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Review by: Janel Spiegel
Tony Danza: Standards & Stories
Friday, April 5, 2024 at 7:30PM
Musikfest Café
ArtsQuest Center, 3rd floor
101 Founders Way
Bethlehem, PA 18015
I love the Musikfest Café. I JUST LOVE IT WITH ALL MY SOUL. I also LOVE MUSIKFEST. I spend a lot of time at ArtsQuest, and Wind Creek. (MUSIC IS LIFE.) Tonight, THEE ICONIC, the one, the ONLY, He’s still THE BOSS… The legendary Tony Danza from countless television shows, films. Broadway… You name it, he’s done it. Some things you may have seen him in include: Who’s The Boss, Taxi, The Tony Danza Show, Angels in The Outfield (1994) – a little side note for me, that film means a great to me.
He was also in another one of my favorite shenanigan’s films, She’s Out Of Control (1989). Tony Danza is Brooklyn, NY. We all cheered beyond cheered for Brooklyn. So, we have a solar eclipse, the cicadas are coming, there was an earthquake felt in New Jersey, New York, Philly, Allentown, Maryland, and CT.
While everyone was just looking to get out, and have some fun, listen to some great music, Tony Danza delivered as only he could.
Musikfest Café is so efficient and every volunteer, every staff member, every bartender, every single soul that is there, is just going ABOVE AND BEYOND.
Tony Danza was introduced; he didn’t truly need an introduction as the crowd erupted in applause and cheers. He is genuine. It truly was “Standards & Stories.” He shared memories of his mother meeting Frank Sinatra when Sinatra guest-starred on Who’s The Boss. He shared co-star memories. He shared moments about music and Broadway.
It was intimate and beautiful. Everyone seemed relaxed, and happy. It was freezing outside but that NEVER stops any of concert-going people. He performed some true beautiful standards. My beautiful, magical fellow concert and Music loving friend Paula Gallo came along with me, and she is always a blast. She knows the songs. I always learn something new. We talked about the infamous, “brush” that you feel while walking around New York City… If you haven’t done the brush at least maybe fifty times in life, you just won’t get it.
Tony Danza introduced his band, and THEY ARE BEYOND INCREDIBLE. I have been fortunate enough to see so many bands, musicians, artists, singers, and so on and so on and so on at the Musikfest Café, and it JUST GETS BETTER AND BETTER.
Tony Danza performed everything from “As Long as I’m Singing,” “That’s All,” “Father of Girls,” (a snippet), “Angel Eyes,” “I Love Betsy,” (He starred in the Broadway production of Honeymoon in Vegas. He also did a heartfelt version of “It Was a Very Good Year,” which always takes me back in the day, and to The Sopranos. He performed, “I Don’t Remember Growing Up,” (Which, SAME TONY DANZA. I don’t remember either. I don’t wanna grow up.)
He ended the show after a standing ovation. The love was just FILLING THE BUILDING. It was beautiful. I hope he comes back to Bethlehem. He also talked about Bethlehem, and they spent some time driving around and checking things out.
His finale was beautiful. He didn’t leave the stage, he was gracious. He performed a beautiful tribute to so many of the classic Motown Songs by The Temptations, Smokey Robinson, and more iconic artists. Tony Danza was exceptional. He did good. The kid from Brooklyn, NY made us all smile, and sing along.
Make sure to check out ArtsQuest, SteelStacks, The Musikfest Café, MUSIKFEST 2024 -the line-up is AMAZING.
https://www.steelstacks.org/events/
https://www.steelstacks.org/events/films/
https://www.levittsteelstacks.org/
https://www.christmascity.org/
