Scott Siegel’s Broadway by the Year returned on February 22 for its landmark 16th season at The Town Hall, and with it came a new format, and one of the most memorable nights in 2016 musical theatre so far. The format change consists of a rather clever lineup which saw a limited amount of Broadway performers alternate the two dozen songs in the program, rather than have a different artist do each number. Siegel and music director Tim Patterson, came up with an endlessly satisfying way to showcase the talents of the guest performers, while paying tribute to the song, and adding commentary about the historical context, for instance, when Tonya Pinkins performed “Supper Time”, from 1933’s As Thousands Cheer, Siegel revealed how the Irving Berlin/Moss Hart revue not only dealt with social issues prevalent during the Great Depression, but also marked the first time a black actress had received equal billing to white performers. When Pinkins came out to sing the song about a woman lamenting her husband won’t be coming home for supper because he was lynched, you could’ve heard a pin drop!

Ms. Pinkins was in top notch form, turning in gorgeous versions of “All the Things You Are”, “September Song” which she infused with aching longing, and “Where or When”. Similarly, when Brian Charles Rooney came out to sing “The Ballad of Mack the Knife”, Siegel commented we’d be listening to an early version containing very dark lyrics (definitely not what Bobby Darin ended up recording) and Rooney’s performance turned into a seductive invitation to death reminiscent of what the Emcee from Cabaret would have done. You could see the Weill/Brecht connection go to Kander/Ebb as clear as the day.

As is the norm, Siegel always allows for tap to be an essential part of Broadway by the Year, and this time Luke Hawkins and Michela Marino Lerman pretty much stole the show doing accompaniments to the likes of Rooney and Philippa Lynas’ take on “I Got Rhythm”, and in “I Get a Kick Out of You”, Lerman did an “improvography” to Rooney’s swoon-worthy singing. Other highlights included the always fantastic Emily Skinner (interviewed here), whose clear voice helped “Love Me or Leave Me” sound as powerful an anthem as ever, and Nellie McKay who sang “You Made Me Love You” but exchanged Clark Gable for Bernie Sanders, a ballsy move that elicited one very loud boo, among the wave of applause.