Under The Streetlamp isn’t a doo-wop quartet as much as they are a human jukebox. A typical set from the Broadway-honed sharp-dressed group includes everything from Bob Seger to Frankie Valli to Motown and beyond, taking in the ’50s, ’60s and ’70s with equal ease.
So it makes sense that the group’s holiday-themed show, Hip to the Holidays, has everything from the expected classics like “White Christmas,” “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” and “Run, Run Rudolph” to less-canonical tunes like Joni Mitchell’s “River,” all delivered with style and polish.
“There are a lot of really fun rock and roll hits out there that are holiday-based,” said Under The Streetlamp’s Brandon Wardell. “So we have the pleasure of going through that catalog and finding a lot of cool songs that a lot of people know and some that people don’t know. We really get to explore the catalog and come up with some unexpected things that we could make fit our genre.”
But for Wardell, a Tony-winning singer, actor and producer, the group’s upcoming performance at the Gaillard Center isn’t just about spreading some holiday cheer. It’s about coming back to the town that he called home for many years, and the place where he began his career as a performer.
“It’s where I got my start,” he said. “Charleston’s where I was really given my very first opportunity to be a part of something close to this.”
Back in 2010, Wardell played Freddie Mercury in Sheri Grace’s production of Rock ‘n’ Roll Heaven as part of Piccolo Spoleto.
Wardell lives in Sarasota, Florida, now, and when he’s not producing, he’s touring with Under the Streetlamp or appearing in productions like Good Vibrations: The Beach Boys Musical or Catch Me If You Can. But he says he still misses his days in Charleston.
“Every time I come back, I have been able to reflect on my time there and the value of growing through that community,” he said. “There’s a wonderful arts community in Charleston. Amazing food, of course, but an amazing entertainment scene, and I was really blessed to have the opportunity to get into professional theater there. It’s been a home to me over the years, and every time I come back, it just gives me a chance to add to the memories.” —Vincent Harris
Under the Streetlamp: Hip to the Holidays is Dec. 5 at 7:30 p.m. at Charleston Gaillard Center. gaillarcenter.com.
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