BWW Interviews: Jack Everly Talks POPS Vegas, Bway and Showgirls at the Symphony

The Toronto Symphony Orchestra's exciting POPS Series is back with the return of guest conductor Jack Everly to conduct POPS Goes Vegas! This special night will be a jackpot of hip Vegas hits, with songs such as Luck Be a Lady, Big Spender, Viva Las Vegas, My Way and Lady is a Tramp. An all-out Vegas experience, the evening will include standards from Elvis to Sinatra to the Rat Pack performed by some of Broadway's biggest stars, and will even have showgirls on hand to liven things up!

 

This really is Vegas, baby - Symphony style! In addition to Mr. Everly, the concert will feature Broadway and stage veterans Joe Cassidy, Martin Preston, Allison Briner, Scott Beck and Anne Beck.

A world renowned composer, Mr. Everly is the Principal Pops Conductor of the Baltimore and Indianapolis Symphony Orchestras, the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra and the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa. He has a long and illustrious career on Broadway, having worked with Marvin Hamlish on such Broadway hits as The Goodbye Girl, They're Playing Our Song and A Chorus Line. He also conducted Carol Channing hundreds of times in Hello, Dolly!

In addition to his extensive work on Broadway, Mr. Everly was appointed by Mikhail Baryshnikov to be the conductor of the American Ballet Theatre where he served for 14 years, eventually taking the position as Music Director. He has performed at the White House and conducted for Disney.

Upon returning to Toronto, Mr. Everly took a few minutes to talk with BWW about what the POPS Goes Vegas experience is all about, and about why Broadway lovers in particular will enjoy this very special event:

Welcome back to Toronto! This is a return engagement for you with the TSO, when was the last time that you conducted here?

I'm happy to say it was just last season!

You are widely known for your innovative approach to symphonic performances, is this your first time working with Vegas hits?

Yes, it is. It took about a year of planning to give the concert its form and to find the appropriate talent.

Since the POPS Series is still reasonably new for the TSO, we are focusing on raising awareness of what people can expect when they come to see a performance. Could you give us an idea as to what people can look forward to if they come out?

POPS Goes Vegas! It is a greatly entertaining event which honours the songbook and talents of the Vegas Strip, especially during its "golden age". The concert also has its tongue firmly planted in its cheek. It's great music and lots of fun.

Are you a fan of the Rat Pack and other "Vegas" standards that will be performed at the show?

Definitely, I'm a fan of all of it!

You are the Principal Pops Conductor for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, Naples Philharmonic Orchestra and the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, in addition to being a guest conductor for the TSO. Could you explain what the differences are for you as a guest conductor?

Every orchestra has its own musical style and musicality. It's always a conductor's challenge to discover the unique dynamics within each one. I never forget what an honour it is to be in front of so many great musicians, and they never let me forget how enjoyable the experience is.

Do you have any things that are on your "must-see" list while you are in Toronto?

How I wish! My one orchestra rehearsal is on the day of the opening. Then the next day I have two concerts, and following that I'm on a plane to my next engagement. How I long for the summer when I spent three months at the Royal Alexandra Theatre. That was when I first discovered how wonderful Toronto is.

You have worked on Broadway with Marvin Hamlisch including The Goodbye Girl, They're Playing Our Song and A Chorus Line. How does conducting orchestras for symphonies differ from working on Broadway?

After many Broadway shows, including those of Marvin's, I joined the American Ballet Theatre. During my fourteen years with that company, I became its Music Director. That is how my technique as a conductor of Symphony Orchestras developed. It's about the scale and the scope of the music. Not to mention that I'm not working with 70 to 90 musicians as opposed to 15!

Do you have any plans to return to Broadway in the near future?

I miss the camaraderie and "family" that a Broadway show represents. I miss each and every company I conducted over the years. Alas, the size of orchestras in the world of musical theatre has shrunk to an all time low. "South Pacific" is the happy exception (that orchestra is comprised of 31 people). The world of the symphony orchestra does everything in such great style and on such a grand scale, it would be hard for me not to have that experience. Still, when Broadway does it right, there is nothing better.

Finally, since our readers are focused on Broadway style productions - if you had the opportunity to give them one reason to come out and see one of these Symphony performances, what would it be?

This is the concert with more bling, more great music and more fun than any other! Broadway fans will adore this! Joe Cassidy, Allison Briner, Scott Beck, Martin Preston and Ann Nicole Beck are all Broadway and Nationally known performers. They are the best. Oh! And did I mention we have showgirls as well....

When and Where?
TSO Goes Vegas
The Toronto Symphony Orchestra
Roy Thomson Hall 60 Simcoe St, Toronto, ON

Performance Schedule
Wednesday March 31st at 8PM
Thursday April 1st at 2PM and 8PM

Tickets range in price from $28 - $99 and can be purchased in person at the box office, by phone at 416.593.7769 or online at http://www.tso.ca/Concerts-And-Tickets/Events/2009-2010-Season/TSO-Goes-Vegas.aspx

 

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