Axelrod Performing Arts Center Presents A Fred Astaire Tribute

The Axelrod Performing Arts Center (APAC) is celebrating the Fred Astaire songbook on Sunday, April 8 at 3 p.m. with star vocalists Danny Bacher and Alexis Cole, who recently appeared together at Carnegie Hall, and two leading Broadway dancers, Cory Lingner("On the Town," "American in Paris") and Eloise Kropp ("Dames at Sea," "CATS"), performing with an all-star jazz band led by Dr. Art Topilow on piano, with Aaron Weinstein on violin, Mike Lee on saxophone, Doug Clarke on guitar, Rudy Petschauer on percussion and Gary Mazzaroppi on bass.

While the legacy of Fred Astaire is richly embroidered with images of his top hat and tails and his elegant dancing, often with his leading lady at his side, the Great American Songbook would be far poorer without the songs that Astaire introduced on stage and film. APAC's production of "Let's Face the Music: The Timeless Songs of Fred Astaire" features songs by all of the most-celebrated writers Broadway and Hollywood has produced, including George and Ira Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer, Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields, and Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz. In a career that spanned eight decades, Astaire appeared in 10 Broadway and London musicals and over 40 Hollywood musical films and introduced hundreds of songs, including Gershwin standards like "They Can't Take That Away from Me," "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off," "Fascinatin' Rhythm" and "Nice Work If You Can Get It" and Berlin favorites like "Top Hat and White Tie and Tails," "Cheek to Cheek," "Puttin' on the Ritz" and "Easter Parade," plus timeless songs like "The Way You Look Tonight," "I Won't Dance," "Dancing in the Dark," "Night and Day" and "One for My Baby (and One More for the Road)"

The lead vocalist for "Let's Face the Music..." is Danny Bacher, who is a staple in today's New York jazz and cabaret scene, appearing in such venues as Birdland, Town Hall, The Blue Note, Carnegie Hall and Jazz at Lincoln Center. Legendary cabaret star Marilyn Maye, who has worked frequently with Bacher, says "Danny is a rare artist. A swingin' musician, who is a wonderful singer, and one who really understands and delivers the lyrics! What a concept!"

Bacher, whose specialty is the Great American Songbook, adds his own personality to the songs that Astaire introduced. "I feel that Fred Astaire, though hailed as one of the greatest movie musical dancers and performers of the golden age of Hollywood, is often overlooked as one of the great interpreters of the American popular songbook. I'm thrilled to be exploring this side of Astaire and am so looking forward to doing the concert!"

A Jersey boy from Wayne, Bacher, while still in high school, studied classical saxophone at nearby William Paterson University and went on to earn degrees in theater and music from New Jersey City University in Jersey City.

At Bacher's side, singing some of the songs made famous by Astaire's leading ladies like Ginger Rogers, Cyd Charisse and Judy Garland, is Alexis Cole, who Jonathan Schwartz, son of composer Arthur Schwartz, calls "One of the great voices of today." Bacher is a graduate of William Paterson University.

The concert is being choreographed by Gabriel Chajnik and Andrew Black and features Cory Lingner, most recently seen on Broadway in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory," and Eloise Kropp, who played Ruby in the 2015 Broadway revival of "Dames at Sea" and Jennyanydots in "CATS" in the recent Broadway revival.

Lingner, a tap-dance man himself, has always looked to Astaire for inspiration: "Fred Astaire continues to be a colossal influence on me as a performer. His perfect blend of grace and technical execution still wows audiences to this day. Your eye is drawn to him no matter what he does. ... He carried himself with such sophistication and wisdom that makes someone like me truly feel like I'm watching a master at work...I'm really looking forward to working with Andrew Black on this tribute concert ...to honor one of the greatest stage and film dancers of all time."

Bandleader and pianist on weekends, Dr. Art Topilow by day is the Director of Oncology Research for Meridian Cancer Care and Director of Axelrod Research. He has delighted past audiences at the Axelrod with his enviable piano and improvisational skills and has shared the stage with many jazz luminaries including Dick Hyman, Derek Smith, Ken Peplowski, Ed Polcer, Randy Sanke and James Chirillo. He's also accompanied a few great leading ladies, including Bernadette Peters, Christine Ebersol and Ann Hampton Callaway.

Jazz violinist Aaron Weinstein, whom Tony Bennet calls "the Groucho of the violin," has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Birdland, Blue Note and abroad at jazz festivals in Europe and Israel. He has performed and recorded with an array of jazz icons has written arrangements for vocalists including Christine Ebersole, Linda Lavin and the Manhattan Transfer's Janis Siegel. With the release of his Arbors Records debut, A Handful of Stars, (called "the rebirth of the hot jazz violin" by Nat Hentoff), Aaron became the youngest jazz musician to have recorded for this prestigious jazz record label.

"Let's Face the Music... The Timeless Songs of Fred Astaire" will be presented on Sunday, April 8, 2018, at 3 p.m. at the Axelrod Performing Arts Center (100 Grant Ave, Deal Park section of Ocean Township, NJ). Tickets range from $32 to $38. For online purchases, visit www.axelrodartscenter.com. The box office is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.: 732-531-9106, ext. 14. The theater offers ample free onsite parking and is completely handicap accessible. Group discounts available for parties of ten or more.

The Axelrod Performing Arts Center fosters artistic excellence by showcasing varied and distinct cultural programs that enrich the imaginative, intellectual, and creative soul, while cultivating an appreciation of diverse communities through the pursuit of the arts. For more information, please visit www.axelrodartscenter.com.

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