgerald, was joined by her trumpet player Michael during one of her musical numbers.