'Over the Rainbow' Celebrates Songs of Harold Arlen

FST Goes Over the Rainbow with the Classic Songs of Harold Arlen

Florida Studio Theatre Begins Cabaret Season with Arlen Tribute.

FST opens up the Cabaret season with a musical tribute to one of the greatest song-writers of the 20^th Century. Over the Rainbow features the musical genius of Harold Arlen. In spite of his prolific success, Arlen remains the most famous composer whose name you may not recognize. In addition to writing the songs for The Wizard of Oz, Arlen penned some of the most beloved tunes of the 1930's and 40's capturing the essence of a classic generation.

Loyal FST audiences may recognize the title and topic of the first Cabaret show of the season. This is actually the third time that FST has produced Over the Rainbow, though it has changed throughout the years. FST's Cabaret program began as entertainment for a local restaurant called the Paradise Café before construction of the Goldstein Cabaret. Over the Rainbow, was the first big hit revue FST produced in the Paradise Café days.

Richard Hopkins, FST's long time Artistic Director and director of all 3 Over the Rainbow productions says of that first try, "That was the first time we wrote a really good revue. Then, when we built the Goldstein Cabaret, we brought it back in the third season and it was a hit again. It really worked."

What was it that made this show work so well? Hopkins, who has a clear affection for Arlen's music explains, "Arlen was a chameleon. He could write jazz, gospel, love ballads, classical, anything. He composed a wide variety of songs and styles. Also, he worked with some of the best lyricists of the day like Yip Harburg."

Hopkins continues, "I don't know what makes one music great and one not, but it has to speak to people. Music is the most abstract of the art forms. If people connect to it, they react to it. It's pure, but it's abstract."

What many people don't realize about Harold Arlen is the plethora of music he wrote in his lengthy career. The best singers of his day and the generations to follow were known for his songs. With songs like, 'Paper Moon,' 'One for My Baby,' 'Black Magic,' and 'Stormy Weather,' the cast of Over the Rainbow is really excited about the opportunity to sing such a great collection of classic songs.

FST veteran actor Jim Weaver (who audiences will last remember from the 2005 Mainstage production of It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues) was amazed when he first received the songlist to see all the incredible songs Arlen composed. "I didn't realize what all he wrote. When I got the song list I kept saying, 'wow, he wrote that too?'"

If audiences come expecting a compilation of songs from the Wizard of Oz , they will be happily surprised to hear the breadth of Arlen's work. The show certainly pays all due respect to Judy Garland and the songs of "Oz" with a number of songs including the title number. The song "Over the Rainbow" has the distinction of having been named the number one song of the Century by the Recording Industry Association of America, the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Film Institute.

In spite of the brilliance of The Wizard of Oz, cast member Kim Reed says "his stuff outside of The Wizard of Oz is so much more yummy…that 'Blues in the Night' sound. And 'One for my Baby' is a great tune. It goes great with scotch!"

Over the Rainbow was developed at FST and will be directed by Artistic Director Richard Hopkins. The cast includes FST Mainstage and Cabaret veteran Jim Weaver as well as new FST artists Kim Reed, Joel Newsome, and Sophia Hinshelwood. Assisting Hopkins with choreography on the show will be FST regular Jim Hoskins, with FST's resident musical director Michael Sebastian serving as musical director with arrangement assistance by FST pianist and composer Jim Prosser. Scenic and costume design will be performed by FST resident designer Marcella Beckwith, and Jeff Dillon will be handling the lighting design.

Over the Rainbow begins October 24, 2006 and runs through January 6, 2007.

For Tickets:

Box Office in person or by calling (941) 366-9000.

Florida Studio Theatre

1241 North Palm Avenue

Sarasota, FL 34236

Website: www.fst2000.org 

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