reviews

FOSSE

Led by the extremely polished Michael James Scott (who evoked Fosse protégé Ben Vereen in his prime), Fosse highlighted the showstoppers...“Bye Bye Blackbird” was a scintillating
strut-fest with the aforementioned Scott taking charge of the ensemble with confidence and
flair. Scott was strong again later in the show, dancing the poignant “Mr. Bojangles” and
singing the carefree “Dancin’ Dan (Me and My Shadow)” and “Life is Just a Bowl of
Cherries.”
--Dayton City Paper, 2/19/04, by Russell Florence, Jr.

Michael James Scott opened the show with his solo rendition of ‘Life is just a Bowl of Cherries’. He was immediately joined on stage by 17 other dancers, complete with Fosse trademark bowler hats in an exhilarating dance interpretation of ‘Fosse’s World’ and ‘Bye Bye Blackbird’ that was full of Fosse kitsch...And who could forget Michael James Scott’s sentimental interpretation of ‘Mr. Bojangles’? Scott’s performance, alongside Grady Bowman’s plaintive vocals, was heart-warming and poignant.
--reviewvancouver.com, 3/10/04, by John Jane

“Fosse” may be an ensemble show, but Turner’s diamond-hard performance reveals an exceptionally incisive reading of the choreographer’s suave style. Michael James Scott does much the same with “Dancin’ Dan” from 1986’s “Big Deal.”
--St. Louis Post-Dispatch, 3/27/04, by Judith Newmark

Spectacular performances like Michael James Scott’s “Life Is Just A Bowl of Cherries” (from “Big Deal”) and the trio of Noel Becker, Omar Merced and Ashley Fitgerald that sizzled during “I Gotcha” from “Liza With a Z” were real showstoppers.
--Wilkes-Barre Citizens’ Voice, 4/3/04, by Alexander Choman

Singer/dancer Michael James Scott's rich, juicy voice turned "Life Is Just A Bowl Of Cherries" into a triumphant statement for the whole evening. And yet he also translated the regretful passage of that life in his touching danced interpretation of "Mr. Bojangles," sung with whispery tenderness by Ryan Kasprzak.
--Anchorage Daily News, 5/1/04, by Anne Herman

While the touring edition didn't boast any "names," it did feature standout performers -- including Michael James Scott, the Vereen substitute, who sang a handful of the numbers and did a particularly touching turn as "Mr. Bojangles." Staged with a younger man behind the broken one, the simple dance revealed a lifetime of joy and hurt in less than five minutes.
--Sioux City Journal, 5/12/04, by Bruce R. Miller