F L O R I D A S TAT E UNIVERSITY WINTER 2020
Be wowed. James Taylor Family Florida State University Season Sponsor
19/20
SPONSORS DIAMOND LEVEL
LOUISE IRELAND HUMPHREY EXCELLENCE FUND
JI M TAYLOR
P L AT I N U M L E V E L
RON SACHS & GAY WEBSTER-SACHS
GOLD LEVEL LI N DA J. S M I T H , Ph D K E N K ATO & N A N NAGY
FSU License Plate
S I LV E R L EV E L CYNTHIA TIE & JOHN TAYLOR
BERNADETTE & ROGER LUCA
HERB & MARY JERVIS
LAURIE & KELLY DOZIER ENDOWMENT
MIKEY BESTEBREURTJE & WILSON BAKER
BRONZE LEVEL ARCHITECTURE INTERIOR DESIGN PLANNING
C HA RL ES S. & SUSA N A. STRATTON
Architects Lewis + Whitlock
JIM & BETTY ANN RO D GERS
SA LLY K A RI OTH
ARCHITECTS
L AR RY & J O DE E B
STEFA NIE & ERWIN JAC KSO N
GILCHRIST ROSS CROWE
DYL AN SU M N E R & R EGAN JAG E R
T E R ESA B E AZ L EY W I DM E R
LEE HINKLE
M ARSH AL L & K I M B E R LY C R I SE R
M AYDA & KIM W I L L I AM S
THE VAUG H N FAM I LY
IN-KIND SPONSORS
SPONSOR SUPPORT DOES NOT INDICATE ARTISTS’ ENDORSEMENT OF ANY PRODUCT OR SERVICE.
Tallaha ee is a city ar s c expre iĐž and we supp t Opening NighĘŚ as a shining example crea vity in r c munity. @CITYOFTLH
Mayor Pro Tem Curtis Richardson, Commissioner Dianne Williams-Cox, Mayor John E. Dailey, Commissioner Elaine W. Bryant, Commissioner Jeremy Matlow
J
Thank You for Your Continued Support
oin us as we enter a new decade with performing artists representing music, dance, comedy and theater. The winter months will have Opening Nights events in Ruby Diamond Concert Hall and Opperman Music Hall on the Florida State University Campus, and Turner Auditorium at Tallahassee Community College. The ongoing support of our Sponsors and Members continues to make Opening Nights a vital part of FSU and surrounding communities. Your generosity is appreciated and meaningful in our ability to bring diverse concerts to Tallahassee that represent a broad spectrum of interests and varied tastes to our public. To acknowledge the ongoing supporters of our efforts, this edition recognizes those members having five or more consecutive years of financial contributions to the program. We realize that not all individuals are in a position to contribute financially which
makes the donations of those that can all the more meaningful for our overall community. Your active participation, and your willingness to have your thoughts and opinions heard endures as we build future seasons’ programming. Please continue to offer your suggestions for artists, attractions and venues that we can use for our concerts. Your input is appreciated and considered as we continue to seek performances that will benefit the cultural growth and stimulate interaction within our public. Warmly,
Michael Blachly Director, Opening Nights at Florida State University OPENINGNIGHTS.FSU.EDU | 5
FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY A National Leader in Student Success BEST IN FLORIDA
GLOBAL REACH
Florida State University’s four-year graduation rate of 72 percent places FSU among the Top 10 public universities in the country and is the best in the state of Florida.
FSU’s commitment to increasing the number of students studying abroad was honored with a 2019 Seal of Excellence from the Institute of International Education. The award specifically recognized FSU’s extraordinary global-engagement network.
FSU FRESHMEN FLOURISH
WORLD-CLASS RESEARCH
Florida State’s freshman retention rate is 93 percent, meaning more freshmen than ever are returning for their second year. That places FSU among the Top 20 public universities in the nation for freshman retention!
FSU researchers received a record level of funding from federal, state and private sources in the 2019 fiscal year, bringing $233.6 million to the university to support investigations into areas such as health sciences, high energy physics and marine biology.
THE WORD IS OUT
AN OUTSTANDING VALUE
Prospective students are taking notice of FSU’s preeminence. We received a record-breaking 60,555 first-time freshman applications for the 2019 summer and fall semesters.
Florida State is ranked No. 9 in the nation among public universities that offer high-quality education at an affordable price, according to Kiplinger’s annual list of Best Values in Public Colleges.
CONTENTS Florida State University John Thrasher, President Opening Nights Staff Michael Blachly Director Lori Elliott Development Director Brad Lister Ticket Office Manager Calla MacNamara Education & Engagement Manager Rachael Dirr Marketing Assistant to the Director Amanda Cole Multimedia Design Specialist University Communications, Creative Services Rodney Johnson
Star Force Academy
PRISM
Opening Nights
The Righteous Brothers
13
Kristin Chenoweth
15
Cristina Pato Quartet
17 19
Trey McLaughlin & The Sounds of Zamar
21
Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo
23
Assistant Director of Creative Services University Communications, Creative Services
11
Development Council Gus Corbella, Chair Michael Obrecht, Chair-elect Lauren Bacon Sara Bayliss Brandi Brown Kimberly Criser Brooke Hallock Eric Friall Heather Mitchell Nan Nagy Ron Sachs
25
The Pirates of Penzance
27
Black Violin
29
The Beach Boys
31
Susan Stratton
Al Stewart
Photo by Mark Clennon
Cover: The Pirates of Penzance Photo by: William Reynolds OPENINGNIGHTS.FSU.EDU | 7
2019-20 MEMBERS A S O F 1 2 / 1 / 2 0 1 9 Producer’s Circle
Suzanne & Armand Cognetta
Steven & Mary Bryan*
Dr. & Mrs. Raymond Cottrell
Elizabeth Carlton*
Bill & Caryl Donnellan*
Kathryn Karrh Cashin*
Elizabeth Dudek
Pete & Bonnie Chamlis*
Lori Elliott & Doug Hall
Jim & Sandy Dafoe*
Phillip & Betty Brown
Samuel Allen & Sharon GordonGirvin
Kathleen Daly & Reinhart Lerch*
Childers Construction Company
Dave & Margaret Groves*
Bart & Tamara Aitken Law Office of Linda A. Bailey, P.A. Jann & Ray Bellamy Logan & Maryanne Brooks
Gus & Tanya Corbella* Janet & Craig Dennis Richard & Judi Earls
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Mike & Jeri Damasiewicz Drs. Gib & Ruth DeBusk Sandra & William Dixon Pamala J. Doffek* Patrick & Kathy Dunnigan
Abraham Middleton & Dr. Sara Hart Emily Millett Ed & Linda Oaksford* Michael & Julie Obrecht* Dr. Sara C. Pankaskie Stephen & Patricia C. Peters Fred & Anna Roberson* Eleanore Rosenberg & Larry Sack* Ray & Michele Runo
Erin Ennis & Brad Hollis
Patterson Lamb, Jean Sadowski & Sunny Phillips*
Steve & Linda Evans
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The Hon. Stephen Everett & Meghan Everett
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Paull & Nita Kirkpatrick
Keith & Vangie Fields
Jon & Jean Kline*
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Stacey Lampkin*
Tom & Ginny Futch
Kent Spriggs & Kathleen Laufenberg*
Lawton & Beth Langford*
Elenita Gomez & Jack Brennan*
Joyce & Lee Stillwell*
Leah T. Martineau & Duncan W. Martineau
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Del Suggs & Denice Jones*
William Graham & Shelley Hill
Warren & Paula Sutton*
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Richard Turner
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Greg Hajcak
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David & Kathy Hale*
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Donald Hansard & Nada Marz
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Ron Shaeffer*
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Debbie Shapiro
Deborah Williams & Rick Hays
Barbara Shapiro
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Associate Level
Alicia Smith
Lori Holcomb & Robert Fingar*
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Bass Sox Mercer P.A.*
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Partner Level
Ludmila De Faria*
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Mark & Lisa Jones
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Jonathan & Kathleen Bass, Sebastian, Jordan & Isabella Bass
Jeffrey & Jessica Kahn
Friend Level
Nancy & Dustin Heintz
John & Linda Kilgore*
Greg & Karen Boebinger*
Kelly & Rip Kirby*
John & Jenny Bryant
Robert & Jan Estevez Eric & Andrea Friall TD & Kathi Giddings* Debby Kearney* The Lockwood Law Firm Geof Mansfield & Jennifer Fitzwater* Rick & Nancy McClure Senator Bill Montford, CEO, Florida Association of District School Superintendents Judy & Mike Pate* Jason & Katie Pernell The Piekarewicz Family* The Ted Radey Fund James & Sherrill Ragans* Jayne Standley* Janet R. Thornton* Marjorie Turnbull* Kathleen Villacorta & Carol Gregg Hart* Tanya & Tony Weaver MD
Del & Diane Hughes Bret & Leigh Ingerman* Doug & Melissa Ingram*
Mr. & Mrs. Edgar Murray Moore Sr. Patsy Palmer* Mary Anne Price* Monroe & Tannye Rogers Doug & Debbie Russell Drs. Sandra & Warren Schoenfisch
The Sisters Gary & Patricia Smith*
Bob & Mary Bedford*
Drs. Charles & Sharon Aronovitch*
Michael & Judy Blachly
Karen & Bob Cohen*
Bill & Dottie Lee*
Robyn S. Blank
Greg & Sharon Beaumont*
Pete & Cindy Lewis
Eileen & Don Bourassa*
Joe Beckham & Patti Sudduth*
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Grossman, Furlow & Bayo, LLC*
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Emoryette McDonald
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Steve Carter & Phyllis Thomson*
Scott & Jennifer Boyles
The McNeal/Dunn Family
Trelles D’Alemberte & Clay Roberts
Ken Cashin & Lisa Chase
Judge Steve & Yvonne Brown
Frank & Francesca Melichar*
Elizabeth T. Dameron*
8 | 2019–20 OPENING NIGHTS
Robert & Gail Knight*
Drs. Gary & Kathy Burnett Jim & Louise Cobbe David & Mary Coburn* Margaret & Chris Cooksey Carol Cooper Mr. & Mrs. L. Thomas Cox, Jr.
Bob & Trudy Deyle*
DeLopez & Shahawy*
Dr. Carolyn Drazinic
Rhonda & Raymond Merritt
John Dozier & Martha Paradeis*
Dr. Cedric & Nadine Shepheard
Jane & Mike Dunn*
Lee Kendall Metcalf
Linda Enfinger
Pamela & Charles Shields*
Grady Enlow & June Dollar
Susan & Jack Fiorito* Patricia Flowers*
Kent Strauss Management & Realty Inc.*
Facilitated Solutions, LLC, Jeff Blair & Deborah Lawson
Heather Mitchell, Tallahassee Community College Foundation
Barbara Foorman*
Dan Taylor & Tony Archer*
Rick & Joyce Fausone*
Jason & Vivian Moore*
Major David E & Paula S Fountain
Herbert & Kathi Thiele
James N. Floyd
Dr. Ernesto & Lisa Umana*
Diane & John Fogarty
Archie Gardner & Michael Moore*
Marie Beverly Go
Tommy & Kim Verran
Mark Fontaine
Owen & Chrys Goodwyne
Robert & Dianne Weinstein
Tim & Jamela Fordyce
Richard & Christine Gordon
James White & Elizabeth Jackson
Steve & Kim Gabbard
Frank Kapplow & Mona Hamilton*
Marilynn Wills*
Durene Gilbert*
John & Libby Woodward
Howard Glassman & Diane Salz
Morgan Patterson, Gregg Patterson, IMS
Robert & Marylou Hinkle
Nancy Wright*
Mr. & Mrs J. Byron Greene
Dr. Christine Peterson*
Myles Hollander*
Marilyn Young & Michael Launer
Steven & Dale Grigas
Nikki Pritchett & Stephen Fox
Lynda Hartnig & Tom Nicholson
Pat Ramsey
Karen Hawkins
Krista Rankin
Eleanor & John Hawkins*
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Maura & William Heebink Stewart Hinson
Kenneth J. & Charlotte Orth Reckford
Linda & Rick Hyson
LaShawn Riggans
Chet Kaufman*
Allene & Richard Roberts
C. Laurence & Lucinda Keesey
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Christine M Keller
Lise Ryder
Steve & Beth Kelly
Mr. & Mrs. M. Sandberg
Hon. Lewis & Patsy Killian*
Genevieve C. Scott
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Sealey Team Property Management
Bruce & Lametria Lamont
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Terence Leland
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Margaret Stephens
Jane Lo & SJ Sher
Susan Stephens & Bruce Campbell*
Bruce & Elizabeth Gould
Amy M. Jones* Al & Susan Kaempfer
Debut Level
John & Helen Keaton
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Eileen Albrigo
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Randy & Cathy Armour
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Jennifer & Jay LaVia* Drs. Benjamin & Mary Sterner Lawson Jim Lee The Lemberg-Bangura Family* Leslie Lundberg* Dr. & Mrs. Edward Lyon* Douglas & Joyce Mann* Dr. Marion Merzer & Martin Merzer*
Adrienne Barnes Darryl & Cathy Beacher William V. Belcher Heather R. Bishop Joseph & Stephanie Borras Adrienne Bowen Brittany Brafford Nolia & Bill Brandt Ann & Bill Brattain*
John & Mary Geringer*
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OliverSperry Renovation*
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Dr. Rodney Reeves
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Jane & Neal Meadows
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Richard Senesac*
Rodney & Virlindia Doss
Andrea Medvid
Dr. Iris Wilson
Betty Serow
John Douglas
James H. Melton
Ken Winker*
* Member for 5 years or more
Robert & Linda Clickner*
LTC & Mrs. John Owens Allison & Danny Manausa Blake Canter & Melanie Mason Dr. Mary R. Massey Susan & Jim Mau
John Stewart Mr. & Mrs. Jesse F. Suber Lon Sweat & Nancy Brand Dr. Bill & Ida Thompson Jon & Angela Turner James & Judith Underhill
OPENINGNIGHTS.FSU.EDU | 9
PROUD SPONSOR OF OPENING NIGHTS
and the arts for more than 20 years
Public Relations. Public Affairs. Crisis. | Tallahassee. Orlando. Boca Raton. Washington, D.C. | 850.222.1996 | sachsmedia.com
WEDNESDAY
January
8
7:30 P.M. LOCATION
Ruby Diamond Concert Hall TICKETS
$75 | $65
openingnights.fsu.edu 850.644.7670
Photo by Marshall Meadows
GENRE
pop
The Righteous Brothers
Bill Medley and Bucky Heard Blue-eyed soul pioneers The Righteous Brothers are back! With a string of #1 classics, including the most played song in radio history, “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’,” the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame duo of Bill Medley and Bobby Hatfield topped the charts for over four decades. After Bobby’s death in 2003, Bill Medley continued to perform to sold-out crowds around the world, but fans and friends pleaded with him to keep The Righteous Brothers alive. Says Medley, “No one could ever take Bobby’s place, but when I caught Bucky Heard’s show it all came together—I found the right guy to help me recreate the magic.” The concert experience features their biggest hits—”Lovin’ Feelin’,” “Soul & Inspiration,” “Unchained Melody,” “Rock and Roll Heaven,” Medley’s GRAMMY®winning Dirty Dancing theme “The Time of My Life,” and much, much more! Continued on page 33
SPONSORED BY
RO N SACHS & GAY W EBST E R- SACHS OPENINGNIGHTS.FSU.EDU | 11
Capital City Bank PRESENTS
{ The Amazing, Uncomparable, Hilarious & ‘A Little Bit Wicked’ Best Friend We’ve All Wished For } PHOTO CREDIT: KRISTA SCHLUETER
PROUD SUPPORTER OF
402.7500 www.ccbg.com
Opening Nights SINCE ITS PREMIERE.
19 20 s
shostakovIch trIumphant!
Opening Night!
French ImpressIons
September 14, 2019 Conrad Tao, Piano RAVEL s DEBUSSY s GERSHWIN
March 14, 2020 Chad Ibison, Guitar VERDI s RODRIGO SHOSTAKOVICH
holIday magIc!
Season Finale!
December 14, 2019 Carmen Bradford, Jazz Vocalist
ELLINGTON Nutcracker Suite & Much More!
Beethoven’s FIFth
January 18, 2020 Christopher Moore & Mark Clodfelter, Trumpets MIRANDA s BIZET s BEETHOVEN
ohlsson plays Brahms May 2, 2020 Garrick Ohlsson, Piano STRAUSS s LEHAR KORNGOLD s BRAHMS
www.tallahasseesymphony.org
TUESDAY
January
28 7:30 P.M. LOCATION
Ruby Diamond Concert Hall TICKETS
$80 | $65
openingnights.fsu.edu 850.644.7670
GENRE
vocal, Broadway
Kristin Chenoweth in Concert For the Girls
Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress and singer Kristin Chenoweth’s career spans film, television, voiceover and stage. In 2015, Chenoweth received a coveted star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2009, she received an Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role in Pushing Daisies. In 1999, she won a Tony Award for You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown and she was also nominated for her original role of Glinda the Good Witch in Wicked in 2004. Chenoweth has been nominated for two Emmy Awards and for a People’s Choice Award for her role on Glee. In 2009, she wrote an upliftingly candid, comedic chronicle of her life so far, A Little Bit Wicked, which debuted on the New York Times Hardcover Non-Fiction Best Seller List.
SPONSORED BY
Continued on page 33 OPENINGNIGHTS.FSU.EDU | 13
Talk is Chique Jeffersonian conversation is served
On the Rockies
Bicyclist conquers Great Divide
Krewes
PROUDLY SUPPORTING
Control
‘Springtime’ nears milestone
LeRoy’s Place Museum memorializes Gov. Collins
+
Weddings
2018 Find your
GREAT GETAWAYS
» GRANDPARENTS AS PARENTS » WOMEN’S PROFILES TALLAHASSEEMAGAZINE.COM
IN NORTHWEST FLORIDA SINCE 1979
4 GREAT GETAWAYS: NEW ADVENTURES CLOSE TO HOME P. 103
MAR-APR 2015
Patients First
TALLAHASSEE MAGAZINE
the Arts
perfect venue
+
Belly Up to the Blow Dry Bar Healthful Meals Made for You at Home Grab Ahold of Tallahassee’s Best Sandwiches
INSIDE: THE BIGGEST NORTHWEST FLORIDA WEDDINGS ISSUE EVER!
High-Tech Bicycles 2-wheelers pick up speed
Facing Fears In the trees on a zipline adventure
Notes to Live By
A chaplain’s lost work resurfaces
POET’S WORLD
Masters of verse at FSU explore a universe of words
City’s
MUSIC SCENE
comes alive
Stay connected to Tallahassee’s latest activities and attractions. Read Tallahassee Magazine in print and online, plus like and follow on social media for the latest events and happenings. @tallahasseemag | tallahasseemagazine.com
THURSDAY
January
30 7:30 P.M.
LOCATION
Opperman Music Hall TICKETS
$45
openingnights.fsu.edu 850.644.7670
Photo by Xan Padron
GENRE
world, instrumental
Cristina Pato Quartet “A virtuosic burst of energy.” — The New York Times Recently seen in Ruby Diamond Concert Hall alongside The Silkroad Ensemble with Yo-Yo Ma, Cristina Pato is an internationally acclaimed Galician bagpiper master, classical pianist and passionate educator who devotes her career to cultural exchange and creating new paths for her unique instrument. Her dual careers have led to performances on major stages throughout the world, including regular tours in the United States and Europe and sporadic tours in India, Jerusalem, Angola, China, Korea, Mexico, Turkey, and her native Spain. Ms. Pato serves as Learning Advisor for Silkroad (founded by YoYo Ma) and is an active touring artist and composer. The Wall Street Journal has called her “one of the living masters of the gaita.” Ms. Pato fuses the influences of Latin music, jazz, pop and contemporary music, and uses her artistry and unprecedented virtuosic skill to bring her musical vision to life. Continued on page 35 OPENINGNIGHTS.FSU.EDU | 15
FINE &
Performing Arts AT TALLAHASSEE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
ART EXHIBIT: EVELYN DAVIS-WALKER Jan. 9 – Feb. 6
THEATRE TCC! PRESENTS: CABARET
Monday – Friday 12:30 – 4:30 p.m.
April 3 – 4 | 8 p.m. April 10 – 11 | 8 p.m. April 5 & 12 | 2 p.m.
TCC Fine Art Gallery
Turner Auditorium
ART EXHIBIT: KALINA WINSKA
CAPITAL CITY BAND OF TCC: SPRING CONCERT
Feb. 13 – Mar. 19
April 20 | 7 p.m.
Monday – Friday 12:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Turner Auditorium
TCC Fine Art Gallery
CAPITAL CITY BAND OF TCC: SPRINGTIME TALLAHASSEE CONCERT March 28 | Time - TBD Downtown Tallahassee
ART EXHIBIT: ANNUAL JURIED STUDENT ART EXHIBIT April 2 – 16 Monday – Friday 12:30 – 4:30 p.m. TCC Fine Art Gallery
TCC JAZZ BAND: SPRING CONCERT April 22 | 7 p.m. Turner Auditorium
TCC JAZZ BAND: TALLAHASSEE JAZZ AND BLUES FESTIVAL Date TBD Tallahassee Museum
SATURDAY
February
1
2:00 P.M.
LOCATION
Fred Turner Auditorium TICKETS
$10
openingnights.fsu.edu 850.644.7670 GENRE Photo by David Engel
family
David Engel’s Star Force Academy A Madcap Intergalactic Parody
A long time ago and not so very far away...children yearned to be Rebels. Your family will thrill as they join the Rebel Alliance and access the Force within! David Engel’s Star Force Academy is a solo, comedy variety show that captivates kids and nostalgic adults alike. Come learn the ways of the Force with Panniken Moonjumper, a true Master of Intergalactic Fun and Adventure. During this laugh-riot parody, your Youngling Warriors, Princesses and Vader’s will be delighted with comic antics, exciting physical challenges, magical mayhem, a visit from a furry alien sidekick and engage in an epic battle to save the Universe! Kids are encouraged to attend in costume. Ages 4+ please. Star Force Academy was created by New York-based David Engel, a family entertainer with over 25 years of experience performing across the United States, Europe and Asia.
SPONSORED BY
OPENINGNIGHTS.FSU.EDU | 17
In the heart of Tallahassee, where the little things mean everything. 101 S. ADAMS ST~TALLAHASSEE, FL 32301 ~ (850)224-5000~ WWW.TALLAHASSEE.DOUBLETREE.COM
SUNDAY
February
2
2:00 P.M. LOCATION
Rudy Diamond Concert Hall TICKETS
$35
openingnights.fsu.edu 850.644.7670 GENRE
classical, jazz, marching band, pop
PRISM
A Collaboration with the Florida State University College of Music Featuring students from Florida State’s top-ranked College of Music, PRISM offers a wide array of entertainment from Chamber Winds, Symphonic Band, jazz ensembles, the Marching Chiefs, and many more exciting groups. The Tallahassee Democrat might put it best: “The PRISM shows are built on a more-is-more philosophy…PRISM’s contrast between traditional fare and more experimental groups may be one of the reasons behind the program’s success. Its multifaceted nature makes PRISM a gem among music lovers. Because of its design, [the performance] offers a unique show depending on where an audience member sits—those in the balcony will be nearer to certain ensembles than those in other sections, and vice versa.” So come experience this unique event that lauds our students and faculty. It’s fantastic, fresh, and not to be missed!
OPENINGNIGHTS.FSU.EDU | 19
YOUR STORIES, OUR COMMUNITY POWERED BY
DOWNLOAD THE APP TODAY!
WEDNESDAY
February
5
7:30 P.M. LOCATION
Ruby Diamond Concert Hall TICKETS
$35 | $25
openingnights.fsu.edu 850.644.7670 GENRE
gospel, pop
Trey McLaughlin & The Sounds of Zamar Trey McLaughlin & The Sounds of Zamar have undoubtedly carved a place for themselves in the music industry through soul-stirring arrangements of contemporary gospel, musical theater and rich original compositions. The ensemble, organized in 2009, has performed with gospel greats such as William McDowell, Kierra “Kiki” Sheard, Richard Smallwood, Pastor Charles Jenkins, Earnest Pugh, Damien Sneed, and James Fortune. McLaughlin and this anointed group are known for their rich harmonies and beautiful blends. In addition to their distinct gospel style, Trey McLaughlin & The Sounds of Zamar have inspired audiences with clever arrangements of musical theater covers. Always a fresh perspective, the group’s sound is truly authentic while capturing the essence of the original piece. With their expressive vocals and intricate arrangements of contemporary gospel, The Sounds of Zamar have transcended cultural boundaries. Continued on page 37
OPENINGNIGHTS.FSU.EDU | 21
Proud to partner with Opening Nights to provide cultural opportunities for the Boys and Girls Club of the Big Bend W A L M A R T. C O M
COMMITTED TO OUR COMMUNITY
WE ARE PROUD TO CALL TALLAHASSEE HOME. IT’S WHY THE TALLAHASSEE DEMOCRAT AND TALLAHASSEE.COM ARE DEDICATED TO HELPING YOU CONNECT, UNDERSTAND, ACT AND THRIVE. Our committed team of journalists work every day to keep you informed about what is happening in the capital city and strive to make a difference in the lives of people. PROUD TO CALL TALLAHASSEE HOME | DEDICATED TO MAKING AN IMPACT
SATURDAY
February
8
7:30 P.M. LOCATION
Ruby Diamond Concert Hall TICKETS
$60 | $45
openingnights.fsu.edu 850.644.7670
Photo by Zoran Jelenic
GENRE
ballet, comedy, dance
Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo was founded in 1974 by a group of ballet enthusiasts for the purpose of presenting a playful, entertaining view of traditional, classical ballet in parody form and en travesti. Les Ballets Trockadero first performed in the late-late shows in Off-Off Broadway lofts. The Trocks, as they are affectionately known, quickly garnered a major critical essay by Arlene Croce in The New Yorker, which combined with reviews in The New York Times and The Village Voice established the Company as an artistic and popular success. By mid-1975, the Trocks’ loving knowledge of dance, comic approach, and commitment to the notion that men can, indeed, dance en pointe without falling flat on their faces, was already garnering attention beyond the Company’s New York home. Articles and notices in publications such as Variety, Oui, The London Daily Telegraph, as well as a Richard Avedon photo essay in Vogue, made the Company nationally and internationally known. Continued on page 39 OPENINGNIGHTS.FSU.EDU | 23
TALLAHASSEE'S TRUSTED FULL-SERVICE CATERING COMPANY
www.socialcateringandevents.com info@socialcateringandevents.com (850) 800-7267
Carlton Fields is pleased to sponsor the 2019-2020 season of Opening Nights at Florida State University. We celebrate the arts as an essential cornerstone of creativity and innovation.
www.carltonfields.com
TUESDAY
February
11 7:30 P.M. LOCATION
Ruby Diamond Concert Hall TICKETS
$60 | $45
openingnights.fsu.edu 850.644.7670
Photo by William Reynolds
GENRE
comedic opera
New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players
The Pirates of Penzance Everyone has pretended to be a pirate at some point. Set sail with this classic comedy that boasts one of the most famous patter songs in musical theatre history. On the coast of Cornwall, a band of tenderhearted pirates celebrates the coming of age of Frederic, who was mistakenly apprenticed to the pirates until his 21st birthday. Now, Frederic has vowed to devote his life to the extermination of piracy—until a ludicrous leap year snag threatens to keep him apprenticed to the pirates for life! Throw in a bevy of beauties, a brash Pirate King, the delightfully stuffy Major-General Stanley and you’ve got what The New York Times calls, “an endearing production with high musical standards and spirited performances.”
SPONSORED BY
J I M TAY LOR
Continued on page 46
OPENINGNIGHTS.FSU.EDU | 25
THURSDAY
February
13 7:30 P.M. LOCATION
Ruby Diamond Concert Hall TICKETS Photo by Albert Manduca
$50 | $40
openingnights.fsu.edu 850.644.7670 GENRE
hip-hop, instrumental, jazz
Black Violin Impossible Tour
Black Violin is led by classically trained string players Wil B. (viola) and Kev Marcus (violin). Joining them onstage are DJ SPS and drummer Nat Stokes. The band uses their unique blend of classical and hip-hop music to overcome stereotypes while encouraging people of all ages, races, and economic backgrounds to join together to break down cultural barriers. In the past 12 months, the band has performed for over 100,000 students in the United States and Europe, and has partnered with Yamaha and the National Association of Music Manufactures to continue supporting music education. The group has collaborated creatively with artists such as Kanye West, Aerosmith, Tom Petty, Wu-Tang Clan, Wyclef Jean and Alicia Keys. Their last album, Stereotypes, hit #1 on Billboard’s Classical Crossover chart and #4 on Billboard’s R&B Chart. Black Violin’s latest studio album Take the Stairs was released on November 1, 2019, and includes singles “Showoff,” “One Step,” and “Impossible is Possible.” Continued on page 53
OPENINGNIGHTS.FSU.EDU | 27
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The Beach Boys You can capsulize most pop music acts by reciting how many hits they’ve had and how many millions of albums they’ve sold. But these conventional measurements fall short when you’re assessing the impact of The Beach Boys. This band has birthed a torrent of hit singles and sold albums by the tens of millions. But its greater significance lies in the fact that The Beach Boys’ songs have forever changed the musical landscape, profoundly influencing countless performing artists to follow. The Beach Boys are led by Mike Love and Bruce Johnston, who, along with Tim Bonhomme, John Cowsill, Keith Hubacher, Christian Love, Brian Eichenberger, Randy Leago and Scott Totten continue the legacy of the iconic American band. GRAMMY®-winning songwriter Bruce Johnston joined The Beach Boys in 1965, replacing Glen Campbell, who filledin for Brian Wilson, on vocals/bass, when he retired from touring. Highly regarded in his field, Johnston’s vocal work with such legendary artists as Elton John and Pink Floyd firmly established him among rock’s elite artists. Captained by Mike Love, The Beach Boys play an astoundingly busy schedule of concerts, averaging 150 shows a year, ranging from sun-drenched summer festivals to New Year’s gala celebrations and special events across the globe.
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openingnights.fsu.edu 850.644.7670 GENRE
singer-songwriter
Al Stewart “Finessed with distinctive, old world sound and history-minded imagery.” — Knight Ridder Newspaper With a career spanning four decades as a key figure in British music, Al Stewart came to stardom as part of the legendary British folk revival in the sixties and seventies. His unique style of combining folk-rock songs with delicately woven tales of the great characters and events from history has earned him several #1 Hits, including “Year of the Cat” and “Time Passages,” among others. Continued on page 57
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The Righteous Brothers Continued from pg. 11
The Bill Medley/Bucky Heard pairing came as something of a happy accident. Medley says, “it just seemed right...I’d been friends with Bucky for years, but when I caught his show he just killed me! The next day it hit me—that’s the guy, someone I could sing hard with, laugh hard with, love and respect—on and off stage. He fits The Righteous Brothers live performance show perfectly. And, we’ve even recorded some new material together, I’m really excited!”
BILL MEDLEY Bill Medley is truly one of the iconic figures in American music history. His instantly recognizable baritone voice has anchored some of the biggest recordings of all time. He’s won a GRAMMY®, an Oscar, a Golden Globe, and an American Music Award. The Orange County, California native began writing songs as a boy and had his breakout as a songwriter and singer when, in 1963, the Medley-penned “Little Latin Lupe Lu” became a regional hit for Bill and Bobby Hatfield, as their first release as The Righteous Brothers. Other regional hits followed, “Justine,” “Koko Joe,” and “My Babe,” which led to a regular spot on ABC-TV’s national Shindig! broadcast. The show, featuring a cast of regulars, along with guest stars every week, catered to the teen audience, something new for TV at that time. Shindig’s smash success coincided with The Righteous Brothers opening for both The Beatles and The Rolling Stones on their first U.S. tours. Soon, The Righteous Brothers caught producer Phil Spector’s attention and he signed them to record what would become, according to BMI, the most played song in the history of American radio—the Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil classic, “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’.” A string of top hits followed until 1968 when Medley and Hatfield agreed to part ways to pursue solo efforts. Medley soon scored with top ten hits, “Peace Brother Peace” and “Brown-eyed Woman.” In 1974, Bill and Bobby re-united and within a few weeks had yet another monster hit with “Rock and Roll Heaven.”
Bill Medley and Bucky Heard come together to recreate the chart-topping magic of The Righteous Brothers.
From then, until Bobby’s passing in 2003, The Righteous Brothers never stopped performing to packed crowds. During that period Bill also recorded the chart-topping duet with Jennifer Warnes, “The Time of My Life,” for the movie Dirty Dancing. It went on to sell over 32 million copies worldwide. Then, shortly before Bobby passed away, in 2003 Righteous Brothers fan Billy Joel inducted the pair into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with a glowing speech. Always active and stretching his creative talents, Medley has also sung on the soundtracks or performed the theme songs for 33 movies and TV shows and, in 2014, released his memoir, The Time of My Life, published by Da Capo Press.
BUCKY HEARD Bucky Heard is an Alabama native and Auburn University alum. He’s been one of the most popular and versatile performers in America for several years, headlining countless shows in major venues. His reputation as a gutsy rock and roll singer, with an incredible vocal range, has garnered much critical praise and a legion of fans. He’s been hand-selected to share the concert stage with legends like Andy Williams and Glen Campbell, and honored as “Male Vocalist of the Year” by entertainment publications. Credited with being one of the hardest working and in-demand performers, Bucky has rocked his way across America with his
10-piece horn band, and also starred in numerous national production shows. Multi-talented, and always seeking to expand his musical horizons, he recently created, wrote, and produced an original children’s musical variety show called, Rock U Mentally, which headlined the American Bandstand Theatre for two consecutive Summers! Heard says, “teaming with Bill Medley in The Righteous Brothers has been a wonderful gift... Performing with Bill Medley is like getting your PhD in show business! He is more than a legend; he puts everything into every performance, and really understands how to connect with an audience. He motivates me to be my best and I’m so grateful for this opportunity!”
Kristin Chenoweth Continued from pg. 13
Recently, Chenoweth stared alongside Scott Wolf in the holiday film A Christmas Love Story, which debuted on Hallmark Channel in December 2019 and will star in the upcoming film Holidate, which premieres on Netflix in 2020. Chenoweth recently released her latest album, For The Girls, debuting at #3 on the Current Pop Albums chart and #11 on the Billboard Top Albums chart. The album is a heartfelt tribute to the great female singers OPENINGNIGHTS.FSU.EDU | 33
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lead role in the Roundabout Theatre Company’s On the Twentieth Century. She also earned nominations for a Tony Award and a Drama League Award.
Kristin Chenoweth’s For the Girls, Debuted at No. 3 on the current pop albums chart. Photo by Krista Schlueter
throughout history, particularly some of Kristin’s heroes and friends. Guest artists include Ariana Grande, Dolly Parton, Jennifer Hudson and Reba McEntire. The album includes Chenoweth’s personally charged interpretations of classic songs identified with such iconic artists as Barbra Streisand, Lesley Gore, Linda Ronstadt, Dinah Washington, Dolly Parton and more. To celebrate the release of For The Girls, Chenoweth returned to the Broadway stage in November for an eight-performance concert engagement. Chenoweth has performed to sold-out audiences across the world, including performances at Carnegie Hall and Royal Albert Hall. Chenoweth released The Art of Elegance, her album of American Songbook classics via Concord Records. The album debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Current Jazz and Traditional Jazz charts, and #1 on Amazon’s Vocal Pop chart. Chenoweth also returned to the stage in her limited engagement MY LOVE LETTER TO BROADWAY, at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, receiving rave reviews. In 2014, she released a CD and DVD of her own live concert performance, Kristin Chenoweth: Coming Home. Last December, Chenoweth performed with iconic The Tabernacle Choir and Orchestra in their annual Christmas concert. In 2015, Chenoweth earned a Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award and Broadway.com Audience Choice Award for her
Chenoweth recently starred in the second season of NBC’s hit comedy series Trial & Error, receiving critical acclaim for her performance as Heiress Lavinia Peck-Foster. She was seen in the Starz original series American Gods, where she reunited with executive producer Bryan Fuller in the role of Easter. Notable television roles include appearances in The West Wing, Disney’s Descendants and The Muppets. In film, Chenoweth voiced the role of Gabi in the hit animated film Rio 2 and Fifi, Snoopy’s beloved French poodle in The Peanuts Movie. She starred in the indie teen drama entitled Hard Sell and additional film credits have included The Boy Next Door, Deck the Halls, Twelve Men of Christmas, Four Christmases, RV, Bewitched, The Pink Panther, Hit & Run and Family Weekend. She also starred in NBC’s Hairspray Live! as Velma Von Tussle in December 2016. Chenoweth voiced the role of Princess Skystar in Lionsgate/Hasbro’s My Little Pony: The Movie, and can also be heard in the Sony Pictures animated film The Star. Chenoweth is a passionate supporter of charities that dedicate their time and efforts to helping those in need. She formed a charity partnership with the Broken Arrow Performing Arts Center (BAPAC) Foundation in her home state of Oklahoma. Chenoweth’s accomplishments were honored by her hometown with BAPAC naming The Kristin Chenoweth Theatre in 2012. Partnering with the BAPAC in a labor of love, Kristin launched an annual Broadway Bootcamp in 2015, providing young Broadway hopefuls with the opportunity to take classes, hold performances and learn from top mentors in the entertainment industry including Kristin herself. In her lifelong mission to cultivate arts education across the globe, Chenoweth has also created Places! The Kristin Chenoweth Tour Experience, a unique educational program for young singers that puts them right next to her performing on stage. Each concert in Chenoweth’s ongoing tour will feature local participants from higher education conservatories, universities, and colleges for the immersive educational experience.
Chenoweth is a graduate of Oklahoma City University with a Master’s degree in Opera Performance. She is an inductee into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, as well as the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame.
Cristina Pato Quartet Continued from pg. 15
In 1999, Cristina Pato became the first female gaita player to release a solo album, and since then she has collaborated with world music, jazz, classical and experimental artists including Chicago Symphony, Yo-Yo Ma, Arturo O’Farril, New York Philharmonic, Paquito D’Rivera and dancers Damian Woetzel and Lil’ Buck. An active recording artist and performer since age 12, Ms. Pato has released and produced six solo gaita recordings and two as a pianist. She has also collaborated on more than 40 recordings as a guest artist, including the GRAMMY® Award winner Yo-Yo Ma and Friends: Songs of Joy and Peace (SONY BMG 2008) and the jazz album Miles Español: New Sketches of Spain (Entertainment One Music, 2011). She is also featured in the documentary “The Music of Strangers: Yo-Yo Ma and The Silk Road Ensemble” directed by Academy Awardwinning director Morgan Neville. Cristina is the leader of the Cristina Pato Quartet (USA), the Cristina Pato Galician Trio (Europe) and an active producer and artistic director of multi-discipinary events (including her own festival Galician Connection). Ms. Pato has given more than 600 concerts with her own band, many of them recorded and broadcast by television stations such as RAI, BBC, TVG, CNN and RTVE; her work has been praised by newspapers and magazines including The New York Times, El Pais, Downbeat Magazine and The Wall Street Journal. Such an active touring and recording career has not thwarted her scholarship. Ms. Pato holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Collaborative Piano from the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University (NJ), where she was awarded the Edna Mason Scholarship and the Irene Alm Memorial Prize for excellence in scholarly research and OPENINGNIGHTS.FSU.EDU | 35
SEASON SCHEDULE AN EVENING OF DANCE November 22 & 23
MFA CONCERTS January 18 | Christa Williams January 31 & February 1 | Aigars Larionovs February 28 & 29 | Francisco Graciano, Trent Montgomery, Holly Stone
DAYS OF DANCE April 17 & 18 April 24 & 25
YOUTH PROGRAMS February 1 & 2 | Suzanne Farrell Workshop for Young Dancers February 2 | Audition Class for Summer Dance Intensive June 7 – 27 | Summer Dance Intensive
dance.fsu.edu
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Cristina Pato has collaborated on more than 40 recordings, including Grammy-winning Yo-Yo Ma and Friends: Songs of Joy and Peace. Photo by Xan Padron
performance. Ms. Pato holds degrees in Piano Performance, Music Theory and Chamber Music from the Conservatorio de Musica del Liceu (Barcelona). She also holds a Master of Fine Arts Degree in Digital Arts (Computer Music) from the Universitat Pompeu Fabra (Barcelona). These academic and artistic pursuits have contributed to her educational endeavors. Ms. Pato serves as learning advisor for Silkroad, collaborating closely in planning residencies and learning activities, including the multiyear partnership with Harvard University. She has served as a panelist, mentor and faculty member in various projects. Silkroad developed The Arts and Passion-Driven Learning summer institute for artists and educators with the Harvard Business School and the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Her belief that the power of the arts in education benefits the ecosystem of society has led her to create her own multidisciplinary festival: Galician Connection. In 2012 Cristina wrote My Lethe Story: The River of Forgetfulness, a storytelling-chamber music piece commissioned by Silkroad and premiered at Harvard University. The piece combines Cristina’s passion for neuroscience and the personal story of her mother’s memory loss. With that piece she has developed a new path of understanding the power of combining arts and sciences in academic institutions. In
2014 she was named Mellon Visiting Artist in Residence for the 2014-2015 season at the College of Holy Cross. In 2016 she began an on-going collaboration with University of California, Santa Barbara, with her pilot class: “Memory: An Interdisciplinary Exploration” co-created and co-taught by Cristina Pato, Prof. Ken Kosik (Neuroscience), Prof. Kim Yasuda (Spatial Art) and Prof. Mary Hancock (Anthropology). In 2017 she served as Blodgett Distinguished Artist in Residence at Harvard University (Department of Music). Cristina Pato also designs short-term residencies and lectures connected to the topics explored in her performing career. Her records Latina (Sunnyside Records 2015) and Migrations (Sunnyside Records 2013) have been the basis of her explorations of cultural identity through the arts in U.S. academic settings. As an independent artist, she has been hired to lecture, teach and perform by: Princeton University, University of California, Santa Barbara; University of California, Davis; University of Wisconsin; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; University of Pennsylvania; and University of Texas to name a few. In 2014 Cristina’s groundbreaking Gaita and Orchestra Commissioning Project was awarded a grant from New Music USA to build a repertoire for gaita and symphony orchestra. Galician bagpipe concertos commissioned by
Pato have been premiered with Sphinx Orchestra in Detroit, Chicago Sinfonietta in Chicago, Real Filharmonía de Galicia, Orquestra Simfònica del Vallès in Barcelona and Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra. Cristina Pato is a member of the Artist Committee of the arts advocacy organization, Americans for the Arts. An active lecturer, writer, panelist and public speaker, Cristina writes a popular weekly column for Spanish newspaper La Voz de Galicia titled “The Art of Restlessness.” Ms. Pato is a resident of New York City and is married to photographer Xan Padrón.
Trey McLaughlin & The Sounds of Zamar Continued from pg. 21
Trey McLaughlin & The Sounds of Zamar are known for their opulent harmonies and beautiful blends, which are showcased throughout their 2012 album Limitless. The 14-track compilation is sprinkled with ballads and anthems of original songs giving glory to God that will bring inspiration and joy to the hearts of those who listen. Transcending cultural boundaries, the group’s OPENINGNIGHTS.FSU.EDU | 37
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Trey McLaughlin & The Sounds of Zamar inspire audiences with soul-stirring arrangements of contemporary gospel, musical theatre, and their own original compositions.
music is sung all over the world. Their international travels have included Paris, France; Krakow, Poland; Menorca, Spain and Rajadell, Spain.
Born in Augusta, Trey M. McLaughlin
Trey McLaughlin & The Sounds of Zamar recently completed their first 15-city national tour entitled The Zamar Experience, which included performances in New York City, Chicago, Austin, and more. In the 2019–2020 season, the ensemble will embark upon a fiveweek tour, including performances at the Mondavi Center at University of California, Davis; Zellerbach Hall at University of California, Berkeley; and the Celebrity Series in Boston, just to name a few.
Columbus, Georgia, during which he was a
TREY MCLAUGHLIN Trey M. McLaughlin is a passionate vocalist, educator, composer, arranger, and clinician. Known for fusing together an eclectic mix of musical genres, he arranges and performs original works with his own touring and recording ensemble, The Sounds of Zamar, who concluded their first national tour in the 2018–19 season. Trey currently serves as Director of Worship and Arts at Tabernacle Baptist Church of Augusta, Georgia, and is the Artistic Director of the non-profit performing arts youth group, Creative Impressions, of which he was once a member and Student Director. Trey serves as adjunct faculty at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, teaching graduate level courses in conducting, vocal technique, composition, arranging, and piano.
graduated from the John S. Davidson Magnet School in 2002. He attended Columbus State University (The Schwob School of Music) in member of its University Singers and Chorale, and placed second and third in Georgia’s College National Association of Teachers of
Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo Continued from pg. 23
The 1975–76 season was a year of growth and full professionalization. The Company found
Singing Competition for two consecutive
management, qualified for the National
years. Trey is a member and past president of
Endowment for the Arts Touring Program,
the professional music fraternity Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and he is a former director of G.E.N.E.S.I.S., the Columbus State University Gospel Choir. Trey graduated from Columbus State University in May of 2008 with a Bachelor of Music Performance Degree with emphasis in Vocal Pedagogy. In 2014, Trey had the honor of conducting a Master Class and performing at the L’Opéra de Massy in Massy, France. In October of 2015, Trey conducted a 300-voice choir in Krakow, Poland, as the guest clinician of the annual 7x Festival. Locally, he often services as guest clinician for Honor Choruses throughout the state of Georgia. As a performer, composer, clinician, educator, and mentor, Trey McLaughlin is an ambassador for the Augusta Arts community. His international, national and local work provides rich cultural and artistic experiences for all of whom he encounters.
and hired a full-time teacher and ballet mistress to oversee daily classes and rehearsals. Also in this season, they made their first extended tours of the United States and Canada—packing, unpacking, and repacking tutus and drops, stocking giant-sized toe shoes by the case; running for planes and chartered buses all became routine parts of life. Since those beginnings, the Trocks have established themselves as a major dance phenomenon throughout the world. They have participated in dance festivals worldwide and there have been television appearances as varied as a Shirley MacLaine special, The Dick Cavett Show, What’s My Line?, Real People,
On-Stage America, with Kermit and Miss Piggy on their show Muppet Babies, and a BBC Omnibus special on the world of ballet hosted
by Jennifer Saunders. A documentary about the company, Rebels on Pointe by Bobbi Jo Hart, had its theatrical release in 2017. Awards
that the Trocks have garnered over the years OPENINGNIGHTS.FSU.EDU | 39
Dylan Sumner & Regan Jager
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It’s in the air as we await each outstanding performance making up the 2019-20 season of
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GUS CORBELLA * | SENIOR DIRECTOR | 850.222.6891 G R E E N B E R G T R A U R I G, P.A . | 101 E A S T C O L L E G E AV E N U E TA L LA H A S S E E, F L 32301 Greenberg Traurig is a service mark and trade name of Greenberg Traurig, LLP and Greenberg Traurig, P.A. ©2019 Greenberg Traurig, LLP. Attorneys at Law. All rights reserved. Attorney Advertising. °These numbers are subject to fluctuation. * Not admitted to the practice of law. 32849
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For over 40 years, the Trocks have been entertaining audiences with their comedic approach to dancing en pointe. Photo by Zoran Jelenic
include: Best Classical Repertoire from the
and original works in faithful renditions of the
UGO CIRRI
prestigious Critic’s Circle National Dance
manners and conceits of those dance styles.
Birthplace: Lausanne,
The comedy is achieved by incorporating and
Training: Vevey Youth Ballet School,
exaggerating the foibles, accidents, and
Association pour la Formation des Jeunes
underlying incongruities of serious dance.
Danseurs, Kirov Academy of Ballet of
The fact that men dance all the parts—heavy
Washington D.C., Ballettschule Theater Basel,
bodies delicately balancing on toes as swans,
Miami City Ballet School, San Francisco Ballet
sylphs, water sprites, romantic princesses,
School. Joined Trockadero: June 2019.
angst-ridden Victorian ladies—enhances rather
Previous Company: Los Angeles Ballet.
than mocks the spirit of dance as an art form,
JACK FURLONG, JR
Awards (2007) (UK); the Theatrical Managers Award (2006) (UK); and the 2007 Positano Award (Italy) for excellence in dance. In December 2008, the Trocks performed for members of the British royal family at the 80th anniversary Royal Variety Performance, to aid of the Entertainment Artistes’ Benevolent Fund, in London. The Trocks’ numerous tours have been both popular and critical successes—their frenzied annual schedule has included appearances in
delighting
and
amusing
the
most
knowledgeable, as well as novices, in the audiences. For the future, there are plans for
over 35 countries and over 600 cities worldwide
new works in the repertoire: new cities, states
since its founding in 1974, including seasons
and countries to perform in; and for the
at the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow and the
continuation of the Trocks’ original purpose:
Chatelet Theater in Paris. The Company continues to appear in benefits for international AIDS organizations such as DRA (Dancers Responding to AIDS) and Classical Action in New York City; the Life Ball in Vienna,
to bring the pleasure of dance to the widest possible audience. They will, as they have done for more than forty-four years, “Keep on Trockin’.”
Switzerland.
Birthplace: Boston, Massachusetts. Training: Valentina Kozlova. Joined Trockadero: September 2014. Previous company: Quark Contemporary Dance Theater. KEVIN GARCIA Birthplace: Gran Canaria, Spain. Training: Centro Coreografico de Las Palmas Trini Borrull, Conservatory of Dance Carmen Amaya. Joined Trockadero: August 2017. Previous companies: Ballet Jose Manuel Armas,
Austria; Dancers for Life in Toronto, Canada;
DANCERS
London’s Stonewall Gala; and Germany’s AIDS
ROBERT CARTER
Dance Company.
Birthplace: Charleston, South Carolina.
ALEJANDRO GONZALEZ
Training: Robert Ivey Ballet School, Joffrey
Birthplace: Holguin, Cuba. Training:
Ballet School. Joined Trockadero: November
Camaguey Academy of Ballet, Habana
1995. Previous companies: Florence Civic
National School of Ballet Provincial Ballet
performing the full range of the ballet and
Ballet, Dance Theater of Harlem Ensemble,
School, Holguin, Cuba. Joined Trockadero:
modern dance repertoire, including classical
Bay Ballet Theater.
May, 2019. Previous companies: Holguin
Tanz Gala. The original concept of Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo has not changed. It is a Company of professional male dancers
Lifedanscenter, Peridance Contemporary
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Chamber Ballet, Ecuadorian Chamber Ballet,
companies: Ballet de Camara del Teatro
Municipal Ballet of Lima, Peru.
Municipal de Santiago (Chile), Ballet Teatro
DUANE GOSA
Nescafe De Las Artes (Santiago, Chile), GDB
Birthplace: Chicago Illinois. Training: University of Akron, Ailey School. Joined
Compania de Ballet (Buenos Aires, Argentina), Ballet Misha (Manchester, NH).
Trockadero: September 2013. Previous
HAOJUN XIE
companies: Jennifer Muller/The Works,
Birthplace: Xi’an, Shaanxi, China. Training:
Brooklyn Ballet, The Love Show.
Beijing Dance Academy, Joffrey Ballet School.
CARLOS HOPUY
Joined Trockadero: August, 2018. Previous
Birthplace: Havana, Cuba. Training: Escuela
company: Columbia Classical Ballet Company.
has become synonymous, I Never Promised You a Rose Adagio.
MARIA CLUBFOOT. Last of the great American Indian ballerinas: Larkin, Tallchief
(Maria and Marjorie), Clubfoot. Maria, pride
of the Luni Tribe, began her training with the Wounded Knee Ballet and blazed a dance warpath with her literal “Slaughter on 10th Avenue,” universally acclaimed and banned for
Clubfoot’s use of traditional Indian weaponry.
Maria appears with the Trockadero under
Nacional de Arte, Havana. Joined Trockadero:
TAKAOMI YOSHINO
February 2012. Previous companies: National
Birthplace: Osaka, Japan. Training: Vaganova
Ballet of Cuba, National Ballet of Costa Rica,
Ballet Acaemy, Ellison Ballet. Joined
Ballet San Antonio. Awards: International
Trockadero: August, 2018. Previous company:
Ballet Competitions in Havana (Gold medalist
Atlantic City Ballet.
athleticism of Nadia Doumiafeyva, a child of
COMPANY STAFF
business reasons. Her fiery attack, combined
1999, 2001, 2002) Nagoya (Gold medalist 2002), and Jackson, Mississippi (finalist, 2010). PHILIP MARTIN-NIELSON Birthplace: Middletown, New York. Training: Natasha Bar, School of American Ballet, Chautauqua Institution of Dance. Joined Trockadero: September 2012. Previous company: North Carolina Dance Theater. GIOVANNI RAVELO Birthplace: Bucaramanga, Colombia. Training: Ballet Anna Pavlova (Bogota), The Rock School, Escuela del Ballet Nacional de Cuba. Joined Trockadero: October 2008. Previous Companies: Roxey Ballet, Ballet Nacional de Colombia. SALVADOR SASOT SELLART Birthplace: Lleida, Spain. Training: Real Conservatorio Profesional de Danza de Madrid Mariemma. Escuela de Ballet Camina Ocaña and Pablo Savoye. Joined Trockadero: August 2019. Previous company: Severočeske Divadlo Opera a Balet. JOSHUA THAKE Birthplace: Providence, Rhode Island. Training: Boston Ballet School, San Francisco Ballet School, Brae Crest School of Classical Ballet. Joined Trockadero: November 2011.
A R T I ST I C D I R E C TO R
special permission from Federal authorities.
NADIA DOUMIAFEYVA. No one who has seen Heliazpopkin will soon forget the spiritual
Caucasus who changed her name for show
with lyric somnolence, produces confusion in
Tory Dobrin
audiences the world over, particularly when
A S S O C I AT E D I R E C TO R / P RO DUCT I O N M A N AG E R
HELEN HIGHWATERS has defected to
Isabel Martinez Rivera
G E N E RA L M A N AG E R Liz Harler
applied to ballet.
America three times and been promptly returned on each occasion—for “artistic reasons.”
Recently discovered “en omelette” at the Easter
A S S O C I AT E P R O D U C T I O N M A N AG E R
Egg Hunt in Washington, D.C., she was hired
B A L L E T M A ST E R
put the bop in the bop-shibop shibop?
Shelby Sonnenberg Raffaele Morra
LIGHTING SUPERVISOR Erika Johnson
by the Trockadero, where her inexplicable rise
to stardom answers the musical question: Who ELVIRA KHABABGALLINA, voted the girl most likely to, is the living example that
a common hard-working girl can make it to
WA R D R O B E S U P E R V I S O R
the top. Our friendly ballerina was pounding
D EV E LO P M E N T M A N AG E R
Trockadero found her. Her brilliant technique
C O ST U M E D E S I G N E R S
some of the stage hands. Her motto is “a smile
Ryan Hanson Lauren Gibbs
Ken Busbin, Jeffrey Sturdivant
ST Y L I ST I C G U R U Marius Petipa
the pavement looking for work when has endeared her to several fans, as well as to
is better than talent.” Her nickname is... well, never mind what her nickname is.
IRINA KOLESTEROLIKOVA was discovered
O R T H O P E D I C C O N S U LTA N T
by kindly peasants, along with Rasputin’s boot,
P H OTO G R A P H E R
at the Maryinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg was
Dr. David S. Weiss
adrift in a basket on the river Neva. Her debut
Zoran Jelenic
marred by her overzealous grand jete into the
San Francisco.
MEET THE ARTISTS
from Russia, she made her way arduously to
YERIC VALENTINO
LUDMILA BEAULEMOVA, famed country-
Birthplace: Santiago, Chile. Training: Escuela
western ballerina, formerly prima ballerina of
de ballet del Teatro Municipal de Santiago
the grand Ole Opry, recently defected from
(Chile), Instituto Superior de Arte del
that company when they moved to their new
a martini and an elevator.
Teatro Colón (Buenos Aires, Argentina).
Nashville home. The rift was caused by their
Joined Trockadero: May 2019. Previous
refusal to stage the ballet with which her name
VARVARA LAPTOPOVA is one of those
Previous company: Man Dance Company of
Tsar’s box, impaling a Grand Duchess. Banished
New York, where she founded, and still directs, the Ecole de Ballet de Hard-Nox. Her most famous exercise is the warm-up, consisting of
rare dancers who, with one look at a ballet,
OPENINGNIGHTS.FSU.EDU | 43
Sally Karioth Proud supporter of Opening Nights
not only knows all the steps but can also dance
all the roles. As a former member of the Kiev Toe and Heel Club, she was awarded first-prize
at the Pan Siberian Czardash and Kazotski Festival for artistic mis-interpretation.
GRUNYA PROTAZOVA is the missing link between the crustaceans of the old Russian
school and the more modern amphibians now dancing. Before joining the Trockadero,
Grunya was the featured ballerina at Sea World, where her famous autobiographic solo, “Dance of the Lower Orders” brought several marine biologists to tears.
EUGENIA REPELSKII. The secrets of
Madame Repelskii’s beginnings lie shrouded
behind the Kremlin wall; in fact, no fewer than six lie in the wall (in jars of assorted sizes).
Dancing lightly over pogroms and other sordid
reorganizational measures, Eugenia has emerged as a ballerina nonpareil whose pungency is indisputable.
ALLA SNIZOVA enjoyed great success as a baby ballerina at the mere age of 9. Being a child prodigy, she developed serious allergy
problems and could only perform short pieces. Known as the “little orphan,” Miss Snizova
joined the Trockadero on tour, appearing
cloaked in an enigma (complete with zip-out lining). A consummate actress, she has danced
the part of Little Miss Markova and the title role of Glinka’s Popoy-the Sailor Man.
OLGA SUPPHOZOVA made her first public
appearance in a KGB line-up under dubious
circumstances. After a seven-year-to-life
She has performed worldwide and has a natural aptitude for touring. Famous for her beautiful port de bras, she gives credit to her many hours behind the wheel.
the thrill of his touch, he continues to astound the public (and elude the police) with his brute strength. He is fondly known in the Trockadero as “Igor the Crusher.”
GUZELLA VERBITSKAYA. Guzella was born on a locomotive speeding through the Ural Mountains. She quickly realized the limitations of her native folk dancing and quaint handicrafts. After her arrival in America, she learned everything she now knows about ballet from a seminar entitled: “Evil Fairies on the Periphery of the Classical Dance.”
THE LEGUPSKI BROTHERS. Marat, Sergey and Vladimir are not really brothers, nor are their names really Marat, Sergey or Vladimir, nor are they real Russians, nor can they tell the difference between a pirouette and a jete...but...well...they do move about rather nicely ...and they fit into the costumes.
JACQUES d’ANIELS was originally trained as an astronaut before entering the world of ballet. Strong but flexible, good natured but dedicated, sensible but not given to unbelievable flights of fantastic behavior, Mr. d’Aniels is an expert on recovering from ballet injuries (including the dread “Pavlova’s clavicle”). BORIS DUMBKOPF has been with the greatest ballerinas of our time and he has even danced with some of them. One of the first defective Russian male stars, he left the motherland for purely capitalistic reasons. Amazingly, between his appearances on television and Broadway, in movies, commercials, magazines and special events, and women’s nylons, he occasionally still has time to dance. NICHOLAS KHACHAFALLENJAR. The demi-semi-hemi-character dancer from innermost Outer Tashkent, was awarded the Order of Stalin for his partnering techniques. Although no ballerina has ever lived to describe
MIKHAIL MUDKIN, the famed Russian danseur for whom the word “Bolshoi” was coined, comes to American from his triumphs as understudy to a famous impresario in the role of the Bear in Petrushka. BORIS MUDKO is the Trocks’ newest danseur, having joined only last year. Boris is a drunken but talented Russian from Dzerzhinsk, in the former Soviet Union. He insisted on an audition while the company was on tour. It took some time to sober him up to make him coherent—he was given gallons of tea and several enemas—but finally he was accepted into the company. He has since given up all drink and is doing quite well. MIKHAIL MYPANSAROV soared into prominence as the first defector whose leavetaking was accomplished at the virtual insistence of the defectees (although in subsequent days Mypansarov was accused of abandoning his joyous comrades for “a mountain of beer and an ocean of dollars”). His meteoric rise to stardom caused him to be
hiatus, she now returns to her adoring fans. When questioned about her forced sabbatical,
Olga’s only comment was “I did it for Art’s sake.” Art, however, said nothing.
MAYA THICKENTHIGHYA’s radioactive properties prevented her from appearing with
the Trockadero until her recent release from a special sanitarium on the Black Sea. A brilliant
virtuoso in the Moscow style, Madame Thickenthighya’s torque was applied to the
running of Generator 14 near the Gorsky Dam during the period of her political disgrace. She
is, this season, reinstated to her unique position in the ballet world.
MINNIE VAN DRIVER. Always running to rehearsals, costume fittings and performances,
Miss Driver has a strong sense of movement.
The Trocks perform in a humorous style that combines parody of ballet with physical comedy and technical skill. Photo by Emma Kauldhar OPENINGNIGHTS.FSU.EDU | 45
named Official Bicentennial Porteur by a committee of New York balletomanes who singled out his winning smile and losing feet. YURI SMIRNOV ran away froom home at the age of 16 and joined the Kirov Opera because he thought Borodin was a prescription barbiturate. Luckily for the Trockadero he soon discovered that he didn’t know his arias from his elbow and decided to become a ballet star instead. INNOKENTI SMOKTUMUCHSKY is known only to the most cultured and refined balletomanes in the dark alleyways of St. Petersburg. Originally a promising dancerchoreographer, his only ballet, Le Dernier Mohicain, was stolen by the director of the company. In severe depression and shock, he burned his ballet slippers and fled to the sewers, only to surface these 40 years later. KRAVLJI SNEPEK comes to the Trockadero from his split-level birthplace in Siberia, where he excelled in toe, tap, acrobatic and Hawaiian. This good natured Slav is famous for his breathtaking technique—a blend of froth and frou-frou centered on a spine of steel, painfully acquired at the hands and feet of his teacher, Glib Generalization, who has already trained many able dancers. As an artist in the classical, heroic, tragical mold, young Kravlji wrenched the heart of all who saw him dance Harlene, the Goat Roper in The Best Little Dacha in Sverdlovsk. WILLIAM VANILLA. Despite the fact that he is American, he is very popular within the company. He is extremely personable, the ballerinas very much enjoy dancing with him, the management finds him agreeable, his costumes are never soiled, his fans admire his directness, he photographs well, he keeps
The Pirates of Penzance Continued from pg. 25
When Frederic was yet a little boy, his nurse
(Ruth) was told to apprentice him to become a pilot. She heard the word incorrectly and
apprenticed him to a band of pirates, remaining with them herself as a maid-of-all-work.
Although Frederic loathed the trade to which he had thus been bound, he dutifully served. As the curtain rises, his indentures are up and he announces his intention to leave the band and devote himself to the extermination of
piracy. He urges the pirates to join him in
embracing a more lawful calling, but they refuse. Ruth, however, wishes to become his
wife. Having seen but few women during his pirate life at sea, Frederic hesitates to accept a woman so much older than himself, but he finally consents to take her.
Just then a group of girls, all the wards of
Major-General Stanley, happen upon the scene. Frederic sees their beauty—and Ruth’s plainness—and renounces her. Of these girls, Mabel takes a particular interest in Frederic,
and he in her. The other girls are seized by
the pirates and threatened with immediate marriage. When the Major-General arrives,
he can dissuade the pirates only by a ruse: he tells them that he is an orphan, and so works
upon their sympathies that they let him and his wards go free.
During the ensuing days and nights, however,
this lie troubles the Major-General’s conscience. He sits brooding over it at night in a ruined chapel. He is consoled by his wards’ sympathy
and Frederic’s plan of immediately leading a band of police against the pirates. The police
regular hours, brushes his teeth after every
are reluctant, but Frederic is still enthusiastic.
meal, and he has never said a bad word about
Meanwhile the Pirate King and Ruth seek out
anybody. He will never really understand Russian ballet. TINO XIRAU-LOPEZ, a well-known figure to the Off-Off-Off audiences, returns to the Trockadero flushed from last season’s Nutcracker in which he played the fiendishly difficult role of the Father. His numerous theatrical successes, have not prevented his
Frederic with surprising news. They have
discovered that his indentures were to run
until his twenty first birthday, and—as he was born on February 29—he has really had as yet only five birthdays. Obeying the dictates of his strong sense of duty, he immediately rejoins the pirates and tells them of the deception that
has been practiced upon them. They swear
stern, aristocratic family from disavowing
revenge as Frederic bids Mabel farewell.
any claims he might make to title.
When Mabel tells the police of this change
46 | 2019–20 OPENING NIGHTS
they comment on their unfortunate lot, then decide to hide. The pirates storm the chapel, seize the Major-General, and easily defeat the unarmed policemen, however, when requested to yield “in Queen Victoria’s name,” they do so at once. Ruth reveals that these apparently lawless pirates are “all noblemen who have gone wrong.” The Major-General pardons all and allows them to marry his wards.
THE CAST DAVID AUXIER (Sergeant of Police) Isaac Asimov Award Recipient for Artistic Achievement (2015–16). Favorite New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players (NYGASP) roles: H.M.S. Pinafore (Captain Corcoran), The Pirates
of Penzance (Sergeant), The Mikado (PishTush). Mr. Auxier has been co-director and company choreographer since 2010 and has worked in or on all 13 Gilbert & Sullivan (G&S) operas. He conceived and directed the all-new critically acclaimed, reimagined production of The Mikado and the award-winning hit
G&S cabaret revue I’ve Got a Little Twist, and
wrote the book for NYGASP’s original G&S
à la Carte! David is also a MAC Awardnominated songwriter and is currently penning an all-original musical. davidauxier.com ABIGAIL BENKE (Ensemble) is thrilled to be performing again with NYGASP after making her debut with the company as Phoebe Meryll in The Yeomen of the Guard last year. Before moving to New York City in 2017, she earned voice degrees from Westminster Choir College (MM) and Samford University (BM). Abigail has had a dynamic performance background, performing jazz, musical theatre, and opera. Recent roles include: Così fan tutte
(Despina), Pirates of Penzance (Mabel), Iolanthe (Iolanthe), Périchole (La Périchole), and Die Zauberflöte (Pamina). abigailbenke.com
CÁITLÍN BURKE (Edith) National Tour: The Sound of Music (Mother Abbess, United States), director Jack O’Brien. New
York: Honor (Ayame), Mademoiselle Modiste (Franchette), Amahl and the Night Visitors
(Mother). Regional: Così fan tutte (Fiordiligi/
Dorabella), Dido and Aeneas (Sorceress), Hansel and Gretel (Witch), South Pacific (Bloody
Mary), The King and I (Lady Thiang), Into the
Woods (The Witch). London: The Pirates of
Penzance, The Mikado, Iolanthe, H.M.S.
Pinafore. Principal at The Kennedy Center,
Aladdin in Aladdin: A Musical Panto with
(Lennie) and Anything Goes (Moonface). Isaac
(U.K), National Arts Center (Ottawa), Ed
Bystroušky with dell’Arte Opera Ensemble.
(2008–09).
City Center, Lincoln Center, The Royal Hall Mirvish Theatre (Toronto), Wolf Trap. Soloist:
People’s Light and Pásek in Příhody lišky
Camilo holds his BFA in Vocal Performance
Royal Festival Orchestra (U.K.), Rochester
from Carnegie Mellon University.
Symphony, Tysons McLean Orchestra.
LAUREN FRANKOVICH (Ensemble)
CaitlinBurke.org ELISABETH CERNADAS (Kate) NYGASP: Pirates of Penzance (Kate), Mikado, H.M.S. Pinafore, also national tours; Ruddigore, Iolanthe, Utopia, Limited, Grand Duke (Bertha), Patience,
NYGASP since 2009, including: The Mikado
(Peep-Bo), Princess Ida (Sacharissa), The Sorcerer (covering Constance), Patience, Iolanthe, and The Pirates of Penzance. Lauren made her
Carnegie Hall solo debut in 2014 performing
Yeomen of the Guard. Regional: New York
“Make Our Garden Grow” with EVUSA and
Festival, Algonquin Arts Theater, Jarvis
Toyland (The Little Orchestra Society), Le nozze
Fringe Festival, New York Musical Theater Conservatory, Bay Area Classical Harmonies, Godspell (Joanne) and The Full Monty (Estelle)
the NY Pops. Other credits include: Babes in di Figaro (Barbarina), Fairy Queen (Fairy), West
Side Story (Maria), and Gypsy (Baby June). TV:
Asimov Award for Artistic Achievement
ANDY HERR (Ensemble) NYGASP credits include The Mikado (Pooh-Bah), Princess Ida (Scynthius), The Sorcerer (Notary), Yeoman of the Guard (2nd Yeoman) Pirates of
Penzance, HMS Pinafore, Ruddigore, and The
Gondoliers. Other past credits include: A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Bottom), Play On (Billy), Amigo Duende (Barrigon), Barefoot
in the Park (Paul), among others. He is also a proud member of AEA.
HANNAH HOLMES (Ensemble) Joined NYGASP with Mikado in 2016, and has since performed in The Pirates of Penzance (Edith),
at Ivoryton Playhouse, Cinderella (Cinderella)
Celebrity Ghost Stories (Debbie Matenopoulos).
(Baker’s Wife). International: Festival Lyrique
Music (MM) and University of Illinois at
en Mer, Belle Ile (France), International G&S
Urbana-Champaign (BM).
Festival (England). MM in Vocal Performance
MICHAEL GALANTE (Ensemble) NYGASP
Vittoria (Gondoliers). Other favorite roles at
since 1987. Michael has performed the entire
OLO include: Into the Woods (The Witch),
with Shakespeare Santa Cruz, Into the Woods
from Manhattan School of Music. CAMILO ESTRADA (Ensemble) Past
She earned degrees from Manhattan School of
G&S canon and The Rose of Persia with
NYGASP productions include The Yeomen of
NYGASP. Credits include Lord Dramaleigh
performing in an educational regional tour
Gondoliers. Other theatre credits include: A
the Guard and The Mikado. Camilo is currently
in Utopia, Limited, and Francesco in The
with the company S.T.A.R. at The Director’s
Midsummer Night’s Dream (Flute), The Merry
Company. Other recent credits include
Wives of Windsor (Fenton), Of Mice and Men
Ruddigore, Iolanthe, and H.M.S. Pinafore. An
Iowa native, Hannah’s love for G&S began at Ohio Light Opera (OLO), where she has performed both Ruth and Kate (Pirates), and
Girl Crazy (Molly Gray), Fifty Million
Frenchmen (May DeVere), Candide (The Old Lady), and Kiss Me, Kate (Lois Lane/Bianca).
In New York City, she has performed with Victor Herbert Renaissance Project (The Red Mill & The Debutante), in concert with Friends
Pirates’ representation of naivetéé, romance, and sentiment—all mixed with wit and sophisticated verbal by play—leaves the audience and performers alike with a giddy sense of joy that is timeless. Photo by William Reynolds OPENINGNIGHTS.FSU.EDU | 47
Our gift supports two highly successful visual and performing arts presenters to collaborate and provide a unique, cultural experience for our community. – Laurie & Kelly Dozier Endowment Opening Nights & Chain of Parks Art Festival Event, April 16, 2020
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of Mozart, and with the InterArts Festival at Juilliard. hannahmezzo.com SARAH HUTCHISON (Ensemble) Proud NYGASP-er both in New York and on tour since 2009! Other recent projects: Tennessee
Jeter/Willard in Footloose. Off-Broadway: Mark
Figaro with Geneva Light Opera, Frasquita in
Seattle Rep, Weston Playhouse. Film/TV:
tour, and Musetta in La Bohème with St.
Twain’s Blues. Regional: Kennedy Center, MTV’s Eye Candy, Far From Heaven, ballroom
New York City Opera’s Carmen European Petersburg Opera. Other career highlights:
danced in Disney’s Enchanted, Stepford Wives,
the televised Lincoln Center Carousel, Oliver! Lyric Opera), and Lucia di Lammermoor (Lucia,
Williams’ Not About Nightingales (Empirical
Mona Lisa Smile, and Kate & Leopold. lanceolds.
Theatre); various readings at the BMI Lehman
com
national tour, South Pacific (Nellie, Asheville
Engel Musical Theatre Workshop, and
KENDRICK PIFER (Ensemble) Soprano
recording projects at Avatar Studios and with
Kendrick Pifer is thrilled to be back for her
GRAMMY® Award-winning sound engineer/
second season with NYGASP! She has
Peabody Conservatory. michelleseipel.com.
producer Mikaelin “Blue” BlueSpruce.
performed a diverse repertoire of musical
CAMERON SMITH (Ensemble) has sung
Graduate of Muhlenberg College; member of
theatre, opera, and popular music. Favorite
Nanki-Poo, Ralph Rackstraw, Edwin, and
Actors’ Equity and the Patrick Page Studio.
past credits include Cinderella in Into the Woods
Lord Tolloller with NYGASP; other credits
Opera Vivente). Originally from Wisconsin,
this former actuary earned her MM at the
and Hope Harcourt in Anything Goes. When
include Lake George Opera, Tanglewood,
she’s not performing on stage, she can be found
and Caramoor. He earned an MM from
The Pirates of Penzance (Mabel) at Riverside
jamming out with babies over at Little
Manhattan School of Music. Cameron is a
Center for the Performing Arts, Sorcerer (Aline)
Maestros! Kendrick is an alumnus of Manhattan
marathoner and triathlete, plays guitar and
and Yeomen (Kate) with College Light Opera
School of Music where she studied Classical
drums, brews his own beer, and takes care of
Company, Princess Ida with Village Light Opera
Voice with Neil Rosenshein. Keep up with
two amazing daughters.
Group. Other favorite roles include Despina
Kendrick on instagram @kendrickpifer.
ANGELA CHRISTINE SMITH (Ruth)
(Così fan tutte), Valencienne (The Merry Widow),
CHRIS-IAN SANCHEZ (Ensemble)
remembers NYGASP’s beloved Andrea
Vivien (The Enchantress), Mrs. Tory (Sherlock
NYGASP since 2004: entire G&S canon. Other
Stryker-Rodda
Holmes and the Case of the Jersey Lily), and Anne
performances to her. Angela has completed
(A Little Night Music). Lotte Lenya Semifinalist
credits include Passing It On (Coconut Grove Playhouse with Len Cariou), Gastone in La
the G&S canon and roles include: Dame
in 2019 and Emerging Talent Award winner
Traviata (Queens Symphony Orchestra), Thuy
Hannah, Katisha, Queen of the Fairies, Little
in Miss Saigon (Actor’s Playhouse—Carbonell
Buttercup, Ruth, Lady Blanche, Lady Jane,
Nomination, Virginia Music Theatre, Carousel
Duchess of Plaza-Toro, Baroness von
Dinner Theatre, and Surflight Theatre), Aida
Krakenfeldt and Mrs. Partlet. Ms. Smith is a
Tommy Keeler in Annie Get Your Gun
cabaret show I’ve Got a Little Twist, and a
Jesus Christ Superstar (K.C. Starlight Theatre).
Achievement. Additional credits include
Iolanthe (Lord Chancellor), Yeomen (Jack
Walking, Carmen and L’Etoile.
Opera Saratoga, Opera Delaware, South
CLAIRE LEYDEN (Mabel) is excited to return for a second season with NYGASP. Other G&S:
in 2018. Graduate of Williams College. ClaireLeyden.com JAMES MILLS (Major-General Stanley) Recipient of the Isaac Asimov Award for Artistic Achievement (2019–20). Entire G&S canon onstage with NYGASP for over a decade, as well as stage managing, tech
and
dedicates
these
(Mereb), Joseph (Judah), Grease (Roger) and
proud member of NYGASP’s award-winning
(Surflight Theatre), and James the Elder in
recipient of the Isaac Asimov Award for Artistic
Worked with NY City Opera in Dead Man
performances with Belleayre Festival Opera,
Point), Sorcerer (John Wellington Wells),
CHRISTOPHER ROBIN SAPP (Frederic)
Carolina Opera, and Caramoor Opera.
Pirates (Major-General Stanley), Patience
Christopher’s collegiate credits include the
SEPH STANEK (Samuel) NYGASP since
(Reginald Bunthorne), H.M.S. Pinafore (Sir
University of Georgia (Anthony in Sweeney
Joseph Porter). James is co-star and co-creator of the all-new drag musical, The Hell’s
Todd) and New York University (Charlie
2012. Broadway: My Love Letter to Broadway;
in Brigadoon). He has performed regionally with
directing, and associate directing. Recently:
Television Producer: Angels Among Us (Tabernacle Choir Christmas Special on PBS,
Kitchenettes. A stage director for the College
the College Light Opera Company (Luis
Massachusetts and serves as a member of the
most recently with Disney Cruise Line (Flynn
founder and CEO of Tour de Fierce
Rider in Tangled). In New York City,
Productions and an active contributor to the
Christopher regularly performs with the Victor
Andrea Bocelli Foundation (Rome/Florence,
Herbert Renaissance Project as well as Taino
Italy), Artists Striving to End Poverty, and
Theatre. He can also be seen as a singing waiter
Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
at Gayle’s Broadway Rose at The Roxy Diner
LAURA SUDDUTH (Isabel) NYGASP since
Light Opera Company in Falmouth, National Honorary Committee of Alumni. Member of Actors Equity Association. LANCE OLDS (Ensemble) NYGASP since 1997. Recipient of the Isaac Asimov Award for Artistic Achievement (2017–18). G&S
in The Gondliers), the Ohio Light Opera, and
Roles: Deadeye in H.M.S. Pinafore, Antonio in
in Times Square. christopherrobinsapp.com
(NYGASP), Strephon in Iolanthe (Light Opera
NYGASP company member since 2012.
The Gondoliers, and Calynx in Utopia, Limited
MICHELLE SEIPEL (Ensemble) Proud
Company of Salisbury). First national tour
Recent credits include Susanna in Le nozze di
December 2019), I’m Coming Home (2018 ABC Primetime Thanksgiving Special). Seph is the
2012. Laura made her NYGASP debut in The Mikado at New York City Center and is
thrilled to be back. Favorite roles performed include Anne in A Little Night Music, Amor OPENINGNIGHTS.FSU.EDU | 49
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baritone Robert Goodloe. With NYGASP he has also conducted and directed such diverse personalities as Hal Linden, Steve Allen, John Astin, Pat Carroll, Noel Harrison, John Rubenstein, Louis Quilico, Lando Bartolini, and John Reed, O.B.E. ANNETTE DIELI (Assistant Stage Manager) Credits include: Hartford Stage Co. (running crew), Bronx Opera (props, costume assistant), Artistic Director of her own puppet company, assistant stage manager and wardrobe for NYGASP at City Center and touring venues. Stage manager for Beshert, an original musical by Ari Gold, for the NYMTF, 2012. In 2009 she was a Venue Director for NY Fringe Festival. The Pirates of Penzance premiered at The Fifth Avenue Theatre in New York in December of 1879. Photo by William Reynolds
in L’Incoronazione di Poppea, Peep-Bo in The Mikado and Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro (Pacific Opera Theatre-UOP), Despina in Così fan tutte and Gianetta in L’elisir d’Amore (UMKC Opera), and Sandy in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (Santa Rosa Summer Repertory Theatre). Regional Theatre: Saved! The Musical (Kansas City Repertory Theatre), The Outsiders (The Coterie Theatre).
United States); Regional: Nominated Best
MATTHEW WAGES (The Pirate King) began his professional endeavors in Opéra Comique with NYGASP, and recently completed the entire G&S canon. ‘Dramatis Personae’: The Pirates of Penzance (The Pirate King, Sergeant of Police, & Samuel), The Yeomen of the Guard (Wilfred), Ruddigore (Sir Despard), Mikado (Pooh-Bah/Carte), The Sorcerer (Sir Marmaduke), Princess Ida (Florian), Cox & Box (Bouncer), Gondoliers (Giuseppe Palmieri), Patience (Major Murgatroyd), H.M.S. Pinafore (Dick Deadeye & Bill Bobstay), Ages Ago/Mr. Jericho (Tare/Poppytop/de Vere), Ruddygore: Revisited (Sir Roderic) at the International G&S Festival in Harrogate, U.K.
General Manager) Mr. Bergeret is a career-
DAVID WANNEN (Ensemble) NYGASP since 2004: favorites include Pirates (Pirate
General Manager since its inception. He has
King), Yeomen (Wilfred Shadbolt), Patience (Colonel Calverley), Utopia (Paramount), Iolanthe (Pvt. Willis), Rose of Persia (Sultan), Princess Ida (Arac), H.M.S. Pinafore (Bill Bobstay) and title role in The Mikado. Tours: Beauty and the Beast (Beast, United States), Camelot with the late Robert Goulet (Lancelot
Featured Actor by Philadelphia Inquirer for Camelot (Media Theater). Producer, 2017 The
Mikado; Co-Producer & Original Cast, I’ve
Got a Little Twist; Executive Director, NYGASP.
THE COMPANY ALBERT BERGERET (Artistic Director/ long professional specialist in the works of Gilbert & Sullivan, having performed, staged, conducted and designed every opera in the repertoire over a 40-year period. He has directed G&S productions for university students and residency programs for elementary schools. He has been hailed as “The leading custodian of the G&S classics” by New York
JOSHUA STRONE (Production Stage Manager) is a graduate of University of Miami in Theatre Arts, Motion Pictures, and Music Business and Entertainment Industries (2015). Joshua first appeared with NYGASP in 2005, performing in The Gondoliers and The Yeomen of the Guard. Since then, he has worked as
Associate Producer for Write Act East Side, Quantum Entertainment, and Greg Shaffert Productions, serving as an agent for Chita Rivera and Jackie Evancho, as well as being the House Manager and Event Services Coordinator for BCPA. DAVID WANNEN (Executive Director) is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music in vocal performance and holds a post -baccalaureate in business from Columbia University. Mr. Wannen is a veteran of the NYGASP stage and a member of the NYGASP board of directors. Mr. Wannen is producer
Magazine (Peter Davis) and his work as both
of the all-new critically acclaimed production
acclaimed in the press both in New York and
Little Twist, NYGASP’s original cabaret. His
stage and musical director has been widely
on tour throughout the United States, Canada, and the UK. Mr. Bergeret founded NYGASP in 1974 and has served as Artistic Director/ conducted and staged all 13 of the works in the G&S canon as well as the company’s smash
of The Mikado, and co-producer of I’ve Got a
other responsibilities for NYGASP include
fundraising, marketing, board development, and strategic planning. Mr. Wannen is a past president of North American Performing Arts Managers and Agents, recently completing six years of service as an officer of the board.
hit production of George Gershwin’s Of Thee
He is the recipient of the 2018 Western Arts
Buffalo Philharmonic, Orchestra London in
Association of Performing Arts Professionals
I Sing. He has conducted programs with the
Alliance Award for Mentorship and an
Ontario Canada, Northwest Indiana
Leadership Fellow.
Symphony and the Erie Philharmonic in a
BENJAMIN WEILL (Lighting Designer)
program featuring Metropolitan Opera
Benjamin Weill is back for his fifth season as OPENINGNIGHTS.FSU.EDU | 51
Full STEAM ahead— add the Arts to STEM! Linda J. Smith, PhD
Celebrating the Arts With Florida State University During Opening Nights!
Dr. Jim & Mrs. Betty Ann Rodgers
ATTORNEYS & COUNSELORS AT LAW 215 South Monroe Street | Suite 400 Tallahassee, FL 32301 | T: 850.681.6810 Bruce I. Wiener, Office Managing Partner nelsonmullins.com
resident lighting designer for NYGASP. He
back to the idea of hope—songs that spoke
is the recipient of the BroadwayWorld New
about going against the grain, carrying
Musical. He was recently involved in Emma:
to say, ‘It’s tough now, but hang in there.’”
Jersey award for Best Lighting Design of a The Musical—available on StreamingMusicals. com. Other shows including: The Pirates of Penzance, HMS Pinafore, Fiddler on the Roof, Les
Misérables, Ruddigore, South Pacific, …Charlie Brown, Songs for a New World, The Diary of Anne
Frank, Into the Woods, Book of Days, The Crucible, Cloud 9, Cyrano de Bergerac. benjaminweilldesign. com
GAIL J. WOFFORD (Costume Designer/ Co-Founder of NYGASP) holds a Masters of Arts in Theatre Arts from Texas Tech University. As resident costume designer she
through struggle, being optimistic. We wanted Much like the ways their instruments interact on stage, Wil’s creative collaborator Kev Marcus echoes this theme, and then expands it. “Hope is the thread that keeps this thing together, it’s the heartbeat of this album,” he says. “But then a lot of tentacles went different ways—the song ‘Impossible is Possible’ is about challenging people. So it went different directions from just being hopeful, we took it a little further.” The first single released ahead of Take the Stairs
designed and constructed costumes for The
was the timely and inspiring “Dreamer,” with
The Yeomen of the Guard, Iolanthe, Trial by Jury
several commercial campaigns. “This is the
Coordinator for N.J. State Opera for 12 years
Here’s to the dreamers,” sings Wil. “That just
Mikado, The Pirates of Penzance, H.M.S. Pinafore, and other operettas. Gail was Costume
and head of wardrobe for the NY Grand Opera.
a message that was immediately embraced by day when I go all the way/I make it my own/ really hit home,” says Kev. “It got to the heart
“When you do something you love, it’s not difficult,” says Wil. “I’m just going on stage and being who I am. When people want to
listen, when you touch them and make them want to keep fighting—to see that spreading
out to more people, it’s about way more than just the music.”
Indeed, Black Violin’s work extends far beyond
the stage, reaching deep into urban communities with numerous free performances for students and hands-on engagement with youth symphonies and community centers.
Through the TurnAround Arts program, Wil
and Kev connect with more than 100,000 students throughout the year, mostly at lowincome and Title 1 schools, and adopted
Bethune Elementary, in Florida’s Broward County (near where they grew up) to initiate an ongoing mentorship program.
Wil expresses the idea that, no matter how
unique Black Violin’s music may be, it is ultimately more than just a creative enterprise.
She has executed projects for WNET, Channel
of what we’re about.”
13, National Tour of Dreamgirls, the film Mission
For more than a dozen years, Black Violin has
that’s its own thing and really feels necessary.”
been all about taking things further, exceeding
With Take the Stairs, Black Violin is striving
Apollo and worked with numerous opera companies throughout the United States.
expectations, challenging conventions. The classical-meets-hip-hop duo has steadily built
Black Violin Continued from pg. 27
a devoted following and a diverse touring base, while occupying a musical lane that’s entirely its own.
“It’s really a movement,” he says, “an organism
to take their message of unity and inclusiveness
even further, moving Wil’s vocals forward while continuing to explore the possibilities of merging classical virtuosity and structure with modern beats and tones. “We wanted
Black Violin, alongside artists such as Yo-Yo Ma and Elton John, recently joined with Turnaround Arts to bring arts education to struggling schools in underserved communities. Turnaround Arts is a program of the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts founded by President Obama’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities in 2012. In addition, Black Violin has composed for a major FOX Television original Pitch, and has been featured
by ESPN as the official artist of the 2017 U.S. Open (tennis) as well as the 2016 and 2017 Heisman Trophy Award ceremonies. They have been featured on The Tonight Show, Ellen, The Wendy Williams Show, NPR, and more.
“We had a wall that we wrote stuff on,” says Wil Baptiste, describing the process that led to Black Violin’s new album, Take the Stairs. “We had all the ideas about what story we
were going to convey. And it kept coming
Take the Stairs continues to celebrate Black Violin’s genre-less approach to music. Photo by Mark Clennon OPENINGNIGHTS.FSU.EDU | 53
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something different, beautiful songs that could go to radio,” says Wil. “I sing every night, so that’s nothing new, but we felt like we’ve never had that one song that can help elevate us to the next level. This album has recordings like ‘One Step’ that can appeal to everybody, so we lean a bit more on that, but we still had to keep that quintessential Black Violin sound.” “When you’re a creative musician,” adds Kev, “when you press record, you let the music lead you. The vocals have definitely stepped up each time—Wil becomes more of a vocalist on each album and finds his voice a little more. It solidifies us as artists, too, trying to make a bigger stamp.” The members of Black Violin first met in Ft. Lauderdale, and played together in the orchestra at the Dillard High School of the Performing Arts. (Baptiste originally wanted to play saxophone in the band, but the orchestra teacher got him assigned to his class by winning a golf bet with the band instructor.) Classically trained by day, they faithfully put on their headphones and listened to the hottest rap records each night. They went to different colleges—Marcus attended Florida International University and Wil B went to Florida State— but they reconvened, moved into an apartment together, and started trying to produce other musicians. They developed an act covering hip-hop songs on their violins, which became popular in local clubs. Two years after sending in a tape to Showtime at the Apollo, they were invited to
appear on the show—which they won, and kept winning. They were approached by the manager of Alicia Keys, who asked them to perform with the singer on the Billboard Awards. Other offers
followed—they toured with Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park, opened for the Wu-Tang Clan and scored an episode of CSI: New York.
Individually and together, Wil and Kev have worked with everyone from Kanye West to Tom Petty, Lupe Fiasco to Aerosmith. All the while, Black Violin continued touring nonstop (playing as many as 200 shows a year) and released two independent, self-financed albums before putting out the acclaimed Stereotypes in 2016. The 13 tracks on Take the Stairs reveal the
range and diversity of their influences and
vocabulary, from “Showoff” (which Wil calls a “classic instrumental”) to the Curtis Mayfield-
inspired “Lost in the Garden.” One favorite is
“A Way Home”—“That record should be the Olympics theme song!,” says Wil. “I can see
us going from country to country, engaging with different cultures. I played it for my wife and she started crying—that’s a special song right there.”
Kev notes that “inspiration can come from anywhere—the cable guy played me an
It’s all wrapped up in the name of the album. “For sixteen years, we’ve slowly been taking the stairs,” says Kev. “It’s a gradual kind of snowball where now we have control, we can tour in Alaska—we took the hard way for so many years, now we can look back and see what we’ve learned. “You’ve got to work hard to get what you want. But you shouldn’t be looking for the easy way, anyway, because the hard way is where the real lessons are.”
Ethiopian tune when he was fixing my
modem.” He points to the track “Al Green”
as an example of the journey that Black Violin songs can take. “I had a Dvorak piece called
‘Slavonic Dancers’ and I was into that vibe,”
The Beach Boys Continued from pg. 29
he says. “I played it for Salaam Remi [who has
The Beach Boys have continued to create and
and the Fugees, and co-produced and is
style that marked their explosive debut over
he said ‘That has a cool bounce to it—let’s funk
release, Sounds of Summer (RIAA certified triple
line on it. We both played violas over that,
climbing), and its companion The Warmth of
mixed with a Czech Slavonic dance, with an
interest that again rocked the world.
worked with the likes of Nas, Amy Winehouse,
perform with the same bold imagination and
featured on several Take the Stairs tracks] and
50 years ago. In 2013, their Capitol Records
out that groove and put an Al Green-style bass
platinum with over three million in sales and
which I’d never heard. So that one is funk
the Sun marked a resurgence in Beach Boys
Al Green sample and viola solos.”
The Beach Boys found through their music
The members of Black Violin both point to
the key to unfading youth—and they made
to the ways this growth came out on Take the
isn’t just a place where the surf comes to play—
crossed,” says Kev. “There was a rush to the last
again.
their own personal evolution and maturity, and
copies for everyone. To these guys, the beach
Stairs. “This time, every I is dotted and T is
it’s where life is renewed and made whole
album, a deadline we had to hit after we signed
Had this remarkable band been less committed
our record deal. This one we funded and produced ourselves, then shopped the record.
So it was a really well-thought out and more deliberate process; we had more time to live
with everything and feel comfortable with it.”
to its art and its fans, it could have retired from the field with honor at dozens of points along the way, confident that it had made a lasting contribution to world culture. It could have rested on the success of the epoch-shifting Pet
Wil says that Black Violin isn’t always explicit
Sounds masterpiece in 1966…or after Mike
be—that the creation of an audience that is
a second generation of Beach Boys fans and
with its message, but that they don’t have to
Love’s concept album Endless Summer ignited
multi-generational,
and
stirred a tempest that rocked the music world…
of its own. “The stereotypes are always there,
Globe nominated “Kokomo” in 1988 and
“Just by nature of our existence—the idea that
or after being inducted that same year into the
basketball players are playing the violin—we
its worldwide album sales blow past l00
brings people together who aren’t usually in
Achievement Award in 2001 [along with The
good to bring people together.”
Davis Jr. and Les Paul]. And still, The Beach
ethnically
economically diverse, is a powerful statement
or after recording Love’s co-written Golden
embedded so deep in our culture,” he says.
seeing it become its best selling single ever…
these black guys who could be football or
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame…or after watching
challenge those ideas. It’s a unique thing that
million…or after winning the NARAS Lifetime
the same room, and in the current climate, it’s
Who, Bob Marley, Tony Bennett, Sammy
OPENINGNIGHTS.FSU.EDU | 55
MICHAEL ROSATO Chain of Parks Art Festival Event
THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 2020 FSU ALUMNI CENTER TICKETS AT OPENINGNIGHTS.FSU.EDU
Dr. Cynthia Tie northfloridaderm.com 850.402.9444
Boys continue to have fun, fun, fun, with no end in sight. In 2012, The Beach Boys scheduled a 74 concert date 50 Anniversary Reunion th
Tour, which was scheduled as a limited run reunion tour and ended in the United States on July 15 and internationally on September 28, in which the original members reunited
on Don Imus’ MSNBC show Imus In
his mark as a teenager singing his “Summertime
NBC’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, The
Al Stewart came to stardom as part of the
The Morning, TNT’s NBA All-Star Game, Today Show, PBS’ A Capitol Fourth, Good
Morning America, Weekend Today, and The O’Reilly Factor.
charts, their highest chart position in 37 years
Al Stewart
and an unprecedented milestone.
Continued from pg. 31
In 2016, The Beach Boys celebrated the 50th
Ask Al Stewart to sum up where he is now,
anniversary of the hit “Good Vibrations,” which is widely considered one of the greatest masterpieces in the history of rock and roll. The band commemorated this prolific time in the life of the Beach Boys with a 50 Years of Good Vibrations tour.
Few, if any, acts can match The Beach Boys’ concert presence, spirit and performance. They were center-stage at Live Aid, multiple
legendary British folk revival in the sixties and seventies and developed the combination of folk-rock songs with delicately woven tales of the great characters and events from history.
and released That’s Why God Made the Radio. The album debuted at #3 on the Billboard
Blues” so many summertimes ago.
musically speaking, and you’re likely to wind up two steps behind where you started; this is by no means an unusual circumstance in conversation with Al, keenly aware as he is that making a leap forward often entails taking a step backward. Sometimes it’s into the library stacks where the late historian Ms. Tuchman dug for material. Sometimes it’s into the record stacks where the late rocker Mr. Cochran made
Stewart has 19 studio albums between Bedsitter Images in 1967 and Sparks of Ancient Light in
2008, plus the live album Uncorked with Dave Nachmanoff in 2009.
Al continues to tour extensively around the United States and Europe. He is perhaps best known for his hits “Year of the Cat” from the Platinum album of the same name and the Platinum follow up album Time Passages. But
his career spans four decades as a key figure in British music. He played at the first ever Glastonbury Festival in 1970, worked with Yoko Ono pre-Lennon and shared a London apartment with a young Paul Simon.
Farm Aids, the Statue of Liberty’s 100th Anniversary Salute, the Super Bowl and the White House. On one day alone—July 4, 1985—they played to nearly 2 million fans at shows in Philadelphia and Washington, D. C. Love’s role as the band’s front man sometimes overshadows his stature as one of rock’s foremost songwriters. “Surfin’,” The Beach Boys’ first hit came from his pen. Love wrote the classics “Fun, Fun, Fun,” “I Get Around,” “Help Me Rhonda,” “California Girls” and the Grammy nominated “Good Vibrations.” Years later, he showed he still had the lyrical chops by co-writing the irresistible and charttopping “Kokomo.” On The Beach Boys’ horizon is a continued national/world tour and charity activities through Mike Love’s Love Foundation, which supports national environmental and educational initiatives. Love and The Beach Boys’ recent efforts raised over a quarter of a million dollars for the Red Cross to benefit victims of Hurricane Katrina and made additional contributions to the disaster relief in Haiti. The band has appeared on countless worldwide TV shows throughout the years including: The Ed Sullivan Show, Dick Clark’s American
Bandstand and The Tonight Show. Other television appearances include performances
Al Stewart has released 16 studio and three live albums since his debut album Bed-Sitter Images in 1967. Photo by Lori Stoll OPENINGNIGHTS.FSU.EDU | 57
WINTER EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS Cristina Pato will host her lecture, Transcending
Disciplines: An Artist’s Journey to Cultural Sustainability, for FSU students at the Center of Global Engagement. During this time, she will share her artistic journey, forging a multifaceted career as an internationally acclaimed Galician bagpiper master, classical pianist, producer and educator. Cristina will also underscore how her multiple identities are a platform to probe social questions raised by the intersection of classical and folkloric music.
David Engel will work with the FSU College of Social
Work on “the healing art of hospital clowning.” David will also engage with the Tallahassee medical community by visiting local hospitals.
Trey McLaughlin will collaborate with the FAMU
Gospel Choir who will participate in his public performance at Ruby Diamond Concert Hall. Trey will also visit Leon County School elementary students during his time in Tallahassee.
Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo will host a master class with Tallahassee Ballet and college level dance students that covers both traditional and new movement dance techniques.
The Pirates of Penzance will conduct an
audition-centered workshop for on campus singing and acting organizations that will focus on highlighting the importance of acting while singing.
The Larry Mitchell Interchange: Music for All is a special added
event featuring GRAMMY® award winner Larry Mitchell as he returns to campus for the third time to perform favorite guitar textures and cuts from his latest album Déjà Vu. Larry will lead a four-day participatory workshop for student musicians in Leon County, Florida State University’s “University of Choice,” College of Music, and the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD). Larry will present a free public concert on Friday, February 21 at 6:30 p.m. concluding the series of music clinics for youth and young adults who, with their own unique abilities, lend melodic harmony and diversity to our ever-changing society. This project is a collaboration among Opening Nights in Class, Arts4All Florida, Florida State University Autism Institute, Center for Autism and Related Disabilities, University of Choice, Leon County Schools, South Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. If you have any questions about how you, your school, students or community group can be involved, contact Calla MacNamara at cmacnamara@fsu.edu or 850.644.2469.
EDUCATIONAL SPONSORS
FSU License Plate
LINDA J. SMITH, PhD
Opening Nights in Class series of educational programs provide students and the community with once-in-a-life time opportunities through master classes, workshops, school tours, Q&As, and panels with world-class performers at no cost to participants. Events are designed to educate, illuminate and inspire.
58 | 2019–20 OPENING NIGHTS
UPCOMING PERFORMANCES FEBRUARY 27
Steve Solomon comedy
MARCH 2
Riders in the Sky
western, comedy
5
Sir James Galway
classical, recital
7
Ryan Hamilton
comedy
22
George Hinchliffe’s Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain
30
instrumental, pop
Chris Botti jazz, pop, crossover
APRIL 1
The Second City
comedy, improv
16
Michael Rosato Chain of Parks Art Festival Event
27
spoken word, visual arts
Dala folk, pop
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60 | 2019–20 OPENING NIGHTS