CHENOWETH FINDS HER NICHE AT HOLLYWOOD BOWL.

Byline: Rob Lowman Entertainment Editor

Kristin Chenoweth is the star of an NBC sitcom that, after a lot of hoopla last year, is essentially being dumped by the network this summer. She also won a Tony for her performance in ``You're a Good Man Charlie Brown,'' a Broadway revival that won few plaudits. But judging by her performance Tuesday as part of Hollywood Bowl's annual July Fourth concerts, here's hoping that somebody figures out how to show off her considerable talent so that America can really take notice.

Possessed of an almost baby-doll speaking voice, Chenoweth's soprano singing can suddenly explode into aria-like levels. It's an odd combination at times. She might seem over the top to some, but I found her energy compelling. It was evident from Chenoweth's first song, a vibrant rendition of ``Let Yourself Go,'' the title track of her debut CD. Accompanied by the John Mauceri-led Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Chenoweth - in her Bowl debut - gave the Irving Berlin tune a delightful reading.

It was in keeping with the swinging tone of most of the evening (this was a holiday, after all), which began with the orchestra doing its big-band thing with an animated version of Louis Prima's ``Sing, Sing, Sing,'' complete with twirling bass violins with little American flags attached.

The orchestra, celebrating the 10th anniversary of its first performance, then saluted Louis Armstrong, Walt Disney and Jascha Heifetz on the centennial anniversaries of their birth. For the Heifetz tribute, concertmaster Bruce Dukov performed somewhat overdramatic interpretations of George Gershwin's ``Summertime'' and ``It Ain't Necessarily So,'' which Heifetz had in his repertoire. Nevertheless, it was fairly effective.

Julibant Sykes had a similar problem at times during his segments. The classically trained baritone has a wonderful voice and a winning stage presence, but sometimes it simply doesn't mesh with his material. While his languid take on ``It Might as Well Be Spring'' and folksy ``Simple Gifts'' worked, the wondrous lightness of Beach Boy Brian Wilson's ``God Only Knows'' was lost in Sykes' overemotional version and ``Old Man River'' simply needed more grit.

Also making her Bowl debut was Heather Headley, Broadway's Aida and the original Nala in ``The Lion King.'' Though she started slowly, she quickly showed off an expressive voice as she grabbed ahold of ``Circle of Life.'' She and Sykes then delivered a powerful ``Wheels of a Dream'' from the musical ``Ragtime.''

As usual, Mauceri was a charming, informative host for the evening, which ended with the traditional dazzling fireworks accompanied by a medley of John Philip Sousa marches.