On a Sunday night filled with emotion, loss and remembrance — the uplifting power of faith resonated throughout the Savannah Center.
“Songs for the Soul 5,” produced by Sue Schuler, was almost like a spiritual healing service, filled with sacred songs, dances and memories.
It was night to honor the late Oscar Feliu, who a year ago was in “Songs for the Soul 4,” and sang “Ave Maria.” He passed away a few months later. Schuler fought back tears as she sang a reverent and prayerful “Ave Maria,” in Feliu’s memory. Watch part of her performance in the video below:
https://youtu.be/kBP4rrTl1bc
“It was hard to lose Oscar, we all miss him and think about him,” Schuler said.
It was night to honor Marge Blakely, a dance pioneer in The Villages for nearly a decade, who leaves this week to return to her hometown of Buffalo, N.Y.
Blakely appeared in three dance routines, including two Liturgical Dance numbers. She also made another delightful appearance as a grandmother in a rocking chair, as Schuler and her three young grandchildren sang “Jesus Loves Me.”
“Tonight was very special and I was glad to be a part of it,” Blakely said after the concert, feeling bittersweet emotions. “I’m going to miss my friends in The Villages, but it’s good to be going home to my family.”
Schuler was moved to tears saying farewell to Blakely on stage. “Marge was my first dance teacher in The Villages when I came here,” she said. “She will always be special to me.”
This was also a night to benefit the Wildwood Soup Kitchen. All proceeds were donated to the soup kitchen and many audience members donated canned goods and other food items.
“We thank you for your generosity and being here tonight,” Schuler told the audience. “We all have to help each other.”
Jack Kolinski, who earned rave reviews last year for his performance in “Les Miserables,” was in powerful voice throughout the concert.
“Those of us who live in The Villages, joke about living in a bubble,” said Kolinski, a former board member and current volunteer at the Wildwood Soup Kitchen. “But there is real poverty and hunger in this area. We have to do something about it.”
Kolinski teamed with Schuler on a moving, “The Prayer.” Then he took on the challenging song, “Gethsemane,” from “Jesus Christ Superstar.” Kolinski tackled the difficult and demanding number with soulful abandon.
He did the same on a much more upbeat song, “All Good Gifts,” from “Godspell.”
Schuler was a strong presence throughout the evening. She was filled with joy on “Blessed Assurance” and brought a country sound to “This Is the Stuff.”
Dawn DiNome regaled the audience with some funny stories about rude drivers and noisy neighbors that sometimes tested her faith in mankind. But there was no question about the religious faith she displayed on “We Can Be Kind,” and “Anyway.”
Jan Lavin was resplendent and angelic, dressed in white with an elegant vocal performance to match. Lavin lifted everyone’s faith on “One Pair of Hands” and “When You Believe.”
The Aloha ‘O Ka Hula dancers, led by Violet Ray, brought a Hawaiian sense of worship to “I Call Him Lord” and a deeply moving, “Haleluia.”
Jennifer Slayton, Schuler’s daughter, showed a contemporary Christian sound on such numbers as “Jesus Take the Wheel,” and “Days of Elijah.” She also teamed with her mother on the opening number, “Be One.”
The Father’s House Worship Team, features four young gifted and soulful singers—Andria Roberts (worship leader), Hannah Roberts, Jennifer Bryant and Davyn Riley.
This energetic and spirit-filled quartet had the people clapping along and feeling the faithful beat on “The Rock Won’t Move,” and “Found In You.”
Pamela Dimry brought movement and power to “Lord, You Are Good.”
The concert ended with the entire cast joining the audience in a rousing version of “God Bless America.”
This night was about faith and also the acts of helping to feed the hungry.
“To get this much money and food means so much to us,” said Nancy Purnell, who with her husband Frank, manned the Wildwood Soup Kitchen donation table in the Savannah Center lobby. She added that the soup kitchen feeds 250 people a day, six days a week.
“We need all the help we can get,” she said.
For information call 352-748-1008. Or go to:
http://www.wildwoodsoupkitchen.org/