DISASTER!

So THIS happened last night at the LA Theater Center....

A friend of mine told me it was the "most fun he'd had in a theater" before we went to see it and wow, he was not exaggerating! 
I laughed until my sides hurt and that was just during the opening number.  By the end, I was doubled over and hoarse!  The seamless transition of awesome 70s hits into crazy comedy and the shameless advantage taken of "willing suspension of disbelief" was combined with some of the best comic timing I've ever seen and heard, even extending into the vocal arrangements of the songs and the band. 
Lim had the opportunity to study with Seth Rudetsky last summer (and as a side note, he recognized Lim when we ran into him on the street before the show -- that was fun...!)  and it was some remarkable audition training.  Many of the notes Lim took during that experience are staples in my studio and conducting now, and with great success!  So seeing him implement some of that stuff on stage was really fun.  The first time he broke out with "I'm looking for some hot stuff..." I probably deafened the people in front of me -- or would have, if they hadn't been cackling as loudly as I was!

There were no weak links in the cast -- my daughter Megan geeked out as soon as she saw Adam Pascal's (Rent, Chess) name in the program, and he did not disappoint at all.  It was also very fun to see Max Crumm on stage again after seeing him in NYC as Matt in The Fantasticks.  I couldn't decide if my favorite was Andrea Martin (2013 Tony for Pippin, click for acceptance speech) or Jennifer Simard (Shrek, Sister Act, Forbidden Broadway) but both of them were beyond outstanding.  A particular treat was young Baylee Littrell -- yup, son of the Backstreet Boy -- so much talent, both vocal and comic, in this kid!

Seth auctions off an opportunity to co-host "Seth Speaks" after the show

One last special shout-out to the MD, Larry Pressgrove -- ya know, 'cuz this is the most important person, right???  The music was tight and detailed.  Made me happy!

For more info, reviews, and a highlights clip, visit http://www.disastermusical.com/

Happily Ever-Aftering in Camelot!

Josh and his dressing room sign!

"Camelot" in Fresno had the best Tom of Warwick ever!

When I saw the post on Facebook announcing auditions for a local young actor for the part of young Tom of Warwick on the Camelot tour, Josh was my first thought.  

Spunky and self-possessed, with bucketfuls of theater experience (but not a lot of height!) for someone his age, and even having played Gavroche in the Saroyan Theater a year before, I thought Josh was the perfect candidate -- and when his mom sent in his audition materials, the production team agreed! 

Overnight, Josh was a local celebrity.  A car was sent to take him to a local TV news interview. (Link Click here!) 



The Visalia newspaper wrote an article and took tons of great pictures. (All images Here)
  

 The rehearsal process was short and intense -- a few short hours before the first performance!

Soon we were waiting in the spacious and beautiful Saroyan Theater...  

Having done Camelot several years before, we came with original-production expectations -- large orchestra, set changes that can be cumbersome and large chorus numbers.  How different this production was!  The orchestration was entirely re-imagined with a five player pit -- focusing heavily on percussion and early instrument sounds which created a sparse authenticity that was very exciting and interesting.  The sets centered around a large abstract sculpture that suggested a tree at one moment and a throne at another.  Projection, fog, and specialty lighting were used to create a fresh new ambiance for each scene that was not dependent upon major scene changes, though the fly used for many castle scenes was a thing of absolute beauty, creating the illusion of a multi-layered tapestry.  I especially liked the chorus work in The Joust, which was very tight and exciting.   Overall I found the production very fresh and interesting -- and Josh NAILED IT! :D

After the show, we were allowed to come backstage and see the set pieces up close.  We were especially glad to see the construction of Guinevere's bed, which was simple and looked great on stage!  

Cool fog and light effects!

The castle tapestry (and Guinevere and Arthur!) that I liked so much -- the colors changed with the mood!
I loved how all of Guinevere's dresses moved, and this is a beautiful example!

The icing on the cake of this production... was the opportunity to meet a friend-of-a-friend who was playing percussion in the pit.  Over dinner we got to hear all the fabulous details of life on tour, the amazing machinery of move-in and move-out, and the thoughts behind the re-imagined orchestration, as well as make a new friend!  The musical theater world is small and fabulous!


 

Aventura -- An Unexpected Adventure!

About a week ago my husband got an email asking if our praise band at Christ Lutheran would sing in a scene for the independent film "Aventura" -- and of course we wouldn't want to be bored... 

So this morning at about 7:30 film trucks rolled into the parking lot at Christ Lutheran and an hour later they said "we need more extras!" and text messages started flying!  By the time filming started not only was our praise band there but many of my students and their families singing in the "congregation!"

A different look to CLC!

For more info about "Aventura,"  Click here:

               About Aventura the Film

 

Additional Tosca Resources

First rehearsal with the FGO men was great!

And revealed the usefulness of a few more resources!

Act 1 Spoken Latin in Rhythm (Men)

Act 1 Spoken Latin in Rhythm (Women)

YouTube links:

End of Act 1 with Latin  (Start about 1:50)

Another Act 1 with Latin  (So I can fan girl over Bryn Terfel... again around 1:55)

Tutta qui cantoria (Act 1)

Sale Ascende (Act 2)  This recording has its strengths and *weaknesses* but it is stand-alone instead of with orchestra and Scarpia so it is considerably easier to hear the chorus part than when it is off-stage and background.  Italian diction is also native so imitate-able -- cannot say the same for tone quality and intonation... :/

Another Sale Ascende (Another stand alone... very different but interesting....)

Standard Sale in background

Tosca Chorus, First Rehearsal!!

I am very excited to begin rehearsals for the Tosca chorus at Fresno Grand Opera tonight!

Tosca is sublime, amazing, superlative... so many adjectives but others have phrased it better than I so here is a link to catch a summary...

Metropolitan Opera Tosca Synopsis

The first thing I like to rehearse in an opera chorus is diction.  Habits are formed very quickly when linked to music and because of the way our brains work it is very difficult to "fix it later."

With that in mind, I have recorded diction for the chorus parts, adults and children, downloadable on Dropbox. 

Tosca Diction Folder

As you practice, here are two things to always remember for perfect (i.e. we don't want to sound American!) Italian details! 
1) Dentalized consonants
2) No diphthongs

Not sure what those mean?  Here is a recording of explanation and samples... only about 3 minutes long, a great way to jump-start your soon-to-be amazing Italian! 

Italian Diction Jump-Start Guidelines


Also of interest...
Translation for the 1st piece:  (Burton D. Fischer)

T O S C A

Allievi

(colla massima confusioae)

Dove?

Sagrestano

In Sagrestia. (spinge alcuni chierici)

Alcuni Allievi

Ma che awenne?

Sagrestano

Nol sapete?

Bonaparte... scellerato...

Bonaparte...

Altri Allievi

Ebben? Che fu?

Sagrestano

Fu spennato, sfracellato

e piombato a Belzebu !

Allievi, Cantori, ecc.

Chi lo dice ?

fe sogno!

fe fola!

Sagrestano

fe verldica parola

or ne giunse la notizia !

E questa sera

gran fiaccolata

veglia di gala a Palazzo Farnese,

ed tm'apposita

nuova cantata

con Floria Tosca!

E nelle chiese

inni al Signore !

Presto a vestirvi,

non piu clamore!

Tntti

(ridendo e gridando gioiosamente)

Doppio soldo*., Te Deum... Gloria!

Viva il Re!.,. Si festeggi la vittoria!

- 19 -

T O S C A

All

Whither?

Sacristan

This way, good people...

(pushing them towards the Sacristy)

All

What happened?

Sacristan

Don't you know? Buonaparte...

the miscreant... Buonaparte...

All

Well, what of him?

Sacristan

Beaten, crushed, humiliated;

Satan has him on the hip!

All

Who can prove it? What silly nonsense!

Sacristan

'Tis the truth, I do assure ye !

Soon the news will be made public.

All

'Twill be hailed with loud rejoicing!

Sacristan

This very evening there will be great doings,

Gala performance and torchlight procession,

Also an apposite brand-new cantata

Sung by the Floria with appropriate expression.

You singing boys

Put on your vestments, make no more noise.

Off ! off, without delay !

All

(They burst out laughing and pay no attention to the Sacristan, who tries in vain to drive

them into the sacristy)

Double wages ! Te Deum, gloria !

Long live the King!

This very evening there will be great doings,

gala performance, torchlight procession,

a brand-new cantata sung by Tosca.

Long live the King!

Yes, this evening there will be great do ...

(enter Scarpia unexpectedly, he stands in the doorway; seeing him, all are stricken dumb

and motionless, as though spell-bound)

Translation for Act 2 Piece:  (A. Sciaronne)