'Phantom' singer visits bookstore

Barnes & Noble patrons get a musical surprise from vocalist Rebecca Spencer

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Book lovers arriving at Barnes & Noble, 8915 W. Charleston Blvd., found a musical surprise on Oct. 14. Vocalist Rebecca Spencer was appearing there, accompanied by her pianist, Phillip Fortenberry, to promote her new CD, "Fair Warning."

Spencer currently stars as Madame Giry in "Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular," at The Venetian. Her resume includes being an original Broadway cast member of "Jekyll and Hyde."

"Fair Warning" follows her debut solo CD, "Wide Awake and Dreaming." Both are available at her Web site, >www.rebeccaspencer.com' " she told her audience between songs.

Her opera-trained voice regaled the audience with a 45-minute show, many of the songs from the CD.

A number of the Summerlin-area residents who were there that day had no idea that live music was on the agenda. One of them was Jane Clear, a retired nurse.

"Where I come from (the Midwest), I've never seen anything like this," she said. "It's pretty neat."

Held in a corner of the store, the setting allowed the audience to be only a few feet from the singer. Five bookcases were moved to one side to make way for Fortenberry's black lacquered baby grand piano. Spencer had only a music stand and a microphone. Folding chairs that ringed the piano were quickly claimed by those who arrived early. Others sat on the floor or stood in back to watch the performance.

Spencer's new CD was inspired by the Red Hat Society. A couple members of that group sat near the piano wearing the signature red hat and purple outfits.

One of the songs Spencer sang was "I'm Looking For Something In Red," a song that made the country music charts when it was released by Lorrie Morgan.

Gary Hummeyman, a banker, browsed for books at the Summerlin-area store while enjoying the music.

"It's not a distraction at all," he said. "A distraction in a bookstore is when people talk on their cell phones."

"It's a pleasant surprise," said Natalie Bonilla, a retail clerk, who was looking for a book. "It's nice hearing something with a classical feel to it, rather than the music you hear playing at Albertsons or Wal-Mart."

Tracy Shouse, the Barnes & Noble representative who coordinated the event, said a bookstore was a perfect setting for promoting the arts.

"There is culture all over Las Vegas, you just have to go out and search for it," she said.

Spencer said the biggest difference between performing on a big stage and in a small space like the bookstore was the intimacy. Being used to booming out songs in a theater setting, she said she had to adapt her voice strength to a microphone.

Even the younger set appreciated the chance to hear the singer perform. Madeline Lacoff, 5, agreed that Barnes & Noble should have singers there each week. Asked who she would like to see, she answered immediately.

"Hanna Montana," she said. "She's cool and her voice rocks."