My Top 5 Showtunes: Jill Winternitz
© Dan Wooller
Jill's theatre credits include Girl in Once, Baby in Dirty Dancing and Sunday in the Park with George.
She is currently appearing in Dark Tourism at the Park Theatre.
We caught up with Jill and asked her: "If you were stranded on a desert island, which five showtunes could you not live without?"
"She Used to Be Mine" from Waitress
I saw this wonderful new musical in previews at American Repertory Theatre in Boston. I've long been a fan of Sara Bareilles – I had her early EPs as a UCLA freshman. She had recently graduated and was already a legend on campus back in 2004. Her unique and soulful songwriting style embodied by the masterful Jessie Mueller in the leading role, is breathtaking. Waitress feels fresh, fun, and surprising. No surprise whatsoever that it has announced a Broadway transfer for 2016!
"Maybe This Time" from Cabaret
Sally Bowles – what a role! This song encapsulates her desperate optimism. It's a window into the fragility behind her seemingly frivolous and care-free exterior. If I could time travel, I would love to watch Judi Dench as Sally.
"Finishing the Hat" from Sunday in the Park With George
I feel like this song is an anthem for artists. It so precisely captures the challenges of work/life balance- how throwing yourself completely into your work, as rewarding as it is, can often come at a cost. Sondheim is a master of storytelling through song, and I love how "Finishing the Hat" sounds like a sonic version of the painting technique 'pointillism' made famous by George Seurat. Genius!
"Memphis Lives in Me" from Memphis
There's something about this song – the nostalgia, the soaring melody, the beautiful ensemble vocals… It's just aural perfection. After seeing both Killian Donnelly AND Cynthia Erivo sing this live, it has a firm place amongst my favourites!
"When You're Mind's Made Up" from Once
I get so emotional listening to this score now – being in Once was a dream come true for me, as I was a huge fan of the show before I joined the cast. This song reminds me of the amazing camaraderie we had as an ensemble – playing, singing, and acting alongside each other each night. Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova wrote an exquisite score – one that will always be close to my heart.
Dark Tourism runs at the Park Theatre until 24 October.
