David Green - Page 31

Elaine Paige celebrates her love of jazz classics and contemporary songs in her own unique style in a one-night-only headline performance on Wednesday, February 27, at 8:00pm at McCallum Theatre. Paige is famous for her countless successes on both sides of the Atlantic, from originating the role of Grizabella in Cats to her Broadway debut in Sunset Boulevard. She is an actress, recording artist, producer and broadcaster and has made a major contribution to the modern musical which ensures her own chapter in the entertainment world and justifies the title "The First Lady of Musical Theatre".

Cabaret Icon Michael Feinstein returns to the McCallum Theatre with 'The Sinatra Project,' for two performances - Friday, March 1 and Saturday, March 2 -- dedicated to the great Frank Sinatra. Michael reflects Sinatra's sensibility by interpreting the songs in conceptually different styles from Sinatra's own renditions. The results are fascinatingly unique and memorably beautiful. Billed 'The Sinatra Project', the concert is presented in two parts on these consecutive evenings. In the second concert, Michael reinterprets songs by such greats as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peggy Lee, and more. 'The second volume is really about Sinatra and his friends,' says Michael. 'It's about the people he influenced and who influenced him.'

I had the pleasure of attending the Teatro Lirico D'Europa MADAMA BUTTERFLY last evening at The McCallum Theatre and was once again swept away in Puccini's exquisite score and timeless love story. The vocalists were stellar; every one - everything else in the production was a little sub-par. Even though the singers were truly thrilling, their characters were cold and distant and it was difficult to find any empathy for them - except what was inherent in the score itself. But, even with its deficits, it was a wonderful way to spend an evening in the theatre.

This was not my first venture into the world of "Plaid" - I have seen the show over a dozen times over the past two decades, have directed it on multiple occasions and have the book and score pretty well etched on my brain. However, I will say that it was one of the best PLAID productions I have ever seen and, if you are in the vicinity of Palm Desert and The McCallum Theatre, it is not to be missed. FOREVER PLAID is really a near-perfect little musical with a wonderful score of 50's standards and clever dialogue and comedic bits that never grow old, if executed well. This incarnation of PLAIDS - Roger Befelor, Stan Chandler, David Engel and David Humphrey did just that. (Both Chandler and Engel starred in the original Off-Broadway production). The program gave no credit to a director, only that it was originally directed and choreographed by Stuart Ross, but whomever was at the helm delivered a spot on production!

The McCallum Theatre, in partnership with Break-Away Tours, has announced its 2013 Springtime Theatre Tours to New York and London. The New York trip will include three Broadway productions -- Lucky Guy, Orphans and Matilda the Musical --- while London theatregoers will enjoy four productions including The Audience, Peter & Alice, Once and a fourth show yet to be announced.

Last night I spent what was my hands-down favorite evening in the theatre in the past several months thanks to the talents of David Zippel, Jason Graae, Christiane Noll, Lillias White, Karen Ziemba and the marvelous melodies of Marvin Hamlisch. Not to mention special guest star Lucie Arnaz. HOORAY for The McCallum Theatre and CEO Mitch Gershenfeld - generally a presenting house - for producing such a warm and wonderful evening in tribute to one of popular and theatre music's greatest, yet often overlooked, composers.

Broadway's "Golden Couple", husband and wife team Marin Mazzie and Jason Danieley, will bring their newest show 'He Said/She Said' to The Annenberg Theatre for one very special performance on February 23 at 8:00 pm. He Said/She Said is a musical conversation that features brand new arrangements by many of the Great American Songbook's leading composers including Fats Waller, Johnny Mercer, Cole Porter, Harold Arlen and Sammy Cahn. Program highlights will be ballads such as 'Something's Gotta Give,' 'Too Close for Comfort,' 'Come Back to Me,' and 'Love Me or Leave Me.' The couple most recently performed together on Broadway in the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical NEXT TO NORMAL.

The Manhattan Transfer brought their incredible vocal harmonies to The McCallum Theatre last Saturday night to a Standing Room Only Crowd. I know that for a fact - because I was standing! The sold-out to capacity crowd was riveted by a ninety-plus minute "vocal buffet" of as many of the quartets biggest hits and greatest harmonies as they could pack into a one evening event. They are celebrating their fortieth anniversary this season and it was more than apparent why they remain America's masters at vocalese and vocal jazz and every tight harmony in between. The four singers have perfected an almost unnatural blend that can generally only be imitated by the instruments they mimic in style and sound.

I LOVE Broadway. I was not in love with Neil Berg's tribute to Broadway, "101 Years Of Broadway", presented at The McCallum Theatre for two performances last week. The cast was more than credible with ample credits, each and everyone - Broadway stars Ron Bohman, Sandra Joseph, David Elder, Erin Denman and Ted Lewis Levy - and the Broadway revue highlighting some of the greatest music from some of the greatest shows is a tried and true formula that is generally at least satisfying. But something was missing. Perhaps it was, in fact, Neil Berg who is generally at the helm of this production but was out with pneumonia for this leg of the tour. But 101 YEARS was not special. What seemed to be missing was heart.

Soprano Renee Fleming and Mezzo-Soprano Susan Graham, two of the world's foremost stars of opera, join together for a rare recital of duets at The McCallum Theatre tonight, January 22 at 8:00 pm. Through selections from the French, German and American repertoire, the compelling and dynamic singers will create a lively evening of collaboration.

Three of New York's premiere vocalists- Daniel Rodriquez, Michael Amante and Andy Cooney - billed as 'The New York Tenors' will bring an 'evening of vocal excellence' featuring music from Broadway, opera, film and American classics to the McCallum Theatre tonight, January 17, and Friday, January 18.

Neil Berg will brings his all new production, 101 Years of Broadway, to the McCallum Theatre for two performances, tonight, January 15 and the 16th at 8:00 pm. 101 Years of Broadway recreates the biggest moments from the finest shows of the century featuring the stars of shows such as The Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Evita, Cats,Wonderful Town, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Fiddler on the Roof. Five Broadway Veterans light up the stage with songs from the hit shows in which they starred. Neil Berg presents brilliantly revived arrangements of Broadway classics as well as thrilling songs from Broadway's newest hit shows.

Soprano Renee Fleming and Mezzo-Soprano Susan Graham, two of the world's foremost stars of opera, join together for a rare recital of duets at The McCallum Theatre on January 22 at 8:00 pm. Through selections from the French, German and American repertoire, the compelling and dynamic singers will create a lively evening of collaboration.

It is and has always been 'a little bit country and a little bit rock and roll' for America's dynamic duo, brother and sister act, Donny and Marie Osmond. Due to their never-ending popularity, Donny & Marie will continue to entertain sold-out audiences with an extension to perform at Flamingo Las Vegas with shows confirmed through 2013. They were recently voted "Best All-Around Performers," "Best Show" and "Best Singer" by the readers of the Las Vegas Review-Journal,

OperaArts will honor the life of Barbara Smith Conrad with "When I Rise…Let Your Voice Be Heard" - a weekend featuring two special events, February 9 and 10, in Palm Springs. In 1957, MS. Conrad was a gifted black opera student at the University of Texas who was thrust into a civil rights storm that changed her life forever. After being expelled from the cast of an opera because of her race, the incident escalated to national news, prompting unexpected support from Harry Belafonte and Eleanor Roosevelt.

The McCallum Theatre will play host to The Manhattan Transfer for one SRO performance on Saturday, January 18 at 8:00 pm as part of their stellar Fitz's Jazz Café series. For more than 30 years, Manhattan Transfer has remained one of the most popular jazz vocal groups of all time. The quartet (Tim Hauser, Alan Paul, Janis Siegel and Cheryl Bentyne) is known for their amazing harmonies, acapella and vocalese stylings. Manhattan Transfer has earned multiple Grammy Awards, worldwide sales in the millions, and legions of dedicated fans. In addition, in 1999, the Manhattan Transfer was among the first class of inductees into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.

Three of New York's premiere vocalists- Daniel Rodriquez, Michael Amante and Andy Cooney - billed as "The New York Tenors" will bring an "evening of vocal excellence" featuring music from Broadway, opera, film and American classics to the McCallum Theatre on Thursday, January 17, and Friday, January 18. Since the inception of The Three Tenors on July 7, 1990 in Rome at the Baths of Caracalla on the eve of the FIFA World Cup Final, Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras and the one and only Luciano Pavarotti have opened the doors for other great voices, such as the Irish Tenors, The Canadian Tenors and this nationally renowned trio who pay tribute to the great city of New York through their inimitable vocal stylings.

Neil Berg will brings his all new production, 101 Years of Broadway, to the McCallum Theatre for two performances, January 15 and 16 at 8:00 pm. 101 Years of Broadway recreates the biggest moments from the finest shows of the century featuring the stars of shows such as The Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Evita, Cats,Wonderful Town, Jesus Christ Superstar, and Fiddler on the Roof. Five Broadway Veterans light up the stage with songs from the hit shows in which they starred. Neil Berg presents brilliantly revived arrangements of Broadway classics as well as thrilling songs from Broadway's newest hit shows.

The Mystery Of Edwin Drood Star, Stephanie J. Block, is featured on an all new Christmas CD Recording titled A VERY BROADWAY CHRISTMAS, produced to support the Dr. Carol Channing-Harry Kullijian Foundation For The Arts in its mission to promote the arts in public education. Block joins Matthew Morrison, Susan Egan and more in a holiday CD featuring both original and traditional Christmas Songs and can still be purchased in time to stuff it into the stocking of a favorite Broadway lover!

Wicked and Brooklyn star Eden Espinosa is hosting a CD Release Party tonight, December 17 for her debut album, Look Around --- available December 18 on iTunes, Amazon, CD Baby, and EdenEspinosa.com.