Photo Flash: Sierra Rep's I LOVE A PIANO Opens Tonight, 9/7
By: BWW News Desk Sep. 07, 2012
Music fans are in for a lively song-and-dance journey through decades of American music at the Fallon House when Sierra Rep presents Irving Berlin's I Love a Piano. The captivating showcase celebrates the musical master's legacy, from ragtime and dance halls to Hollywood and Broadway. A stand-out cast of six guest artists and a live band will sweep audiences through seven decades of Berlin's masterpieces in a show that has charmed audiences across the country. It plays at the Fallon House tonight, September 7 through October 7. Get a first look at the cast below!
Audiences will be amazed at the range of songs that kept this iconic composer at the forefront of American music decade after decade. Versatile performers will serve up dozens of Berlin's ballads, dance numbers, love songs and novelty tunes with hits such as "Alexander's Ragtime Band," "Puttin' on the Ritz" "Cheek to Cheek," "God Bless America," "Blue Skies," "How Deep is the Ocean," "Anything You Can Do," and many, many more.
The story of an old-fashioned upright gives the tribute a framework-audiences follow the life of the instrument as it changes hands from a music shop in Tin Pan Alley, to a '20s speak-easy, a Depression era dance hall, stage door Army canteen and summer stock theater in the 1950s. The timeline allows six performers to shift settings and show off Berlin's incredible range of ragtime, rousing patriotic standards, light hearted show tunes and stirring ballads.
Garrett, an accomplished performer and director who has credits all over the country, has directed several musical revues for Sierra Rep including Smokey Joe's Café, Beehive and Christmas of Swing. He will be working with musical director and on-stage pianist Nolan Bonvouloir (SRT's Sisters of Swing: The Story of the Andrews Sisters).
Garrett and Bonvouloir have a sparkling cast of "triple threat" performers who are all Sierra Rep favorites. The men: Daniel S. Hines (Jigger in Carousel), Michael Vodde (Hairspray, I Love You, You're Perfect…Now Change, the Frank Sinatra revues My Way and Christmas My Way) and Jake Delaney (Tulsa in Gypsy). The women: Jessica Reiner-Harris (Carrie Pepperidge in Carousel), Brenna Wahl (A Dash of Rosemary, Winter Wonderettes) and Jennylind Parris (All Shook Up, Midlife: The Crisis Musical, South Pacific).
Joining Bonvouloir in the band are Dennis Dragan on bass and Josh Certo on drums. SRT guest artist Rand Endlow of University of the Pacific designed the piano-themed set, with digital projections by Bert Simonis, costume design by Jose M. Rivera, lighting by SRT's Christopher Van Tuyl, props by SRT's Mercy Sharpe and stage management by Doug Brennan.
I Love a Piano opens tonight, September 7 and plays through Sunday, October 7 at SRT's Fallon House Theatre in Columbia State Historic Park. For tickets, scheduling and more about Sierra Rep, visit www.sierrarep.org.
Photo Credit: Rich Miller Photography
Jake Delaney, Brenna Wahl, Jennylind Parris, Michael Vodde, Daniel Hines and Jessica Reiner-Harris
Daniel Hines and Jessica Reiner-Harris
Daniel Hines and Jessica Reiner-Harris
Jennylind Parris and Michael Vodde
Jennylind Parris, Michael Vodde, Daniel Hines, Jessica Reiner-Harris, Jake Delaney and Brenna Wahl
Daniel Hines and Jessica Reiner-Harris
Jennylind Parris and Michael Vodde
Jake Delaney, Brenna Wahl, Jennylind Parris, Michael Vodde, Daniel Hines and Jessica Reiner-Harris
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