An Evening with Jodi and Delaney Benson – Winter Haven’s Historic Ritz Theatre
(Ritz Theatre, Winter Haven FL) On Saturday July 5, the intimate and elegantly restored Historic Ritz Theatre in Winter Haven, Florida, became a vessel for nostalgia, artistry, and family legacy as Broadway and Disney icon Jodi Benson and her daughter Delaney Benson took the stage for a special one-night only performance. Accompanied on piano by the supremely gifted Benjamin Rauhala, the evening unfolded like a scrapbook of memories set to music, part personal memoir, part theatrical showcase, and wholly heartfelt.From the very first notes of the opening Disney medley -- “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes” seamlessly flowing into “When You Wish Upon a Star”-- Jodi’s crystalline soprano transported the audience straight into the heart of the Disney magic she helped shape nearly 36 years ago as the voice of Ariel in The Little Mermaid. Her tone was both pure and warm, with a subtle shimmer on the high notes that seemed to float effortlessly above Rauhala’s graceful piano accompaniment. The medley was not just a performance, it was a love letter to the company that propelled her into the spotlight.
Before the applause even settled, Jodi’s warmth filled the room. She acknowledged her husband, Ray, himself a Broadway alum, and her mother, who was seeing her granddaughter perform on stage for the very first time. It was a moment of three generations sharing in one artistic heartbeat.
The evening’s emotional arc deepened as mother and daughter shared highlights from their time performing together in Gypsy, the first-ever mother-daughter casting in the show’s history. Photos of their performances filled the stage’s projection screens, leading perfectly into their spirited rendition of “Together, Wherever We Go”, delivered with sparkling chemistry and a vocal blend so natural it seemed almost genetic.
Jodi’s storytelling was as captivating as her singing. She reminisced about being just 19 years old in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat—pregnant and battling morning sickness, with “buckets and mouthwash on either side of the stage.” Her candor drew both laughter and admiration from the audience. From there, she recalled her brief stint in the ill-fated musical Smile, where she performed the wistful “Disneyland”. Though the show’s run was short, she spoke with gratitude, as its ending cleared the path for the life-changing role of Ariel.
Throughout the night, the Benson women traded stage time with a seamless rhythm. Delaney, poised and assured beyond her years, offered a heartfelt solo medley from Singin’ in the Rain—a nod to her father’s own Broadway career—before sitting at the piano herself for a gentle, emotionally nuanced performance of Carole King’s “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?”. Her voice carried a soulful clarity, tinged with just enough vulnerability to make the lyric’s plea land with quiet force.
Jodi returned for a buoyant Crazy for You medley, her phrasing crisp and playful, followed by an elegant tribute to Beauty and the Beast, closing with a personal salute to her friend Paige O’Hara. Then came one of the most exquisite moments of the evening: a breathtaking duet of “When She Loved Me”. Their harmonies, perfectly balanced and deeply felt, created a stillness in the theatre that could only be broken by the audience’s hushed awe.
Delaney later returned to the Disney waters with selections from The Little Mermaid stage musical, her delivery both reverent and fresh. Finally, the night closed with Jodi’s iconic “Part of Your World”. Though she has sung it countless times, her delivery last night was anything but routine, with every phrase felt deeply lived in, imbued with gratitude and emotional truth.
This was more than just a concert, it was an intimate exchange of artistry and memory, where technical mastery met genuine storytelling. Jodi’s soprano remains luminous, her interpretive instincts razor-sharp; Delaney’s voice is rich with promise, both in tone and emotional intelligence. Together, their harmonies weave not just sound, but shared history.
For anyone who treasures the magic of musical theatre, the heart of Disney, or the rare beauty of generational artistry, an evening with Jodi and Delaney Benson is not to be missed. The performance that evening was living proof that music, when offered sincerely, can bridge time, family, and imagination.
Bailey Guinigundo
(Ritz Theatre, Winter Haven FL) On Saturday July 5, the intimate and elegantly restored Historic Ritz Theatre in Winter Haven, Florida, became a vessel for nostalgia, artistry, and family legacy as Broadway and Disney icon Jodi Benson and her daughter Delaney Benson took the stage for a special one-night only performance. Accompanied on piano by the supremely gifted Benjamin Rauhala, the evening unfolded like a scrapbook of memories set to music, part personal memoir, part theatrical showcase, and wholly heartfelt.From the very first notes of the opening Disney medley -- “A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes” seamlessly flowing into “When You Wish Upon a Star”-- Jodi’s crystalline soprano transported the audience straight into the heart of the Disney magic she helped shape nearly 36 years ago as the voice of Ariel in The Little Mermaid. Her tone was both pure and warm, with a subtle shimmer on the high notes that seemed to float effortlessly above Rauhala’s graceful piano accompaniment. The medley was not just a performance, it was a love letter to the company that propelled her into the spotlight.
Before the applause even settled, Jodi’s warmth filled the room. She acknowledged her husband, Ray, himself a Broadway alum, and her mother, who was seeing her granddaughter perform on stage for the very first time. It was a moment of three generations sharing in one artistic heartbeat.
The evening’s emotional arc deepened as mother and daughter shared highlights from their time performing together in Gypsy, the first-ever mother-daughter casting in the show’s history. Photos of their performances filled the stage’s projection screens, leading perfectly into their spirited rendition of “Together, Wherever We Go”, delivered with sparkling chemistry and a vocal blend so natural it seemed almost genetic.
Jodi’s storytelling was as captivating as her singing. She reminisced about being just 19 years old in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat—pregnant and battling morning sickness, with “buckets and mouthwash on either side of the stage.” Her candor drew both laughter and admiration from the audience. From there, she recalled her brief stint in the ill-fated musical Smile, where she performed the wistful “Disneyland”. Though the show’s run was short, she spoke with gratitude, as its ending cleared the path for the life-changing role of Ariel.
Throughout the night, the Benson women traded stage time with a seamless rhythm. Delaney, poised and assured beyond her years, offered a heartfelt solo medley from Singin’ in the Rain—a nod to her father’s own Broadway career—before sitting at the piano herself for a gentle, emotionally nuanced performance of Carole King’s “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?”. Her voice carried a soulful clarity, tinged with just enough vulnerability to make the lyric’s plea land with quiet force.
Jodi returned for a buoyant Crazy for You medley, her phrasing crisp and playful, followed by an elegant tribute to Beauty and the Beast, closing with a personal salute to her friend Paige O’Hara. Then came one of the most exquisite moments of the evening: a breathtaking duet of “When She Loved Me”. Their harmonies, perfectly balanced and deeply felt, created a stillness in the theatre that could only be broken by the audience’s hushed awe.
Delaney later returned to the Disney waters with selections from The Little Mermaid stage musical, her delivery both reverent and fresh. Finally, the night closed with Jodi’s iconic “Part of Your World”. Though she has sung it countless times, her delivery last night was anything but routine, with every phrase felt deeply lived in, imbued with gratitude and emotional truth.
This was more than just a concert, it was an intimate exchange of artistry and memory, where technical mastery met genuine storytelling. Jodi’s soprano remains luminous, her interpretive instincts razor-sharp; Delaney’s voice is rich with promise, both in tone and emotional intelligence. Together, their harmonies weave not just sound, but shared history.
For anyone who treasures the magic of musical theatre, the heart of Disney, or the rare beauty of generational artistry, an evening with Jodi and Delaney Benson is not to be missed. The performance that evening was living proof that music, when offered sincerely, can bridge time, family, and imagination.
Bailey Guinigundo
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