Lily’s Eyes

On the evening of March 22, 2025, The Straz Center’s Jaeb Theater in Tampa was filled with stirring emotion as Vic Omila and Jeremiah Cummings of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Tampa Bay (GMCTB) took to the stage to perform “Lily’s Eyes,” the haunting duet from the Broadway musical The Secret Garden. Their performance was part of the chorus’s spring cabaret concert, Say My Name!, a themed showcase exploring identity, longing, and self-expression through a diverse mix of music and theatrical storytelling.

Originally sung by Mandy Patinkin and Robert Westenberg in the 1991 Tony-winning musical, “Lily’s Eyes” is a poignant ballad between two men—Archibald and Neville Craven—mourning the loss of the same woman, Lily, while grappling with their own feelings of regret, jealousy, and unresolved love. In the hands of Omila and Cummings, the duet took on a new dimension. Stripped of the traditional heterosexual narrative, the song became a deeply personal meditation on memory, rivalry, and the complexity of human connection.

Cummings rich, lyrical bar blended seamlessly with Omila’s warm baritone, creating a vocal chemistry that was both tender and powerful. Their harmonies were flawless, yet it was the emotion behind the notes that truly captivated the audience. The tension and vulnerability in their performance suggested not only shared grief, but also unspoken histories—an emotional undercurrent that resonated deeply within the context of a queer chorus performance.

Say My Name! was a celebration of identity in all its forms, and “Lily’s Eyes” proved to be one of the most emotionally resonant selections of the night. Where other numbers brought humor, spectacle, or high-energy pop, this duet invited quiet reflection. Omila and Cummings reminded listeners that naming and remembering are not only acts of love—but also of mourning and healing.

For the Gay Men’s Chorus of Tampa Bay, whose mission centers on inclusivity, artistry, and the celebration of LGBTQ+ voices, performances like “Lily’s Eyes” are more than entertainment—they are acts of reclamation. By reinterpreting beloved songs through queer lenses, GMCTB continues to broaden the emotional and narrative scope of musical performance.

In a concert about the power of names and identity, Vic Omila and Jeremiah Cummings honored a name—Lily’s—with grace, longing, and unforgettable harmony.