One cannot talk about the golden era of the Broadway musical in the 40s and 50s without expanding on the award-winning songwriting team of Richard Rodgers (composer) and Oscar Hammerstein II (lyricist) and their impact on American theater musicals with such hits as "Oklahoma!" "Carousel," "South Pacific," "The King and I," and "The Sound of Music." The Allentown Symphony Orchestra with Ronald Demkee conducting will present "Rodgers & Hammerstein Celebration" as its pops series opener on Saturday at 7:30 p.m., at Miller Symphony Hall in Allentown.
"I enjoy and look forward to conducting the songs of Rogers and Hammerstein for many reasons," said Demkee. "They are songs many of us heard while growing up; they are great melodies that are tuneful and memorable; and they often have a message or tell a meaningful story."
The concert will feature a celebration of the 50th anniversary of "The Sound of Music," plus a special appearance by grandson Oscar Andrew "Andy" Hammerstein III. Guest vocalists will be Sarah Pfisterer and Sean MacLaughlin.
Pfisterer's Broadway credits include the role of Christine in "The Phantom of the Opera," plus the national tour, and Magnolia in "Show Boat." Broadway credits for MacLaughlin include the role of Raoul in "The Phantom of the Opera" and Juan Peron in the national tour of "Evita."
Hammerstein is a painter, writer, lecturer, and family historian. He is the author of "The Hammersteins: A Musical Theatre Family" (2010) and served as consulting producer for the PBS documentary, "Oscar Hammerstein II – Out of My Dreams" (2012). As an adjunct professor, he taught graduate level New York City theater history and musical theater history at Columbia University.
For further info: millersymphonyhall.org
ARTS ROUNDUP
Phillipsburg, New Jersey, High School alumna Kate Cherichello ’06, who captured a 2003 Freddy Award in acting in her freshman year, is currently making her Goodspeed debut as the female swing in the musical, "A Wonderful Life," at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Connecticut. The production runs through Nov. 29.
"A Wonderful Life" is adapted from Frank Capra's beloved 1946 holiday movie classic, "It’s a Wonderful Life," where a would-be angel swoops to the rescue of desperate banker George Bailey on Christmas Eve in the town of Bedford Falls. Music is by Joe Raposo with book and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick.
According to Elisa Hale, public relations manager for Goodspeed Musicals, "The 'swing life' story is really neat. In professional theater, there are understudies (ensemble members who also learn a principle – often called a lead role) who can step in if the lead must be out for a performance plus one male and one female swing, each who must learn ALL the ensemble parts so that if an understudy goes on for a principle, the swing can ‘swing into’ any one of those roles."
In "A Wonderful Life," Kate is appearing with Duke Lafoon, who portrays George Bailey, a role he has played regionally. Most recently, he was seen off-Broadway as Billy Clinton in "Clinton: The Musical." Kirsten Scott, who's appeared in Broadway's "Big Fish," "Follies," and "Hairspray," plays Mary Hatch. Director is Michael Perlman; choreographer is Parker Esse.
Some of Kate's musical theater credits include the role of Mimi in "Guys and Dolls" with the Indianapolis Symphony starring Hal Linden and Hugh Panaro, and as an understudy for Louise in "Gypsy" at the Fulton Theatre in Lancaster. She also has appeared in productions of "Smokey Joe's Café" and "42nd Street," has worked on multiple new shows in New York City and Chicago, along with a variety of TV and film projects. Currently residing in New York City, Kate is a certified personal trainer and fitness instructor. She is a graduate of Butler University.
For further info: goodspeed.org
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Guess who's performing on the main stage of State Theatre in Easton? It’s the teen performers/bands who have been chosen to open the show and sing with national recording artist FLINTFACE at the #TAKEBACKYOURVOICE concert on Saturday at 7 p.m. Proceeds from the concert will benefit the nonprofit Freddy Awards, which are held annually at the theater. Master of ceremonies will be Riley Reed from SPIN 107.1.
FLINTFACE empowers audiences to #TAKEBACKYOURVOICE during his live performances, spreading the message of anti-bullying and empowerment to high schools across the country. His music combines energetic instrumentation, classic-rock bombast, and soulful melodies woven together into hopeful tales of the complex path of life. His new album is titled "HOPE."
The young musicians are: Beautiful Oblivion – Victoria Rose (Northern Lehigh High School), Britney Gelb (Parkland High School) and Maddy McClary (Nazareth Area High School); Blind Choice – Dylan Pysher, Matt Habrial and Even Pysher (Pen Argyl High School); Counting Clockwise – Rae Oanesa, Hannah Newman, Tim Walters, Robbie Papera (Liberty High School); Alyssa Garcia (Pope John Paul II High School); Julia Gross (Belvidere High School); Abby Illingworth (Saucon Valley High School); Jameek Jones (William Allen High School); Rhys Williams (American Boychoir School), and North Hunterdon High School Choir.
Easton School of Rock Band will play during the pre-show at 5:30 p.m., in the theater’s Easton Hospital Gallery.
For further info: shopstatetheatre.org/takebackyourvoice-concert
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Star of the Day Event Productions will present "Broadway Kids Cabaret," a benefit to raise awareness and funds for pediatric cancer, Oct. 23-25, at St. John's UCC in Emmaus, Lehigh County. Inspirational songs and uplifting tunes will help raise monies for local pediatric cancer organizations in the Lehigh Valley.
Featured in the cast are local youth performers including Rachel Knappenberger, Ashlee Galea, Paige Horvath, Hunter Jones, Maggie Toner, Francesca Rhoads, Mary Calder, Caitlin Noone, and Abigail Garrigan. Adults include Charles Weigold III, Sebastian Paff, Lindsey Hresko, Marissa Brewer and Kirsten Almeida.
Almeida, the company's founder, is an active fundraiser for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life, Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley, and the American Melanoma Foundation. According to Almeida, a portion of her company's mission is dedicated to raising money for cancer-related causes after the death of close friend, Bethany Pacheco, who died of advanced melanoma in 2011.
For further info/tickets: ticketor.com/staroftheday.org
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The Tony Award-nominated musical, "Once Upon a Mattress," retells the story of "The Princess and the Pea" and the royal courtship between Prince Dauntless the Drab and Winifred the Woebegone. It all begins tonight at 8 and runs through Oct. 25, presented by Act 1 DeSales University Theatre at the Labuda Center for the Performing Arts in Center Valley.
Director is Anne Lewis, associate professor of theater. Musical director is Nancy Moser Collins; choreographer is Stephen Casey.
For further info: desales.edu/act1
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Allentown Public Theatre (APT) debuts its Theatre Café, a monthly series of play readings, beginning Tuesday at 7 p.m., at Hava Java Café, 526 N. 19th St., Allentown. The "haunting" season kicks off with "Macbeth," Shakespeare's tale of kings, witches, and "murder most foul." Actors will play Macbeth Lottery and draw their roles out of a hat.
Upcoming offerings every third Tuesday are: Nov. 17 – "Dinner with Marney" by Easton playwright Jennifer Santos, a funny piece about one family’s ever-stressful celebration of Thanksgiving; and Dec. 15 – APT and its comedy troupe, The Associated Mess, improvise a new take on a yuletide classic with the help of the audience, no holds barred. As the series progresses, more new plays by young playwrights and works that expand on themes will be showcased.
Shaun Leisher, a middle-school drama coach, said his fascination with play-writing inspired him to conceive and organize the Theatre Café. APT Artistic Director Anna Russell said the Theatre Café "invites the audience one step closer into the creative world of the artist. Its informal atmosphere sets the stage for something more like a read-through, the first step in any rehearsal process and one of my favorites: every casting, every staging, every artistic choice is still possible and available to the imagination. It's magic."
For further info: allentownpublictheatre.com
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"Godmother of Soul," Patti LaBelle, is guest artist for the Zoellner Arts Center gala at Lehigh University in Bethlehem on Saturday. The Grammy Award-winning singer will present a concert at 8 p.m. in Baker Hall.
Born and raised in Philadelphia, LaBelle first found fame in the 60s with The BlueBelles at The Apollo Theater in Harlem. The group transitioned to LaBelle in the 70s and found major success with its song, "Lady Marmalade." LaBelle launched her solo career in the 80s and 90s with hits including "The Best is Yet to Come," "On My Own," "Stir It Up," "New Attitude," and "If You Asked."
For further info: lehigh.edu
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Touchstone Theatre, 321 E. 4th St., Bethlehem, presents longtime friends, collaborators, and fellow ensemble theater artists of The Independent Eye theater company in its adaptation of William Shakespeare's tragedy, "King Lear," opening tonight at 8 and running through Sunday.
The play features two actors and 20 puppets, with Lear as literal and figurative puppeteer in a puppet show of his own making. As the tragic king obsessively plays out his loss of family, power, shelter, sanity and hope, his Fool stage-manages his story until both succumb to madness. Actors and master puppeteers Conrad Bishop and Elizabeth Fuller operate various life-sized, hand and finger puppets. Fuller composed the score; Bishop directs the piece.
The show is from the theater company's series of landmark actor/puppet stagings – "Macbeth," "The Tempest," "Frankenstein," and "Descent of Inanna." It was featured at the San Diego Puppetry Festival.
For further info: touchstone.org
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The second annual ArtPop Lehigh Valley billboard program is expanding to include a scholastic competition for 2016 for Lehigh and Northampton County students in grades 9-12. The winning artwork will be showcased on an Adams Outdoor Advertising billboard for the entire year.
Jurors also will select the top 10 student submissions for inclusion in an exhibition at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks in Bethlehem, Jan. 16-March 13, 2016.
The traditional ArtPop competition also is back, with the opportunity for six local artists to be featured on billboards in 2016; five will be selected by the jurying panel and the sixth, the people's choice winner, will be chosen by a public vote.
The program is a partnership between Adams Outdoor Advertising, ArtsQuest and the Lehigh Valley's arts community as a public art program designed to highlight local artists and the important roles they play in the community by featuring their work on area billboards.
Jurors are Santa Bannon, Santa Bannon/fine art independent curator, Fine Art Advisory & Consulting Firm; Kristen Cook, graphic designer, Adams Outdoor Advertising; Randall Forte, executive director, Lehigh Valley Arts Council, and Diane LaBelle, executive director, Lehigh Valley Charter Arts High School.
Deadline for artists to submit work is Nov. 16; deadline for students to submit work for scholastic competition is Dec. 7; public vote for people’s choice winner is Dec. 8-18; winners announced Dec. 21.
For further info/submission specifications: bananafactory.org/artpop
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"In the Line of Duty: Collecting African American Art" is an exhibition of paintings, sculpture and works on paper from the William C. Robinson Family Collection, opening Friday through Dec. 12 in the Williams Center Gallery at Lafayette College in Easton.
According to a news release, "The relationship between collector and artist, frequently founded in shared beliefs and passions connected to the creative enterprise, evolves as the patron witnesses first-hand the struggle the artist faces. This is often particularly true in the case of African American artists, who seek to assert their voices among the large chorus of artists and within the art world in general."
For further info: artgallery@lafayette.edu
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