Interview: Broadway Legend Ron Raines Previews His Concert in DC!

Luke Frazier and The American Pops Orchestra , Washington, DC's innovative hometown orchestra, will open their all-star 2016-2017 season with I'll Be Seeing You: A World War II Love Story on Veterans Day, Friday, November 11th. The show stars stars Broadway and TV favorite Ron Raines, as well as Florence Lacey, Claybourne Elder, and Rachel Eskenazi-Gold.

BroadwayWorld had the chance to chat with Ron Raines about the show and his favorite songs from the World War II era.

Check it out, below!

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So, tell us about the show.

It's different, it's unique in the Pop world. I think that's what the American Pops, that's what their mission is to be. There are a lot Pop orchestras and Pop programs, but this orchestra was put together for the sole purpose of shaking up the form a little bit. It tells stories a lot of times. This is such a sweet story that we're going to be presenting. It's about Luke Frazier, the conductor of the symphony, which is only in it's second year. It's the story about his grandparents, letters that his grandfather, during the war, sent to his grandmother. And they're just so sweet and innocent and filled with just pure love. it's just really of another time and yet it's still very moving and sweet. And of course, the songs we're doing are of that period, so we get to listen to some of their favorites. It's with an incredible group of people, though I've never worked with the younger two, but, of course, I worked with Florence Lacey when we did FOLLIES together. I'm thrilled to be working with her. We're the older couple while the other two are the younger couple. I think it's going to be a wonderful celebration of them and of our veterans.

Have you worked with the Pops before?

I've worked with the Boston Pops but not the American Pops. This is my first time working with the American Pops as it's only their second season. This is their newly formed orchestra that Luke has put together himself, and it's doing great. They've had a terrific first year, and the second year is even more exciting. Now, I've sung many times with the Boston Pops and I've sung withe the National Symphony on their Pops programs at the Kennedy Center. I've sung with a lot of orchestra's that do "Pops" music, but, beside the Boston Pops, this is really the only Pops orchestra that only does the Pops's repertoire. With many orchestras folding now-a-days, it's great to know that there's this new one that's really kind of shaking up the form and presenting interesting programs.

Have you started rehearsals yet, for the show?

Music rehearsals, yes. They're all written arrangements for this show, so they're not pulled orchestrations from catalogs or music publishers. They're created for this show with each of our voices in mind. I've known Luke for a while and he is very familiar with my work, so it's great to be working with him. I've never worked with him in this capacity, but I'm really excited about it.

Are there going to be any original songs, or is it just new orchestrations?

Just the orchestrations. The songs were all songs of the period, like "I'll Be Seeing You" "On the Sunny Side of the Street" and "Blue Skies" and song's you've heard, but were of that period. They are really true to the period, too. They didn't try to modern them up so that they're true to the period on some level.

Do you have any favorite pieces of music from the era the show covers?

Oh god, the 30s and the 40s are how I make my living (laughs). I mean, to say I have a favorite, well that's impossible. That was basically the beginning of the american classic songbook period. That period is the great rise of the american popular song. It's my favorite period! The songs are just incredible. One of the songs that I sing is one of my favorites is, one that I'm really excited about singing, is "The Very Thought of You." Oh it's a great song! And a fun one that I sing, when they get back together, is "It's Been a Long, Long Time." They're all songs the audience will know.

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Maestro Luke Frazier and THE AMERICAN POPS ORCHESTRA - Washington, DC's innovative hometown orchestra - will open their all-star 2016-2017 season with I'll Be Seeing You: A World War II Love Story on Veterans Day, Friday, November 11 at 8:00 PM. Based on letters exchanged between a sailor and his sweetheart (Luke Frazier's own grandparents) during World War II, this original show tells a timeless story of love between those who serve and those who await their safe return. The work pays tribute to a fantastic era in popular music and gives a heartwarming glimpse into the experience of a real-life Navy family. Tickets to the shows are on sale now at www.TheAmericanPops.org.

I'll Be Seeing You: A World War II Love Story stars Broadway and TV favorites Ron Raines (TV's "Guiding Light," Follies at the Kennedy Center, Tony nominated on Broadway), Florence Lacey (Sunday in the Park... at the Kennedy Center), Claybourne Elder (The CW-TV's "The Carrie Diaries," Sunday in the Park... at the Signature), and Rachel Eskenazi-Gold (currently Christine Daaé in Broadway's Phantom of the Opera). The show is written byKelley Lund, directed by Nathan Brewer, choreograped by Kelly d'Amboise, and features dancers Ronald Brady, Jr. and Hannah Jennens.

"My grandparents always listened to the songs of the 1940's, it was the music of their coming of age," reflects says Luke Frazier. "This was the music that served as the soundtrack of my childhood with them. When my grandmother had to leave her home, we found the letters that they sent back and forth during the war and we created the show as a remembrance to them as well as the countless others who share this story. So many people have heard about this show and approached me to share their family story, both from WW2 and many more recent stories of vets and their families. This is a story of universal appeal underscored by some of the greatest American music ever written."

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