THEATRE IN PROCESS ANNOUNCES FALL 2001 EVENTS

SONGS OF ASTAIRE & MERMAN, AS WELL AS "THE BAND WAGON"

THEATRE IN PROCESS (TIP - http://www.benandbrad.com/tip.html) announces two special programs for Fall, 2001. The season begins right after Labor Day, on Wednesday, September 5th with a performance re-uniting the two duos of Valerie Anastasio & Tim Harbold and Benjamin Sears & Bradford Conner in an all-new show, "Fred & Ethel- Songs of Astaire and Merman," at SCULLERS JAZZ CLUB (400 Soldiers Field Road, Allston, MA - 617-562-4111 - http://www.scullersjazz.com/).

Astaire and Merman, with their definitive singing styles, attracted many of the same songwriters, including Irving Berlin, George & Ira Gershwin, Cole Porter, Howard Dietz & Arthur Schwartz, and Harold Arlen. Featured songs include "I Got Rhythm," "I Get a Kick Out of You," "You're the Top," "They Say It's Wonderful," "Night and Day," "Cheek to Cheek," "Top Hat," and "That's Entertainment," along with rarities from the song books of both stars.

On consecutive Sundays, October 28th and November 4th, TlP's acclaimed series "American Classics" continues their "musicals in concerts" series with a fully restored edition of the classic revue "The Band Wagon," with songs by Howard Dietz & Arthur Schwartz, and skits by Dietz and George S. Kaufman. Both performances will be at 7:30 pm in the PICKMAN CONCERT HALL of the Longy School of Music (One Follen Street, Cambridge, MA - 617-824-8000).

"The Band Wagon" is cited by many commentators as one of the two best revues in the history of American musical theater. First presented in 1931, it was written for the talents of Helen Broderick, Frank Morgan, dancer Tilly Losch, and Fred & Adele Astaire (making her last professional appearance). It has received no revivals since its initial run. Two of the show's skits, "For Good Old Nectar" and "The Pride of the Claghoms" are pinnacles of the form, and song hits from the show include "Dancing in the Dark," "New Sun in the Sky," and "I Love Louisa."

TIP artistic directors Benjamin Sears and Bradford Conner have meticulously restored the skits and music to create a performing edition of "The Band Wagon," drawing on materials provided by the Schwartz family, the Library of Congress, and other sources. The principals of American Classics, Mary Ann Lanier, Sears & Conner, and pianist/music director Margaret Ulmer will be featured in the production, along with other area performers, with David Frieze serving as dramatic director. The production will be part of the 2000-2001 Arthur Schwartz Centenary.

The Boston Globe's Richard Dyer said of last season's concert production of Irving Berlin's "Watch Your Step," "we wouldn't have been able to imagine 'Watch Your Step' at all if it hadn't been for the dedication and skill of these people, so they earned our gratitude."

For more information about these performances and about THEATRE IN PROCESS, call 617-254-1125 or check http://www.benandbrad.com/tip.html

Back to CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE Home Page

If you would like to receive a free e-mail subscription to CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE, please e-mail cabarethotline@svhamstra.com and place the single word "SUBSCRIBE" in the subject line. Note: Your subscription will be sent to the e-mail address you subscribe from - and please include your real name along with the city where you live.

NOW YOU CAN JOIN CABARET HOTLINE ONLINE!