Good Theater’s annual fundraiser concert, “Broadway at Good Theater,” offers a charming way to ease into the holiday spirit with a 1930s-themed performance, featuring Broadway sensation Kenita R. Miller, buttery-smooth voiced New York City singer Nicholas Callaway Foster and nearly a dozen local favorites.

Trees dressed in white and gold twinkled from the festive cabaret-style stage Wednesday night, welcoming patrons to the intimate theater. Song and merriment soon filled the air as the company of singers, backed by a hardworking three-piece band, delivered a two-act set list that kicked off with the delightful “Let’s Have Another Cup of Coffee” from “Face the Music.”

Marissa Sheltra’s soprano vocals rang out crystal clear over the audience, playfully accompanied by Conor Martin, Jim Gaddis, Amy Roche and Glenn Anderson.

The 33-song evening captured the hope and resilience of the “Golden Age of Broadway” with a song list of show tunes culled from the ’30s. A handful of Christmas songs added to the festive mood.

Lynne McGhee reveled in the Christmas cheer, delivering a solo performance of “Winter Wonderland” and an adorable duet of “The Night Before Christmas,” with McGhee and Anderson dressed as mamma and pa from Clement C. Moore’s iconic poem.

Special guest Kenita Miller returned for her third year at Good Theater, garnering a rousing round of applause in the first set for her sizzling rendition of “My Cousin in Milwaukee” (“Pardon My English”) and a soulful “I’ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm.” She was just warming up, and raised the roof in the second set with impassioned performances of “Harlem on My Mind” and “Suppertime,” from “As Thousands Cheer.”

Nicholas Callaway Foster isn’t a household name, but Good Theater patrons won’t soon forget this rising star. He’s the son of actress Liz Callaway, and talent definitely runs in the family.

A hush fell over the theater as Foster’s rich baritone vocals enveloped the captivated audience on “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” (“Roberta”). He also delivered a lovely duet of “All the Things You Are” (“Very Warm for May”) with Sheltra and a stirring version of Cole Porter’s “Night and Day” (“Gay Divorce”).

Director Brian P. Allen has packed this year’s “Broadway” with memorable performances. Jennifer Manzi MacLeod and her hula dancing backing vocalists, Gaddis and Martin, had the audience grinning from ear-to-ear on “Heat Wave” (“As Thousands Cheer”). And, Gaddis elicited riotous applause for his striptease-inspired performance of “Love for Sale” (“The New Yorkers”).

Other highlights included “The Physician” (“Nymph Errant”) by Laura Houck, “Strike Up the Band” (“Strike Up the Band”) by Martin, “Nobody Makes a Pass at Me” (“Pins and Needles”) by Roche and “When Yuba Plays the Rumba on the Tuba” (“The Third Little Show”) by young Halim Moldaver.

The entire cast of vocalists returned for a final performance that combined Christmas with 1930s Broadway in “Christmas Parade,” an impish rewrite of “Easter Parade” from “As Thousands Cheer.” The Christmas “bonnets” were ridiculous fun that could fill even the Grinch’s heart with holiday cheer.

April Boyle is a freelance writer from Casco. She can be contacted at:

aprilhboyle@yahoo.com

Twitter: @ahboyle