Joan Ryan more than gets by

Singer Joan Ryan brought some companions along for her Wednesday night opening at Feinstein’s at the Cinegrill. “A Few Good Men” is the way she billed her guest artists: Michael Orland, musical director for “American Idol,” composer David Friedman and musical theater star Sean McDermott.

Their contributions to the show ranged from McDermott’s dramatic rendering of “Piece of Sky” (from “Yentl”) and Friedman’s hilarious “My Simple Christmas Wish” to Orland’s brief, supportive piano accompaniment on a single tune.

As good as the “Few Good Men” were, however, Ryan could easily have carried the show on her own. A musical-theater veteran with an impressive vocal instrument and far-reaching interpretive skills, she was a mesmerizing performer, moving smoothly from larger-than-life drama to small, captivating emotional moments.

Ryan’s program extended well beyond the Great American Songbook repertoire that continues to dominate many cabaret performances. Choosing from an eclectic array of more contemporary sources, she found inspiration in Lennon & McCartney (“In My Life”), Leonard Bernstein (“Somewhere”) and Andrew Lloyd Webber (“As If We Never Said Goodbye”), as well as such offbeat tunes as Christine Lavin’s whimsical “Good Thing He Can’t Read My Mind (Sushi).”

Each number was rendered with exquisite understanding of the music and the lyrics, bringing both elements together to penetrate into the heart of her material. In doing so, Ryan’s interpretive span was remarkable.

She sang “Alto’s Lament” (by Zina Goldrich and Marcy Heisler) with a sardonic understanding of how it feels to be the singer who never gets to sing the melody.

Dramatically shifting gears, she was insightful in a very different fashion in darker tunes such as “It Will Never Be That Way Again” (from “Ruthless”) and “Bring Him Home” (from “Les Miserables”).

The only flaw in Ryan’s otherwise impeccable performance was her occasional tendency to belt out her upper register notes with a volume and intensity too oversized for the intimate Cinegrill setting. But that’s a small complaint for an otherwise compelling evening of musical excellence.

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Joan Ryan & A Few Good Men

Where: Feinstein’s at the Cinegrill, Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, 7000 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood

When: Tonight through Saturday, 8 p.m.

Price: $40 cover and $25 minimum food and beverage

Contact: (323) 769-7269