One of the most positive, empathic, and relevant singer/songwriters of the last few decades, Sara Bareilles, lit up the Hollywood Bowl on Saturday in what we can only hope is just one of many shows she’ll have at the iconic landmark.
Joined by the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Bareilles navigated her way through a plethora of her hits, both old and new, and added a bunch of delightful surprises in between.
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Photo credit: Travis Schneider
Dressed in a shiny, silver suit/dress, Bareilles was all smiles as she took the stage, plopped herself down at the piano, and began the evening with “Orpheus” from her 2019 album “Amidst the Chaos.” She slid right into “Armor” from the same album and finished out her opening trio of songs with the tune that made her a household name, “Love Song.”
But the night wasn’t just her hits (which would have been enough to please the seventeen thousand fans in attendance). She performed with special guests, did a little Broadway, and surprised with two new songs: one from the new musical she’s writing and one very pertinent to today’s political landscape.
Being a Broadway veteran (and Emmy nominee for her portrayal of Mary Magdalene in “Jesus Christ Superstar Live”), Bareilles performed “Moments in the Woods” from when she portrayed The Baker’s Wife in “Into the Woods” and, of course, she ended the evening with a duet version of “She Used to Be Mine” from her Tony-Award winning musical, “Waitress.” She was joined onstage by Madison Cunningham, a fellow Grammy winner for the performance.
Photo credit: Travis Schneider
But even more special was when she performed a brand new song called “Enough” from the new musical she is currently writing based on Meg Wolitzer’s best-selling novel, “The Interestings.” It was a moving, touching song that promised her next Broadway creation would be just as tuneful and heartfelt as her last.
Bareilles was joined onstage by other special guests, including her remarkable opening act Renee Elise Goldsberry, an original cast member from “Hamilton” and who Bareilles currently co-stars with on television in the hit comedy “Girls5eva.” Together with her college friends from the band Raining Jane, she performed a brand new song aptly titled “Hands Off My Body,” which tore at the current trend of creating laws that take away women’s autonomy.
At one point, Bareilles made her way onto a makeshift stage in the middle of the Bowl audience, performing with The Milk Carton Kids (“Saint Honesty”) and was also joined by a fan on the stage when she forgot the lyrics to her own song!
Photo credit: Travis Schneider
Before she ended the evening, Bareilles gifted the audience with two of her biggest and brightest hits, “King of Anything” and the empowering anthem “Brave,” which had the audience on their feet singing along.
With her debut at the Hollywood Bowl, Bareilles has proven herself capable of anything. From TV comedies to Broadway blockbusters to writing songs known the world over (and already featured in the Democratic National Convention’s opening night), the prolific songwriter, singer, and actress is one of the most spectacular talents of the last two generations. And judging from Saturday’s performance, I can’t wait to see what she does next.
Sara Bareilles with the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra played on Saturday, August 17th, at the Hollywood Bowl.
For information and tickets on upcoming performances, please visit www.hollywoodbowl.com.
