Thursday, March 27, 2014

An Evening & Conversation with Mark Russell

Piano-playing political satirist Mark Russell comes to The Lyric with material ripped from today’s headlines. Known for skewering Democrats and Republicans alike, Russell’s unique brand of comedy earned him the Mark Twain Award for political comedy and has made him a popular favorite on PBS. Long before Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert, there was Mark Russell, daring to joke and sing of the often absurd political process. The unquestioned master of musical-political satire, Mark Russell plumbs the absurdities of today’s political headlines to deliver his hilarious, star-spangled brand of comedy.
 
Where does noted political satirist Mark Russell get his material?  The daily newspaper. Some days, he says, the jokes jump off the pages and write themselves.  His answer to the frequently asked question, “Do you have many writers?” is “Oh yes. I have 535 writers; one hundred in the Senate and 435 in the House of Representatives.” — Oh, and don’t forget the president!  Russell takes to the piano and skewers official pomposity and spotlights the utterly outrageous, wielding his wit as deftly as a surgeon wields a scalpel. In presentations reflective of (literally) that day’s headlines freshly crafted for each event, he turns the Washington, DC scene into a musical comedy tour-de-force that leaves audiences rolling in the aisles.
 
Before The Daily Show or The Colbert Report, Mark Russell was entertaining audiences across the country with his witty commentary on the day’s biggest headlines. A veteran of comedy and a multi-talented musician and performer, Mark Russell excels in the spotlight, performing show after hilarious show featuring all new content and jokes, promising that no two shows are ever the same.  What began as a simple musical comedy skit in a piano bar on Capitol Hill became a highly successful career as a celebrated comedian and touring performer. Mark Russell’s shows feature witty satire on today’s current events set to Mark’s own accompaniment on the piano. A class clown from fourth grade onwards, Mark Russell has refined his comedy since elementary school, highlighting the plethora of political absurdities we encounter on a daily basis. Inspired by his self-proclaimed heroes of entertainment, from Fred Allen to Jack Benny, Mark Russell is the predecessor to the widely popular comedy news shows on Comedy Central today.
 



http://ls4.co/7j9

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Rick Braun "A Walk Down Broadway"

This April, the All-American jazz trumpeter Rick Braun presents “A Walk Down Broadway,” an intimate tour through the decades of musical theater excellence. More than just a simple concert, Rick Braun takes the time to share heartwarming and unheard tales from the lives of some of Broadway’s most legendary composers and lyricists. Enjoy a backstage pass to the history of music, as Rick Braun performs classics, such as “Time After Time” and “I’ve Never Been in Love Before.”
 
Inspired by jazz legends Louis Armstrong, Chet Baker, and Dizzie Gillespie, Rick Braun was drawn to the history and power of the trumpet since an early age. Braun attended the Eastman School of Music and built his musical experience performing as a session musician. His 1993 debut album, Intimate Secrets, was a great success, launching the career of the promising contemporary jazz artist. Since then, Rick Braun has consistently topped the charts, not only as a trumpeter but also as a vocalist. Citing the likes of Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett as vocal inspirations, Braun still attempts to forge his own unique style. The multi-talented performer is celebrated for his minimalist style of singing, taking great care to craft his melodies and lyrics with precision, adapting a “less is more” attitude.
 
Over his career, Rick Braun has performed as a backup vocalist for major artists from Rod Stewart to Sade. His latest album, Rick Braun Sings with Strings is a daring work filled with a variety of genres, influences, and styles. In his memorable “A Walk Down Broadway” performance, Rick brings his musical experience and knowledge to the stage in a unique kind of show that features inspired musical theater interpretations and enlightening tales of Broadway.


http://ls4.co/7iu

An Evening & Conversation with Mark Russell

Piano-playing political satirist Mark Russell comes to The Lyric with material ripped from today’s headlines. Known for skewering Democrats and Republicans alike, Russell’s unique brand of comedy earned him the Mark Twain Award for political comedy and has made him a popular favorite on PBS. Long before Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert, there was Mark Russell, daring to joke and sing of the often absurd political process. The unquestioned master of musical-political satire, Mark Russell plumbs the absurdities of today’s political headlines to deliver his hilarious, star-spangled brand of comedy.
 
Where does noted political satirist Mark Russell get his material?  The daily newspaper. Some days, he says, the jokes jump off the pages and write themselves.  His answer to the frequently asked question, “Do you have many writers?” is “Oh yes. I have 535 writers; one hundred in the Senate and 435 in the House of Representatives.” — Oh, and don’t forget the president!  Russell takes to the piano and skewers official pomposity and spotlights the utterly outrageous, wielding his wit as deftly as a surgeon wields a scalpel. In presentations reflective of (literally) that day’s headlines freshly crafted for each event, he turns the Washington, DC scene into a musical comedy tour-de-force that leaves audiences rolling in the aisles.
 
Before The Daily Show or The Colbert Report, Mark Russell was entertaining audiences across the country with his witty commentary on the day’s biggest headlines. A veteran of comedy and a multi-talented musician and performer, Mark Russell excels in the spotlight, performing show after hilarious show featuring all new content and jokes, promising that no two shows are ever the same.  What began as a simple musical comedy skit in a piano bar on Capitol Hill became a highly successful career as a celebrated comedian and touring performer. Mark Russell’s shows feature witty satire on today’s current events set to Mark’s own accompaniment on the piano. A class clown from fourth grade onwards, Mark Russell has refined his comedy since elementary school, highlighting the plethora of political absurdities we encounter on a daily basis. Inspired by his self-proclaimed heroes of entertainment, from Fred Allen to Jack Benny, Mark Russell is the predecessor to the widely popular comedy news shows on Comedy Central today.
 



http://ls4.co/7io

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Rick Braun "A Walk Down Broadway"

This April, the All-American jazz trumpeter Rick Braun presents “A Walk Down Broadway,” an intimate tour through the decades of musical theater excellence. More than just a simple concert, Rick Braun takes the time to share heartwarming and unheard tales from the lives of some of Broadway’s most legendary composers and lyricists. Enjoy a backstage pass to the history of music, as Rick Braun performs classics, such as “Time After Time” and “I’ve Never Been in Love Before.”
 
Inspired by jazz legends Louis Armstrong, Chet Baker, and Dizzie Gillespie, Rick Braun was drawn to the history and power of the trumpet since an early age. Braun attended the Eastman School of Music and built his musical experience performing as a session musician. His 1993 debut album, Intimate Secrets, was a great success, launching the career of the promising contemporary jazz artist. Since then, Rick Braun has consistently topped the charts, not only as a trumpeter but also as a vocalist. Citing the likes of Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett as vocal inspirations, Braun still attempts to forge his own unique style. The multi-talented performer is celebrated for his minimalist style of singing, taking great care to craft his melodies and lyrics with precision, adapting a “less is more” attitude.
 
Over his career, Rick Braun has performed as a backup vocalist for major artists from Rod Stewart to Sade. His latest album, Rick Braun Sings with Strings is a daring work filled with a variety of genres, influences, and styles. In his memorable “A Walk Down Broadway” performance, Rick brings his musical experience and knowledge to the stage in a unique kind of show that features inspired musical theater interpretations and enlightening tales of Broadway.


http://ls4.co/7fo

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Cutie & The Boxer ~ Art Cinema

Documentary
English, Japanese/R/82 min
 
86th Academy Award Nominee for Best Documentary Feature

For years, Ushio Shinohara has been one of the leading, and most underappreciated, alternative artists in Japan and New York City with an wildly esoteric style. For many of those years, his wife, Noriko, has been a faithful companion to this idiosyncratic man, but grew wanting to be more. This film covers the relationship of this special couple as Ushio struggles for commercial success on his own terms. Meanwhile, we also follow Noriko pursuing her own artistic vision with her semi-autobiographical line art project that reveals much about her own soul as eloquently as her husband's work.
 
“They express love and vivaciousness, at once seeming like any couple walking down the street and yet unlike anyone you're lucky enough to spend time with.” - Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News

“A movie that makes you feel less like a spectator than a guest, a friend welcomed into the home of an odd and fascinating couple.” A.O. Scott, New York Times


http://ls4.co/7aO

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Clint Holmes

With a versatile collection of rousing covers and toe-tapping original songs, every Clint Holmes performance is refreshingly unique. Holmes has been praised by his fans and critics for his soothing, yet powerful voice and commanding stage presence. A veteran of the Las Vegas music scene, Clint Holmes puts on unforgettable, energetic performances that are best seen live and up-close. Don’t miss the chance to see Clint Holmes on The Lyric stage this March.
 
Born in England to an African-American jazz musician and a British opera singer, Clint Holmes was introduced to musical training at an early age. By the age of 8, his mother had taught him professional classical voice techniques, while his dad had taught him to scat sing in local jazz clubs. This unique musical upbringing gave Clint Holmes the signature vocal style that he is known for today. Clint has produced a range of CDs and songs, from romantic ballads such as “Feel Like Makin’ Love” and “Shouldn’t It Be Easy By Now” to thought-provoking ruminations like Holmes’ “Let My Son See Africa.” 
 
More than just a performer, Clint Holmes has a visible legacy in the entertainment industry. Serving briefly as a co-announcer on the Late Show, Holmes was initially recognized as a talent by the Hollywood celebrity Joan Rivers. Holmes eventually developed a highly successful talk and variety show on WWOR-TV called New York at Night, winning an Emmy for his work. Holmes has appeared in People’s Choice Awards, Miss America Pageants, and the Emmy Awards, providing world class entertainment to millions of television viewers.

*Opening Act*
Ms. Kelly Clinton
Singer-Dancer-Comedienne Kelly Clinton headlines at the exclusive Stirling Club at Turnberry Towers where she also serves as entertainment director.  She also stars and hosts the Celebrity Open Mic Cabaret Night at Las Vegas’ prestigious supper club.  The New-Jersey born performer has performed and traveled with Engelbert Humperdinck and Wayne Newton and now husband Clint Holmes.  She has headlined her own one-woman show, which is an eclectic presentation of song, comedy, dance and characters.  She is currently developing her own autobiographical show called “80 Year Old Bones.


http://ls4.co/7Ye

Conrad Tao

Program:

MEREDITH MONK (1942- ) 
 Railroad (Travel Song)

CONRAD TAO (1994- )
vestiges 
 
upon walking alongside green glass bottles 
upon ripping perforated pages 
upon being upon viewing two porcelain figures

RAVEL (1875-1937)
Gaspard de la nuit

 Ondine
Le gibet
Scarbo

DEBUSSY (1862-1918)
Selected Preludes

 Book I, No. 11, La Danse de Puck
Book II, No. 8, Ondine
Book I, No. 7, Ce qu’a vu le vent d’ouest

MUSSORGSKY(1839-1881) 
Pictures At An Exhibition

 Promenade
Gnomus
Promenade
Il vecchio castello 
Promenade 
Tuileries (Dispute d'enfants après jeux) 
Bydło 
Promenade 
Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks 
"Samuel" Goldberg und "Schmuÿle" 
Promenade 
Limoges. Le marché. (La grande nouvelle) 
Catacombae (Sepulcrum romanum) 
Cum mortuis in lingus mortua 
The Hut on Fowl's Legs (Baba-Yaga) 
The Great Gate of Kiev

*   *   *   *   *

Only 18 years old, Conrad Tao has astonished critics and audiences alike with his innate ability to breathe extraordinary life into a variety of classical pieces. The only musician to appear on Forbes’ prestigious 2011 “30 under 30” list of young people changing the world, Tao is arguably the foremost pianist in the United States today. Already touring the globe and amassing dozens of awards, Conrad Tao is an artist to keep your eye on.
 
Born in Urbana, Illinois, Conrad Tao displayed remarkable musical abilities before he could even walk. At the age of 18 months, Conrad was discovered playing children’s songs on the piano with no evidence of formal training. The young prodigy developed his talents further, giving his first piano recital at the age of 4, and debuting in his first concerto at age 8, performing Mozart’s Piano Concerto in A Major. Now attending Columbia University and Juilliard School, Conrad Tao has received an incredible amount of attention around the world. Tao appeared as a soloist in the United States with the Russian National Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, and Philadelphia Orchestra. He’s toured Europe extensively, performing solo concerts everywhere from Berlin to London.  He’s continued his global tour, performing with orchestras on almost every continent. In 2012, Conrad was celebrated for his performance of Saint-Saens’ Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
 
At such a young age, Conrad Tao has managed to receive more awards than most people do in a life time. In 2011, the young pianist was named a Presidential Scholar of the Arts and received a YoungArts gold medal in music from the National Foundation for the Advancement in the Arts. Additionally, he was named a Gilmore Young Artist, an honor only awarded every 2 years to the most promising American pianists of the generation. As a composer, Tao has won 8 consecutive ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer Awards since 2004. His compositions have been in high demand, drawing the attention of high profile orchestras such as the Hong Kong Philharmonic. Conrad Tao has been asked to compose a piece commemorating the 50th anniversary of the assassination of John F. Kennedy as well, which is planned to be debuted this year.


http://ls4.co/7YY

Cutie & The Boxer ~ Art Cinema

Documentary
English, Japanese/R/82 min
 
86th Academy Award Nominee for Best Documentary Feature

For years, Ushio Shinohara has been one of the leading, and most underappreciated, alternative artists in Japan and New York City with an wildly esoteric style. For many of those years, his wife, Noriko, has been a faithful companion to this idiosyncratic man, but grew wanting to be more. This film covers the relationship of this special couple as Ushio struggles for commercial success on his own terms. Meanwhile, we also follow Noriko pursuing her own artistic vision with her semi-autobiographical line art project that reveals much about her own soul as eloquently as her husband's work.
 
“They express love and vivaciousness, at once seeming like any couple walking down the street and yet unlike anyone you're lucky enough to spend time with.” - Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News

“A movie that makes you feel less like a spectator than a guest, a friend welcomed into the home of an odd and fascinating couple.” A.O. Scott, New York Times



http://ls4.co/7YS

Monday, March 17, 2014

Cutie And The Boxer Official Trailer (2013) - Painting Documentary HD

Mon. March 24th, 2014 at 1pm, 4pm & 7pm
Lyrictheatre.com, Stuart, FL 772-286-7827

Cutie And The Boxer Official Trailer (2013) This candid New York love story explores the chaotic 40-year marriage of famed boxing painter Ushio Shinohara and his wife, Noriko. Anxious to shed her role as her overbearing husband's assistant, Noriko finds an identity of her own. 



http://ls4.co/7XX

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

​Blue Jasmine ~ Art Cinema

Comedy
English/PG-13 /98 min.
86th Academy Awards
Best Actress WINNER: Cate Blanchett

Nominee for: 

Best Supporting Actress: Sally Hawkins;
Best Original Screenplay: Woody Allen
 
 
Jasmine French used to be on the top of the heap as a New York socialite, but now is returning to her estranged sister in San Francisco utterly ruined. As Jasmine struggles with her haunting memories of a privileged past bearing dark realities she ignored, she tries to recover in her present. Unfortunately, it all proves a losing battle as Jasmine's narcissistic hangups and their consequences begin to overwhelm her. In doing so, her old pretensions and new deceits begin to foul up everyone's lives, especially her own. Directed by Woody Allen.  Cast: Cate Blanchett, Alec Baldwin,  Peter Sarsgaard and Sally Hawkins 
 
"In all, this is the strongest, most resonant movie Woody Allen has made in years."- David Denby, New Yorker

"A meaty, fully realized drama that cleverly functions as both an update of "A Streetcar Named Desire" and a satire on One Percent excess." - Justin Chang, Variety


http://ls4.co/7T5

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

​Blue Jasmine ~ Art Cinema

Comedy
English/PG-13 /98 min.
86th Academy Awards
Best Actress WINNER: Cate Blanchett

Nominee for: 

Best Supporting Actress: Sally Hawkins;
Best Original Screenplay: Woody Allen
 
 
Jasmine French used to be on the top of the heap as a New York socialite, but now is returning to her estranged sister in San Francisco utterly ruined. As Jasmine struggles with her haunting memories of a privileged past bearing dark realities she ignored, she tries to recover in her present. Unfortunately, it all proves a losing battle as Jasmine's narcissistic hangups and their consequences begin to overwhelm her. In doing so, her old pretensions and new deceits begin to foul up everyone's lives, especially her own. Directed by Woody Allen.  Cast: Cate Blanchett, Alec Baldwin,  Peter Sarsgaard and Sally Hawkins 
 
"In all, this is the strongest, most resonant movie Woody Allen has made in years."- David Denby, New Yorker

"A meaty, fully realized drama that cleverly functions as both an update of "A Streetcar Named Desire" and a satire on One Percent excess." - Justin Chang, Variety



http://ls4.co/7Qi

Monday, March 10, 2014

Blue Jasmine - Official Trailer (HD) Cate Blanchett, Alec Baldwin

http://www.joblo.com - "Blue Jasmine" - Official Trailer A New York housewife struggles through a life crisis. Director: Woody Allen Writer: Woody Allen Stars: Cate Blanchett, Alec Baldwin, Peter Sarsgaard, Louis C.K. In theaters: July 26, 2013



http://ls4.co/7P4

Guys & Dolls ~ In Concert!

Starring Lyric ALL-STARS: 
 Nestor Torres, Sarge, Lorrianna Colozzo & Karin Leone; 
Narrated by
Knight Kiplinger, 
Featuring 
Greg Rice, 
The Salvation Army of Martin County 
& The Craig Turley Orchestra! 

 
You don’t need to be a gambler to roll the dice on The Lyric’s All-Star production of Guys & Dolls in Concert this April!  The deck is stacked in your favor when Lyric headliners bring to life an irrepressible cast of characters in a dazzling concert version of the beloved American musical classic.  

Combine the pizzazz of Damon Runyon’s now-legendary characters with a dazzling score by Frank Loesser, a brilliant book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, and appearances by all of your Lyric favorites and the result is Guys and Dolls in Concert at The Lyric.  The smash hit numbers keep coming in this lively and uplifting concert production of the luminous musical comedy, telling the story of a group of small-time gamblers and the ladies in their lives.  The score includes favorites such as a “A Bushel and a Peck,” “Luck Be A Lady,” “Take Back Your Mink,” “Sit Down You’re Rockin’ the Boat,” and “If I Were A Bell.”

This one of a kind production boasts the talents of Lyric headliners such as Grammy winner, Nestor Torres as Sky Masterson, comedian Sarge as Nathan Detroit, opera darling Lorrianna Colozzo as Sarah Brown, music theatre veteran Karin Leone as Adelaide; featuring T.V. personality Greg Rice and narrated by the incomparable, Knight Kiplinger.  There’s even a special appearance by the Martin County’s own Salvation Army. Bringing the Frank Loesser’s dazzling score to life is the world renowned, Craig Turley Orchestra!

Frank Loesser’s beloved Broadway musical Guys and Dolls has remained a perennial favorite in the American musical theater canon.  The musical is an adaptation of short stories by Damon Runyon set in the colorful world of New York City in the mid 20th century. The romantic and funny story is populated with gangsters and gamblers, missionary dolls and showgirls, and one of the great musical scores in the history of American theatre.  

If you are looking for a winner, this is one safe bet! 
Sure to be the hottest ticket in town!   

More on the Cast...
Grammy winner Nestor Torres stars in the role of suave gambling giant Sky Masterson.  Torres, internationally renowned as a Latin jazz flute sensation, will impress Lyric audiences with his acting & singing chops.  Nestor’s gift for spoken word, musicality and his undeniable charisma result in a seamless transition into musical theater.  Devout Nestor Torres fans will be thrilled to know that his famous flute skills will be showcased as well, cleverly integrated into the story and award winning score.  Mr. Torres has been nominated for several Latin Grammy Awards, Torres won it in 2001 for his CD This Side of Paradise. Torres’s most recent Grammy®-nominated CD, Nouveau Latino, heralds the flautist’s exuberant return to his Salsa and Latin Jazz roots. In addition to his achievements in the studio and on the stage, Torres has received numerous awards and commendations, including two honorary doctorates for his commitment to youth, education, and cultural exchanges.

Effervescent opera darling, Lorrianna Colozzo, plays Sky’s love interest Sarah Brown, a Sergeant in the Save-A-Soul Mission. Lorrianna, no stranger to Lyric audiences, has made a name for herself as an opera diva with her sublime soaring soprano voice.  However, her musical theater credits are plentiful, having first burst onto the New York scene performing roles including the leading ladies in Anything Goes, Grease, Pajama Game and Chess. Lorrianna began studying singing at the age of twelve under the direction of Helen Boatwright and Dan Marek of The Mannes School of Music.  She is a graduate of The Peabody Conservatory of Music where she studied with Phyllis Bryn- Julson and Stanley Cornett.  In 2000 she continued her studies with Maestro Anton Guadagno of The Palm Beach Opera. She has been featured in numerous operatic and musical theatre roles nationwide including Fiordiligi Cosi fan Tutte, The Cunning Little Vixen, and Nanetta in Falstaff. Lorrianna has been an award winner in The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.

Comedian, pianist, singer and force of nature, Sarge plays career gambler and kind-hearted shyster, Nathan Detroit. Sarge is an entertainer who has performed worldwide to adoring audiences. His sidesplitting comedy, booming vocals and stunning display of dexterity as a pianist have wowed crowds for decades.  Sarge in the role as Nathan is inspired casting, playing to all of his strengths.  This colorful character role is traditionally played by high energy comedians, the likes of Sam Levine, Bob Hoskins and Nathan Lane; Sarge’s gregarious nature and raucous comedic antics make him an ideal successor.  Of course, audiences will be delighted to see Sarge take to the keys in numbers like “Sit Down You’re Rocking the Boat” and “Adelaide”.   Sarge has opened for some of the biggest names in music - Natalie Cole, Aretha Franklin, Paul Anka, The Beach Boys, The Four Tops, Taylor Dayne, Donna Summer and Wayne Newton, just to name a few. From Radio City Music Hall to Major League Baseball's All-Star game to entertaining our nation's troops in Iraq, Sarge leaves ‘em clamoring for more.

As Miss Adelaide, the nightclub chanteuse and Nathan’s long-suffering fiancée of 14 long years is music theatre veteran, Karin Leone. Karin was most recently seen on The Lyric stage in last season’s rock musical Next to Normal.  A Stuart native, Ms. Leone returned to her hometown, after 8 years of performing nationally in venues in New York, Chicago & Los Angeles and the Kennedy Center.  Leone has been described as having “the panache of the quintessential brassy, Broadway belter”, by famed Theatermania critic, Peter Filichia.  She has been twice nominated by the Star Ledger, for Best Actress in a Musical, for her performance as Rita LaPorta in Lucky Stiff and again for the Vagina Monologues.  In Los Angeles, Karin was nominated for Los Angeles Ovation Award for Best Actress in a Musical in The Kid from Brooklyn.  Karin Leone attended Shenandoah Conservatory and now works for The Lyric Theatre.  


As our host for the evening, we welcome the incomparable Knight Kiplinger, who will read the narrator, as well as playing Arvide Abernathy, Sarah’s wise grandfather, who encourages her to find her true love in “More I Cannot Wish You.”  Mr. Kiplinger is best known as editor in chief of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine, Kiplinger.com and the Kiplinger Letter, America’s leading business-forecasting publication.  Knight has covered business, economic and political trends for nearly three decades, as a newspaper reporter, Washington bureau chief and editor. He is the author of several books, most recently World Boom Ahead, and is a frequent guest on major television and radio programs. What you may not know is that he is also a baritone in The Washington Chorus, an acclaimed symphonic ensemble. He has performed under the batons of such renowned conductors as Mstislav Rostropovich, Seiji Ozawa, and Marin Alsop, at venues ranging from the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall to the great cathedrals of Europe, as well as singing on the Grammy winning “Best Classical Recording” of 2000.

Television personality, Greg Rice joins the cast as Big Jule, a big time craps player from Chicago who uses a gun and doesn’t like to lose! Greg and his twin brother John rose to fame with an appearance on The Merv Griffin Show and secured their place in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's “Shortest Living Twins”.  The Rice brothers are household names in Palm Beach County, where they prospered in real estate, ran a motivational company and attained celebrity as the improbable television pitchmen for a local pest control company. Greg Rice became Hulett's marketing director, while John wrote the commercials. Both starred in the ads, which featured them as wacky send-ups of various household insects.  The Rice brothers also appeared on ''Real People," the ''Maury Povich Show," ''That Quiz Show," and in 13 episodes of ''Foul Play," a sitcom that featured them as landlords.

Onstage with our spectacular cast is The Craig Turley Orchestra, conducted by Music Director, Emily Croome. For more than two decades, The Craig Turley Orchestra has accompanied prominent artists and entertainers including Bernadette Peters, Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin, Johnny Mathis and Mannheim Steamroller.  Mr. Turley and a 14 piece orchestra will share the stage with the actors, bringing out every cheeky nuance of Frank Loesser’s irreplaceable score.  Hit songs include: “Luck be a Lady”, “Sit Down You’re Rocking the Boat”, “If I Were a Bell”, “Take Back Your Mink” and many more.

Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows’ enduring book, based on a super-vivid story and characters of Damon Runyon, will be abridged in this concert version of the musical, with the focus being on the music. Guys and Dolls in Concert is directed by Jared Walker and choreographed by Elizabeth Casalini.
 



http://ls4.co/7OX

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Rhythm of the Dance

Celebrate St. Paddy's Day early with this two-hour dance and music extravaganza contains a wealth of Irish talent. The show is an inspiring epic, reliving the journey of the Irish Celts throughout history. Using modern art forms of dance and music, this richly costumed show marries the contemporary and the ancient. Combining traditional dance and music with the most up to date stage technology, the show is a thousand year old story executed with all the advantages of the modern day stage show. Rhythm of the Dance has heralded a new era in Irish entertainment, internationally rated as one of the most popular and busiest Irish step dance shows in the world. Rhythm of the Dance aspires to a purity content preserving the traditions of Irish step dancing and yet presenting it in the most modern format that has made it a leader in its field. The show features an authentic live Irish band, three tenors & some 22 dancers. Be sure to experience Rhythm of the Dance. 4.5 million fans can't be wrong!!

Anticipating the National Dance Company of Ireland’s first American Public Television show, Rhythm of the Dance has embarked on a 2013/2014 tour of the United States, showcasing their incredible musical and rhythmical talents. Already their tour has received wide critical and popular acclaim, selling out venues from the West to East coast in anticipation of their PBS special. Starting in 2014, Rhythm of the Dance will begin incorporating multimedia to enhance their already enthralling show. From the Celtic Step to the rare Sean-Nós dance, a tradition stemming from the ancient island of Innishbofin outside of Galway, Rhythm of the Dance is as real as it gets.
 
The National Dance Company of Ireland strive to represent the true Celtic tradition and modern Irish character, employing dancers who have trained extensively in the Irish step dancing tradition since they were children. Not only are their dancers authentic, but Rhythm of the Dance stresses musical authenticity as well, incorporating a variety of traditional Irish instruments, such as the Celtic Bouzouki, the Cittern, tea whistle, and Pennywhistle flutes. The step dancing company has taken over the world, performing in 59 different countries for a total of 4.8 million people.

 


http://ls4.co/7Jn

Guys & Dolls ~ In Concert!

Starring Lyric ALL-STARS: 
 Nestor Torres, Sarge, Lorrianna Colozzo & Karin Leone; 
Narrated by
Knight Kiplinger, 
Featuring 
Greg Rice, 
The Salvation Army of Martin County 
& The Craig Turley Orchestra! 

 
You don’t need to be a gambler to roll the dice on The Lyric’s All-Star production of Guys & Dolls in Concert this April!  The deck is stacked in your favor when Lyric headliners bring to life an irrepressible cast of characters in a dazzling concert version of the beloved American musical classic.  

Combine the pizzazz of Damon Runyon’s now-legendary characters with a dazzling score by Frank Loesser, a brilliant book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, and appearances by all of your Lyric favorites and the result is Guys and Dolls in Concert at The Lyric.  The smash hit numbers keep coming in this lively and uplifting concert production of the luminous musical comedy, telling the story of a group of small-time gamblers and the ladies in their lives.  The score includes favorites such as a “A Bushel and a Peck,” “Luck Be A Lady,” “Take Back Your Mink,” “Sit Down You’re Rockin’ the Boat,” and “If I Were A Bell.”

This one of a kind production boasts the talents of Lyric headliners such as Grammy winner, Nestor Torres as Sky Masterson, comedian Sarge as Nathan Detroit, opera darling Lorrianna Colozzo as Sarah Brown, music theatre veteran Karin Leone as Adelaide; featuring T.V. personality Greg Rice and narrated by the incomparable, Knight Kiplinger.  There’s even a special appearance by the Martin County’s own Salvation Army. Bringing the Frank Loesser’s dazzling score to life is the world renowned, Craig Turley Orchestra!

Frank Loesser’s beloved Broadway musical Guys and Dolls has remained a perennial favorite in the American musical theater canon.  The musical is an adaptation of short stories by Damon Runyon set in the colorful world of New York City in the mid 20th century. The romantic and funny story is populated with gangsters and gamblers, missionary dolls and showgirls, and one of the great musical scores in the history of American theatre.  

If you are looking for a winner, this is one safe bet! 
Sure to be the hottest ticket in town!   

More on the Cast...
Grammy winner Nestor Torres stars in the role of suave gambling giant Sky Masterson.  Torres, internationally renowned as a Latin jazz flute sensation, will impress Lyric audiences with his acting & singing chops.  Nestor’s gift for spoken word, musicality and his undeniable charisma result in a seamless transition into musical theater.  Devout Nestor Torres fans will be thrilled to know that his famous flute skills will be showcased as well, cleverly integrated into the story and award winning score.  Mr. Torres has been nominated for several Latin Grammy Awards, Torres won it in 2001 for his CD This Side of Paradise. Torres’s most recent Grammy®-nominated CD, Nouveau Latino, heralds the flautist’s exuberant return to his Salsa and Latin Jazz roots. In addition to his achievements in the studio and on the stage, Torres has received numerous awards and commendations, including two honorary doctorates for his commitment to youth, education, and cultural exchanges.

Effervescent opera darling, Lorrianna Colozzo, plays Sky’s love interest Sarah Brown, a Sergeant in the Save-A-Soul Mission. Lorrianna, no stranger to Lyric audiences, has made a name for herself as an opera diva with her sublime soaring soprano voice.  However, her musical theater credits are plentiful, having first burst onto the New York scene performing roles including the leading ladies in Anything Goes, Grease, Pajama Game and Chess. Lorrianna began studying singing at the age of twelve under the direction of Helen Boatwright and Dan Marek of The Mannes School of Music.  She is a graduate of The Peabody Conservatory of Music where she studied with Phyllis Bryn- Julson and Stanley Cornett.  In 2000 she continued her studies with Maestro Anton Guadagno of The Palm Beach Opera. She has been featured in numerous operatic and musical theatre roles nationwide including Fiordiligi Cosi fan Tutte, The Cunning Little Vixen, and Nanetta in Falstaff. Lorrianna has been an award winner in The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.

Comedian, pianist, singer and force of nature, Sarge plays career gambler and kind-hearted shyster, Nathan Detroit. Sarge is an entertainer who has performed worldwide to adoring audiences. His sidesplitting comedy, booming vocals and stunning display of dexterity as a pianist have wowed crowds for decades.  Sarge in the role as Nathan is inspired casting, playing to all of his strengths.  This colorful character role is traditionally played by high energy comedians, the likes of Sam Levine, Bob Hoskins and Nathan Lane; Sarge’s gregarious nature and raucous comedic antics make him an ideal successor.  Of course, audiences will be delighted to see Sarge take to the keys in numbers like “Sit Down You’re Rocking the Boat” and “Adelaide”.   Sarge has opened for some of the biggest names in music - Natalie Cole, Aretha Franklin, Paul Anka, The Beach Boys, The Four Tops, Taylor Dayne, Donna Summer and Wayne Newton, just to name a few. From Radio City Music Hall to Major League Baseball's All-Star game to entertaining our nation's troops in Iraq, Sarge leaves ‘em clamoring for more.

As Miss Adelaide, the nightclub chanteuse and Nathan’s long-suffering fiancée of 14 long years is music theatre veteran, Karin Leone. Karin was most recently seen on The Lyric stage in last season’s rock musical Next to Normal.  A Stuart native, Ms. Leone returned to her hometown, after 8 years of performing nationally in venues in New York, Chicago & Los Angeles and the Kennedy Center.  Leone has been described as having “the panache of the quintessential brassy, Broadway belter”, by famed Theatermania critic, Peter Filichia.  She has been twice nominated by the Star Ledger, for Best Actress in a Musical, for her performance as Rita LaPorta in Lucky Stiff and again for the Vagina Monologues.  In Los Angeles, Karin was nominated for Los Angeles Ovation Award for Best Actress in a Musical in The Kid from Brooklyn.  Karin Leone attended Shenandoah Conservatory and now works for The Lyric Theatre.  


As our host for the evening, we welcome the incomparable Knight Kiplinger, who will read the narrator, as well as playing Arvide Abernathy, Sarah’s wise grandfather, who encourages her to find her true love in “More I Cannot Wish You.”  Mr. Kiplinger is best known as editor in chief of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine, Kiplinger.com and the Kiplinger Letter, America’s leading business-forecasting publication.  Knight has covered business, economic and political trends for nearly three decades, as a newspaper reporter, Washington bureau chief and editor. He is the author of several books, most recently World Boom Ahead, and is a frequent guest on major television and radio programs. What you may not know is that he is also a baritone in The Washington Chorus, an acclaimed symphonic ensemble. He has performed under the batons of such renowned conductors as Mstislav Rostropovich, Seiji Ozawa, and Marin Alsop, at venues ranging from the Kennedy Center and Carnegie Hall to the great cathedrals of Europe, as well as singing on the Grammy winning “Best Classical Recording” of 2000.

Television personality, Greg Rice joins the cast as Big Jule, a big time craps player from Chicago who uses a gun and doesn’t like to lose! Greg and his twin brother John rose to fame with an appearance on The Merv Griffin Show and secured their place in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's “Shortest Living Twins”.  The Rice brothers are household names in Palm Beach County, where they prospered in real estate, ran a motivational company and attained celebrity as the improbable television pitchmen for a local pest control company. Greg Rice became Hulett's marketing director, while John wrote the commercials. Both starred in the ads, which featured them as wacky send-ups of various household insects.  The Rice brothers also appeared on ''Real People," the ''Maury Povich Show," ''That Quiz Show," and in 13 episodes of ''Foul Play," a sitcom that featured them as landlords.

Onstage with our spectacular cast is The Craig Turley Orchestra. For more than two decades, The Craig Turley Orchestra has accompanied prominent artists and entertainers including Bernadette Peters, Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin, Johnny Mathis and Mannheim Steamroller.  Mr. Turley and a 14 piece orchestra will share the stage with the actors, bringing out every cheeky nuance of Frank Loesser’s irreplaceable score.  Hit songs include: “Luck be a Lady”, “Sit Down You’re Rocking the Boat”, “If I Were a Bell”, “Take Back Your Mink” and many more.

Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows’ enduring book, based on a super-vivid story and characters of Damon Runyon, will be abridged in this concert version of the musical, with the focus being on the music. Guys and Dolls in Concert is directed by Jared Walker and choreographed by Elizabeth Casalini.
 


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Monday, March 3, 2014

Rick Braun "A Walk Down Broadway"

This April, the All-American jazz trumpeter Rick Braun presents “A Walk Down Broadway,” an intimate tour through the decades of musical theater excellence. More than just a simple concert, Rick Braun takes the time to share heartwarming and unheard tales from the lives of some of Broadway’s most legendary composers and lyricists. Enjoy a backstage pass to the history of music, as Rick Braun performs classics, such as “Time After Time” and “I’ve Never Been in Love Before.”
 
Inspired by jazz legends Louis Armstrong, Chet Baker, and Dizzie Gillespie, Rick Braun was drawn to the history and power of the trumpet since an early age. Braun attended the Eastman School of Music and built his musical experience performing as a session musician. His 1993 debut album, Intimate Secrets, was a great success, launching the career of the promising contemporary jazz artist. Since then, Rick Braun has consistently topped the charts, not only as a trumpeter but also as a vocalist. Citing the likes of Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennett as vocal inspirations, Braun still attempts to forge his own unique style. The multi-talented performer is celebrated for his minimalist style of singing, taking great care to craft his melodies and lyrics with precision, adapting a “less is more” attitude.
 
Over his career, Rick Braun has performed as a backup vocalist for major artists from Rod Stewart to Sade. His latest album, Rick Braun Sings with Strings is a daring work filled with a variety of genres, influences, and styles. In his memorable “A Walk Down Broadway” performance, Rick brings his musical experience and knowledge to the stage in a unique kind of show that features inspired musical theater interpretations and enlightening tales of Broadway.



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