Christy Altomare took the (virtual) stage on Sunday, February 7, for The Seth Concert Series, hosted by Sirius/XM Radio personality Seth Rudetsky.
From Spring Awakening to the upcoming bio-musical The Wanderer, Altomare and Rudetsky popcorned through selections from her career, and peppered in a few of Altomare’s original songs, for an intimate 90-minute program.
Altomare reminisced early career moments, from undertaking the lead role of Wendla Bergman in the first national tour of Spring Awakening to sharing fond memories of the 2012 off-Broadway revival of Carrie: The Musical. Taking viewers back to her Spring Awakening days, she performed a medley of “Mama Who Bore Me,” “Touch Me,” and “Whispering.” Altomare highlighted her work in the role of Sue Snell in Carrie with a medley including “Do Me a Favor” and the show’s epilogue.
She reflected on balancing her work as an actress with her work as a songwriter. Altomare performed two of her original songs in anticipation of her upcoming album Wandering Bird. Reflecting on the last year of her life, Altomare shared a hopeful “All We Want” and, later in the show, a heartfelt self-love anthem.
Rewinding back to Altomare’s Broadway debut in Mamma Mia! as Sophie, she shared the thrill of getting to work on Mamma Mia! and performed a medley of “Honey Honey,” “Thank You For the Music,” and “I Have a Dream.”
Venturing from Mamma Mia! to her leading role in Anastasia, Altomare shared memories of her life between bookings and leading up to being cast in the title role. To highlight her work as Anya, she performed the show’s iconic “Once Upon a December.”
Altomare gave viewers a peek into her next role in The Wanderer, a bio-musical based on the life of musician Dion DiMucci. She was slated to portray DiMucci’s wife, Susan, on stage. The regional premier of the show at Paper Mill Playhouse in 2020 was postponed due to COVID, but Altomare was able to perform a selection written for the show for viewers.
Other program selections included “A Summer in Ohio” (The Last Five Years), “My New Philosophy” (You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown), “The Secret of Happiness” (Daddy Long Legs) and her fan-picked selection, “She Used to Be Mine” (Waitress).
Altomare closed the show with her iconic rendition of “Journey to the Past” (Anastasia)—an audience favorite.
Always a delight when she takes the stage (or screen), Altomare charmed in her performance. Catching a glimpse of Altomare and her guitar on the virtual stage will suffice, for now, until it is safe to see her live on stage again.
The Broadway Edit 