David Green - Page 13

Grammy Winner Melissa Manchester Joins The Coachella Valley Symphony for a very special 'one night only' concert that will feature her greatest hits and more on Saturday, May 12 at 7:00 pm at The McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert. Ms. Manchester may be best known for her hits 'Midnight Blue', 'Whenever I Call You Friend' and 'Don't Cry Out Loud' but her illustrious career also includes work on stage, in film and television. I had the opportunity to catch up with Ms. Manchester as she was preparing for her upcoming concert in the desert. Here are a few excerpts from that interview.

On Friday, April 20, 2018, Chico's Angels were among the presenters for music icon, Debbie Gibson, who received her Star in Palm Springs, California. Gibson  was honored with the 425th Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars, located at:130 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs. For 30 years, Debbie Gibson has proven she's an entertainer of immeasurable talent. From singer, songwriter and musician to actress and dancer, she embodies what it truly means to be an entertainer. A music prodigy, Gibson burst on the Billboard Pop Charts at the tender age of 16 with the self-penned 'Only In My Dreams.'

Palm Springs Opera Guild, one of the longest-standing cultural institutions in the Coachella Valley, will conduct its annual Opera in Schools outreach program at eighteen Palm Springs Unified School District schools across the Coachella Valley. This innovative program, which runs May 16 - June 1 and will celebrate its 14th year, demystifies opera as an art form and positively inspires students by demonstrating that opera is an accessible, entertaining medium. Since 2005 the Opera Guild has made a positive impact on local students. Last year, the two-week program impacted more than 15,000 students grades K-12. While primarily directed at children, the program also educates teachers, administrators, and student's families. 

The music of Composer/Lyricist John Bucchino (Broadway's A CATERED AFFAIR and Off-Broadway's IT'S ONLY LIFE and LAVENDER GIRL (part of Hal Prince's 3hree) will be front and center in a very special Master Class presented by California Desert Chorale on Saturday, April 1 from 1-4:30 pm on the College Of The Desert campus in Palm Desert. The Master Class is open to the public and is free of charge. Among John Bucchino's honors are two Drama Desk nominations, The Johnny Mercer Songwriter Award, The ASCAP Foundation Richard Rodgers New Horizons Award, The Jonathan Larson Award, The Kleban Award, The Los Angeles Ovation Award (for the revue IT'S ONLY LIFE), The DVD Premiere Award (for the song 'Better Than I'), and the first annual Fred Ebb Award.

The McCallum Theatre recently announced its new lineup as it begins its fourth decade of presenting world-class artists and entertainers for Coachella Valley audiences. The new season includes McCallum debuts, iconic superstars, family-friendly entertainment, holiday sensations, and an outstanding roster of Broadway favorites including Jersey Boys, Spamalot and Something Rotten. I had the opportunity to catch up with McCallum President and CEO, Mitch Gershenfeld, to reflect on a very successful 2017-18 season and to get his thoughts on the blockbuster season ahead. (I will say at the start, I am a big fan of Mr. Gershenfeld for consistently bringing diverse and high-quality entertainment to desert audiences and for his constant optimism and positive energy.) Here are a few excerpts from our interview:

The McCallum Theatre announced today its new lineup as it begins its fourth decade of presenting world-class artists and entertainers for Coachella Valley audiences.  The new season includes McCallum debuts, iconic superstars, family-friendly entertainment, holiday sensations, with some mariachi, Bollywood, ballet, comedy and entertaining geography lessons all part of a very full and exciting season that also presents an outstanding roster of  Broadway favorites. 

NEXTGEN BROADWAY, the premiere performing group from David Green's Musical Theatre University in Southern California have recorded an anthem to support the efforts of March for Our Lives, the organization which supports the end of gun violence in schools, following the tragic event at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School on February 14. A FIGHT FOR OUR LIVES was recorded as a way for students to utilize their voices to add to the call for action to end gun violence in our nation and our nation's schools. You can Link To LISTEN TO THE SONG here.

Palm Springs Opera Guild, one of the longest-standing cultural institutions in the Coachella Valley, will host the 20th Anniversary Opera in the Park on Sunday, April 8, 2018 from 1 - 4 pm at Sunrise Park in Palm Springs. The free concert will feature eight career-ready singers accompanied by a professional orchestra conducted by Maestro Valery Ryvkin. Event attendees are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch and enjoy the day of beloved opera arias. Limited shade space under the main tent may be purchased by making a contribution through the Opera Guild office at 760-325-6107. The event draws thousands of people from all over Southern California who unite to celebrate great opera music. Sunrise Park is located at 2000 East Ramon Road, Palm Springs.

It's time to strike up the band, for our 6th annual concert by the McCallum Theatre Concert Band on Sunday, March 25, at 3:00pm. The McCallum's own Chad Hilligus will sing music by Leonard Bernstein, and virtuoso tubist John van Houten will play the haunting "Gabriel's Oboe." Plus, music from Bizet's "Carmen," "Yiddish Dances" by Adam Gorb, and marches from the U.S., Canada, New Zealand and more.  And there's free ice cream for everyone after the concert! This season's McCallum Theatre Band Concert, led by McCallum President and CEO Mitch Gershenfeld (Conductor), will feature Chad Hilligus (Tenor), John Van Houten (Tuba), and Patricia Bosley (Guest Conductor). 

The California Desert Chorale presents AN AMERICAN SONGFEST March 18 and 25, an eclectic offering including music form the Broadway smash hit 'Hamilton'. I caught up with Artistic Director Tim Bruneau as he was prepearing for this very special concert to talk all things Chorale and more. Her are a few excerpts from that conversation:

With ELECTRICITY, the hit LGBT comedy/drama starring stars Terry Ray ('My Sister is So Gay') & Mel England ('Best Day Ever'), sparks fly again in Palm Springs April 9-11. This  immersive theater experience plays inside an actual motel room at INNdulge Resort, 601 S. Grenfall Rd., Palm Springs, CA. I had the opportunity to catch up with the actors as they prepare for this upcoming engagement to talk about their own careers and coming together for this very unique production. Here are a few experts from that conversation:

The McCallum Theatre welcomes the return of The Piano Guys for two performances on Saturday, March 24, at 3:00pm and 8:00pm. The performance at 8:00pm is presented through the generosity of Jerry and Sarah Mathews. They sold out quickly last year, so don't miss your chance to see The Piano Guys this season!The Piano Guys became an internet sensation with their self-made music videos. They've made more than 65 since joining forces in 2011, including their break-out 10-handed version of One Direction's "What Makes You Beautiful" and a gorgeous reinvention of "Let It Go" from Frozen. 

The Coachella Valley Symphony's 25th anniversary season of concerts ontinues with "Opera to Broadway" on Sunday, March 18 at 3:00p.m at The Annenberg Theatrev located at The Palm Springs Art Museum.  "We've assembled some of the most brilliant singers showcasing their talents in both Opera and Broadway genres including: soprano, Caroline Nelms; baritone Zeffin Quinn Hollis and soprano, Jennifer Lindsay with a special guest appearance by the 2017 McCallum Theatre Open Call Winner Javier Triviso. This magnificent collection of voices backed by the Coachella Symphony will certainly be a sell out," said Lisa Lindley, President, Coachella Valley Symphony.

Leonard Bernstein would have been 100 years old this year, on August 25th to be precise, and there are literally thousands of commemorative events around the globe including performances of symphonies, operas and ballets, lectures, exhibits, and film and music festivals. Last Friday I attended the McCallum Theatre's commemoration - West Side Story In Concert - and not only was it a spectacular celebration of Bernstein and one of Broadway's greatest musical scores, it was an evening that, once again, raised the barre of excellence for The McCallum Theatre. 

The McCallum Theatre presents Cabaret for seven performances, Wednesday, March 28, through Sunday, April 1. The Saturday March 31 performance at 2:00pm is presented through the generosity of Robert and Sharlene Britz. Based on Roundabout Theatre Company's Tony Award-winning production, Sam Mendes (Skyfall, American Beauty) and Rob Marshall's (Into the Woods and Chicago, the films) Cabaret has been hailed by all the critics as a divine, dangerous and decadent entertainment.

Complete casting has been announced for the McCallum Theatre's exclusive upcoming concert production of West Side Story, which will be presented March 9-11 in Palm Desert, CA. Produced and directed by Chad Hilligus, this limited engagement will feature an onstage 40-piece orchestra under the baton of Grammy-winning conductor Richard Kaufman.   As previously announced, Ali Ewoldt, who currently stars as Christine in Broadway's Phantom of the Opera, will play Maria alongside Matthew Hydzik as Tony and Natalie Cortez as Anita, both of whom appeared in the 2009 Broadway revival of West Side Story.

The McCallum Theatre presents WEST SIDE STORY: IN CONCERT for five performances Friday, March 9 through Sunday, March 11. This classic musical is being exclusively produced by the McCallum Theatre as part of its Leonard Bernstein Centennial Celebration. Produced and directed by Chad Hilligus, the limited McCallum engagement will feature an onstage 40-piece orchestra and an all-star cast direct from the Broadway and National Tour companies of West Side Story, I had the chance to catch up with Mr. Hilligus as he was preparing for this highly anticipated concert. Here are a few excerpts from that conversation:

Coyote StageWorks, the Coachella Valley- based award-winning Actors' Equity professional theater company will conclude its 2018 theatrical season with a production of "The Cocktail Hour," a straight-up comedy about a family on the rocks. The play will star Lee Bryant, Jeffrey Jones, Chuck Yates, and Yo Younger, and will be directed by David Youse. "The Cocktail Hour" is a witty and perceptive play by A.R. Gurney that tells the story of a playwright who returns to his family home in 1970's upstate New York, bringing with him a new play, which he has written about his family. He wants to obtain their permission to proceed with production, but his very proper and wealthy parents are cautious and his sister is upset about how minor her role is in the play.

ELECTRICITY, the hit LGBT comedy/drama starring stars TERRY RAY ("My Sister is So Gay") & MEL ENGLAND ("Best Day Ever") sparks fly again in Palm Springs with upcoming show dates: February 26-28 & April 9-11, 2018  This very unique immersive theater experience playing inside an actual motel room at INNdulge Resort, 601 S. Grenfall Rd., Palm Springs, CA. The show beings at 7:00pm and runs 90 minutes with no intermission.

Through the generosity of Nancy and George Croom and Diane Anderson, the McCallum Theatre presents The Midtown Men on Wednesday, March 14, at 8:00pm. They took Broadway by storm in one of the biggest hits of all-time.  Now on their 8th national tour, THE MIDTOWN MEN are bringing their magic to audiences everywhere, singing their favorite 'Sixties Hits' from The Beatles, The Rascals, The Turtles, Motown, The Four Seasons and more.This sensational production reunites stars from the Original Broadway Cast of Jersey Boys. Tony Award winner Christian Hoff, Michael Longoria, Daniel Reichard and Tony Award nominee J. Robert Spencer star in this one-of-a-kind concert experience celebrating the music that defined the '60s.