| Neil Berg's 100 Years of Broadway - Thursday, February 24, 2011 7:30 p.m. |
Neil Berg's 100 Years of Broadway re-creates the biggest moments from the most spectacular shows of the century -- featuring the actual stars that helped make them famous. Select Broadway names light up the stage with revived arrangements of classic songs from Broadway hits like The Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Cats, 9 to 5, It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues, Black and Blue, and Jekyll & Hyde. Celebrate a century of the Great White Way, with songs that span Broadway’s best from George M. Cohan and Irving Berlin to Wicked and Jersey Boys! Bakersfield’s Rabobank Theater will ring with all the greatest music from all the top musicals, hits by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Cole Porter, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Lerner & Lowe, Sondheim, and more, in one glorious evening of theater. The performance will feature Broadway stars Carter Calvert, Sandra Joseph, Craig Schulman, Ivan Rutherford, and Ted Louis Levy. Pre-concert music will be performed by the Mt. Vernon Magnet Show Choir, directed by Catherine Johnson. The choir will be performing excerpts from Alice in Wonderland. Conductor/arranger Berg is the composer and lyricist of several musicals including the hit off-Broadway show The Prince and the Pauper and the Broadway musical Grumpy Old Men. Join BCCA in concert as Neil Berg's 100 Years of Broadway recreates the biggest moments from the biggest shows of the century. It is the only fully staged production featuring actual Broadway performers singing the incredible songs they helped make famous. Numbers like: On Broadway - Smokey Joe's Cafe, All that Jazz - Chicago, This is the moment - Jekyll & Hyde, Tonight - West Side Story, I'm a Woman - Smokey Joe's Cafe, Pinball Wizard - Tommy, Magic to Do - Pippin, Rodgers & Hammerstein Medley - Carousel Oklahoma South Pacific, Memory - Cats, Phantom of the Opera, Music of the Night - Phantom of the Opera, Seasons of Love - Rent. See performances by Carter Calvert, Sandra Joseph, Craig Schulman, Ivan Rutherford, and Ted Louis Levy with Neil Berg as Musical Director and on piano, Roger Cohen on drums, Mikey Hachey on bass, and Dallas Kruse on keyboards. Craig Schulman is the only performer in the world to have performed three of the most extraordinary musical theatre characters ever written. He has appeared in the title roles of Jekyll & Hyde, Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom Of The Opera, and nearly 2,000 performances of Jean Valjean in Les Misérables, on Broadway and around the world. Neil Berg's 100 Years of Broadway Bakersfield Bios
Carter Calvert is best known for originating her role in the Tony nominated, “It Ain’t Nothin’ But The Blues” on Broadway. The New York Times wrote, “Carter Calvert effervesces: her voice echoes chimes in the night” and “Her smoldering grip on “Fever” is positively dangerous”. Previously Ms. Calvert appeared in the World Premiere of “Forbidden Vegas” in a role she originated. New York credits include the Broadway, Original Cast Album and touring productions of “It Ain't Nothin' But The Blues”. Off-Broadway she appeared in “Forbidden Broadway” and “The Thing About Men” at the Promenade Theatre. Ms. Calvert toured Europe in “Smokey Joe's Café,” played Grizabella in the national tour of “Cats,” and appeared as the title role in “Always, Patsy Cline”. Regional credits include: “IANBTB” at Denver Center Theatre Company, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Crossroads Theatre Company, New Victory Theatre, San Diego Repertory Theater. “Sunday in the Park with George” at Arena Stage, “Unsung Cole... and Classics too” and “A Grand Night for Singing” at Cleveland Playhouse, “Honky Tonk Angels” at Cincinnati Playhouse at the Park, "I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” at Theatre By The Sea (Rhode Island) and “Kiss Me Kate” at Theatre Under The Stars (Houston). Television credits include: The David Letterman Show, Rosie O'Donnell Show, and The Today Show. She has opened for Liza Minnelli, The Temptations, Chubby Checker and Marilyn McCoo. In 1993, she was named Best Female Vocalist of the Year by Starsong Records. Downbeat Magazine named her Best Female Jazz Vocalist. Ms. Calvert is also an accomplished voice-over artist and can be seen in numerous national commercials including Wendy’s, Voom, MTV and Charles Schwab. She is currently the voice of Airwick. Ms. Calvert has a debut Jazz CD, called "Fever," available at www.cartercalvert.com.
Sandra Joseph grew up in Detroit and attended Michigan State University before relocating to New York City to pursue a career on Broadway. Sandra played the coveted role of Christine Daae, the female lead in "The Phantom of the Opera," on Broadway and all across the country to critical acclaim. She has the distinct honor of being Phantom’s leading lady on Broadway longer than any other actress in the show’s twenty-two year history. Sandra is currently writing a memoir entitled "Phantom Girl" about her journey from Detroit to Broadway and the decade she spent in Broadway’s most successful show. To be notified when the book becomes available, please sign the mailing list at SandraJoseph.com. Television credits include Law and Order; Law and Order Criminal Intent; Late Night with Conan O'Brien; One Life to Live; As the World Turns, as well as guest appearances on The View and The Oprah Winfrey Show. In addition to performing on and Off-Broadway, in regional theatres across the country, and on television, Sandra is honored to have performed with the acclaimed New York City Opera as Flora in Britten’s "The Turn of the Screw". Sandra is married to her former "Phantom" co-star, actor Ron Bohmer. They live in a quiet suburb about thirty minutes outside of New York City with their two adopted mutts, Griffin and Murphy. Writer, Director, Choreographer, Lead Performer
Ted's professional training began in Chicago with Mr. Finis Henderson II, Master Tap Dancer and former manager of Sammy Davis Jr. Mr. Henderson encouraged Ted to pursue a professional career in the performing arts, which began at The Victory Gardens Theater in Chicago. Mr. Levy made his Broadway debut in the smash hit "Black & Blue". He collaborated with George C. Wolfe and Gregory Hines on the Choreography of Jelly's Last Jam, for which he received a TONY NOMINATION, DRAMA DESK NOMINATION and the 1993 OUTER CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD. Ted was awarded an EMMY AWARD for his television debut performance in the PBS Special Precious Memories, and appeared in Spike Lee's "Malcolm X" for his film debut. His production of "Ted Levy and Friends," directed by Gregory Hines, celebrated Ted as one of America's premier Tap Dance Artists. Influenced by Mr. Hines, Ted acquired his directorial debut as Director of Savion Glover's "Dancing Under The Stars" at the New York Shakespeare Festival's Delacorte Theater. He also assisted in the choreography of Broadway's Tony Award-winning hit "Bring In 'Da Noise! Bring In 'Da Funk!" Ted appeared in the movie "Bojangles" with Gregory Hines, returning to Broadway as Papa Jack in Susan Stroman & Harry Conick Jr.'s "Thou Shalt Not". Ted portrayed the roll of The Mikado in The Ford Theater's production of "The Hot Mikado" for which he won a HELEN HAYES AWARD. Performed as Sammy Davis Sr. in The Leslie Briccusse production based on the musical life of Sammy Davis Jr. Ted's most recent venture is as writer and performer of a production entitled "The Rhythm Of A Life".
Invited to represent the U.S. at the 10th Anniversary of "Les Misérables" in London, Craig Schulman is the only actor in the world to have portrayed three of the greatest musical theatre roles: the Phantom in Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Phantom Of The Opera"; Jean Valjean in "Les Misérables"; and the title roles in "Jekyll & Hyde". He has portrayed Jean Valjean in four different companies in three countries for a total of nearly 2,000 performances. Widely recognized from the PBS broadcast of "The 10th Anniversary: Les Misérables In Concert," he has also played Che in "Evita," Tevye in "Fiddler On The Roof," Archibald in "The Secret Garden," and Father in "Children Of Eden". Schulman moves freely between the worlds of Broadway, opera and symphonic pops programs. He has appeared with many opera companies around the U.S., singing leading tenor roles in "The Tales of Hoffmann," "Tosca," "Madame Butterfly," "Carmen," "Die Fledermaus," "La Bohéme," "La Traviata," "The Crucible," and "Manon'. In 2003, he sang the title role in the world premiere of “Marco Polo In China” in Singapore in Mandarin Chinese! Creator and producer of the internationally acclaimed BROADWAY NIGHTS™ concert series including “THREE PHANTOMS IN CONCERT,” Craig has appeared in concert programs with symphonies and at corporate events around the country. He also sings three solo shows: Craig Schulman On Broadway,” “Heroes, Monsters & Madmen™,” and “A Broadway Valentine”. Craig’s fans keep apprised of his career at www.CraigSchulman.com. His debut CD, recorded in London at Abbey Road Studios is available from www.BroadwayGemsRecords.com.
Ivan Rutherford has performed the role of Jean Valjean in Les Miserables over 2000 times on Broadway, national tours, and most recently in regional theatres across the country. He was honored with the role during the 10th anniversary company in New York, and co-starred alongside Andrea McArdle (original "Annie") at the Ogunquit Playhouse in Maine, and with Lea Salonga on Broadway in the 20th anniversary Les Miz revival. Ivan was also nominated for "Best Actor" for his portrayal of Jean Valjean at the first annual National Broadway Theatre Awards held at the New York Supper Club in NYC. Some other favorite roles include The Caliph in Kismet, Tony in West Side Story, Lt. Joe Cable in South Pacific (Drama-Logue Award) and 2nd Officer Charles Lightoller in the Broadway production of Titanic. Most recently, Ivan was featured as Chester in the reading of Ripper the Musical at the National Alliance of Musical Theatre festival held at New World Stages in New York City. “The immensely sympathetic Ivan Rutherford handles the role of Valjean with dignified assurance, making even the taxing vocal range from baritone to falsetto seem nearly effortless”. – Philip Brandes (LA Times) “Best of all is Ivan Rutherford as the saintly Valjean. This beefy actor with the cherubic countenance emanates a stately calm and focus that never once wavier and a voice that can rumble like thunder or rise to an otherworldly falsetto”. - Pamela Sommers (Washington Post) “Ivan Rutherford as Valjean spins out his prayer Bring Him Home in a beautifully supported and shaped voice. The suspense of his high wire act is released in the longest ovation of the night”. - Bob Graham/Senior Writer (San Francisco Chronicle) Neil Berg - Musical Director and on piano
Neil Berg (Composer/Lyricist) - Neil is the composer/lyricist of the hit Off-Broadway musical “The Prince and the Pauper,” which ran for two years at the Lambs Theater in New York City. The New York Times raved “(Berg’s) music soars on Angel’s wings”. The original cast CD is released internationally on Jay Records, sheet music published by Hal Leonard, and licensing by Samuel French Inc. Songs from this show are also featured with many other classic songs in the official Off-Broadway Songbook, published by Hal Leonard. Neil is currently the composer for the new Broadway-bound musical “Grumpy Old Men,” based on the Warner Brothers movie classic starring Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau, and scheduled to open in 2010/2011. The last developmental reading featured Academy Award-winning actor F. Murray Abraham and TONY Award winner George Hearn, with Marilu Henner, Carole Kane, Ken Page and Vicki Lewis. For more information go to www.grumpyoldmenthemusical.com. Neil is currently collaborating with Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Robert Schenkkan on a new rock musical called "The 12". Following a very successful showcase at the China Club in NYC, featuring Dan Spitz of Anthrax on lead guitar, “The Twelve” is having its World Premiere at the Broward Center in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida on April 1, 2010, and will start touring the US in the 2010/2011 season, produced by Adam Friedson. Neil's latest musical, “The Man Who Would Be King,” with book and lyrics by DJ Salisbury, had a developmental reading/workshop this past summer at The Village Theater in Issaquah, WA, directed by Tony Award winner Brian Yorkey (Next To Normal). This follows a staged reading at the Rubicon Theater in CA last year. This show has been developed with dramaturgical guidance by Moises Kaufman of the Tetonic Theater Project and Adam Friedson. The fully-orchestrated CD recording, featuring Brian d’Arcy James, Marc Kudisch and Mandy Gonzalez, has recently been released, and can be purchased at www.neilberg.com. Neil’s musical “Tim and Scrooge,” with book and lyrics by Nick Meglin (former editor of Mad Magazine), had its first developmental production at the wonderful Elmwood Playhouse in Nyack, NY. It was then voted “one of the best musicals” of the inaugural NYMF festival in NYC, then garnered a rave review in the NY Times after it opened for an Equity run at The Queens Theater in the Park, and was recently presented as a special reading at the Criterion Theater in the London’s West End. Neil also composed the new musical “Heidi,” book by Julia Jordan and commissioned by Douglas Love and the Walden Family Theater. Heidi ran for over eighty performances in its regional premiere in Denver. Other new projects in development are musical versions of "Pollyanna" and "The Count of Monte Cristo". Other commissioned works include “Percy Penguin” for the Penguin Repertory Theater (Joe Brancato, Artistic Director), “Threads” for the Helen Hayes Theater, and “Fiona: The Mother Goose Musical”. Neil was also the recipient of the 1995 Bistro Award for Best Musical for his show "Asylum in the Night," a revue of Neil's theater music. Neil was also the composer/music supervisor on the feature film “Searching For Bobby D.” featuring Carmen Electra, Sandra Bernhard, and Mario Cantone. Also, many of Neil’s theater songs are featured in various Hal Leonard’s Musical Anthologies. Neil studied musical composition with Robert Printz, Sue Peters, and is a product of The BMI Musical Writer’s Workshop, mentored by Maury Yeston and Skip Kennon. Neil is the creator and co-producer of Neil Berg's "100 Years of Broadway,” which is now the number one Broadway touring concert in the United States, currently touring over 120 cities in 2010/2011. For a schedule go to www.neilberg.com. As owner of Leftfield Productions, Inc., Neil has produced over a thousand Broadway concerts worldwide with such stars as Michael Crawford, Bernadette Peters, Ben Vereen, Betty Buckley, Rita Moreno, Donna McKechnie, Liz Callaway, Mark Kudisch, Alice Ripley, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Stephanie Block, and many other greats. Neil is also currently producing, in partnership with Adam Friedson, the Twenty Year Anniversary production of Maltby and Shire’s classic musical revue “Closer Than Ever”. The show will kick off in April of 2010 at the Queens Theater in the Park in Queens, before embarking on a US tour. Neil recently produced the concert version of the Broadway musical “The Secret Garden” in association with its composer, Lucy Simon. He has also produced concert versions of “The Mystery of Edwin Drood,” “Chess,” and “Jesus Christ Superstar”. Neil was the Producing Artistic Director of The Broadway Series at the world famous China Club in NYC. Over the past 20 years, Neil has been the musical director/entertainment coordinator for such great organizations as Covenant House, and The Leukemia Society of America. He has produced countless corporate events all across the world for UBS/Paine Webber, Goldman Sachs, Deloitte Touche, John Hancock, Marriott Corporation, IBM, The United Hospice Organization, The American Red Cross, and many others. For his charitable contributions Neil was honored in 2001 as The American Red Cross Man of the Year, and was honored again in 2003 by The United Hospice Foundation. In 2008, Neil was awarded “Artist of the Year” by the Arts Council of Rockland County. In May 2010, Neil is being honored by The Rockland Family Shelter for his efforts on behalf of abused women. Neil can be heard on radio around the country with his jingle for Shock Coffee. Neil also toured the US with rock band Joe D'Urso & Stone Caravan and played on their past seven CDs as well as performed with them on the recent 100 Year Anniversary Tour for Harley Davidson. Neil is the proud co-owner, with John Asselta, of the SJR Theater Workshop, a theater camp for students in Montvale NJ, which instructs over 200 young actors/singers a year. This program is now run year round. For more information please go to www.sjrtheater.com. Neil is a proud member of the Dramatis Guild, and can be reached at www.neilberg.com. Neil dedicates everything to his wife, Rita Harvey, and their son, Lucas David Berg. Roger Cohen - Drums
Roger has performed with Martin Short, Rita Moreno, Sir Cliff Richard, Kathy Lee Gifford, Bernadette Peters, Betty Buckley, Dom DeLouise, Christy Brinkley, Rupert Holmes, Lorraine Bracco & more. Roger has also been worked with soap opera stars Martha Byrne and Michael Park (“As The World Turns”) and Progressive rock superstars James Labrie and Jordan Rudess (Dream Theater). He performed on national television with Rob Evan (“Jekyll & Hyde”) and Jim Steinman at The U.S. Open. Roger was the drummer for the off-Broadway show “The Joys of Sex.” Roger demonstrated his exciting approach to soloing when he took First Place honors in New Jersey in Guitar Center’s National Drum-Off Competition, earning raves from Danny Gottlieb (Pat Metheny’s drummer). Roger’s writing has been published in “Modern Drummer “ magazine, as well as being featured in their “On the Move” column. Roger can be heard on the soundtrack to Carmen Electra’s recent film, “Searching for Bobby D.” He is also on national radio jingles for “Lycos” and “Shock Coffee”. Roger is very excited about his new project, The Grasshopper Band, featuring the multi-talented Ella K. Shmella. Another role that is very important to him is his role as mentor in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program (BBBS.org). Modern Drummer Magazine: “Roger’s playing reveals an admirable combination of power, musical creativity and restraint.” Time Out NY: "Mr. Cohen has one of the most appropriate and sensitive touches of any percussionist in the field." The Barbados Advocate: “It would be unforgivable to end this review without mentioning the disciplined drumming skills of Roger Cohen, whose range and rhythm not only bring out the best in vocals, but provide a richly satisfying percussion component.” Danny Gottlieb: "... one of the most original and musical solos I’ve heard in a very long time!" Mikey Hachey - Bass
Mikey Hackey is a professional electric and upright bass player, studio artist, vocalist, and teacher. Mikey has performed thousands of professional live shows on bass and backing vocals, including performances at Downtown Disney and Disneyland’s Tomorrowland Terrace stage as well as several tours throughout the US and Canada and parts of Europe including Germany, Holland, and the UK. Mikey has also performed live on TV on the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon for the past six consecutive years. His national tours include performing with bands such as Reel Big Fish, Less Than Jake, Goldfinger and Miley Cyrus. Mikey studied at California State University/Fullerton as a music performance and education major. Mikey can be found at http://www.slmikey.com and http://myspace.com/mhachey . Dallas Kruse- Keyboards
Some know Orange County native Dallas Kruse as a producer, the “arranger”, engineer, multi‐instrumentalist, songwriter, or even as the guest keytarist of local pop outfit Suburban Legends. And in fact he esteems to all of those titles and more; orchestrating his multifaceted career from the Santa Ana self‐owned full production recording studio, Zion Studios. Spawning from a musically inclined family, young Dallas studied piano, Hammond organ, and sang in local church choirs with his father from the age of 12. By 17 he had assumed the roles of Music Minister and Choir Director for the first 50‐voice gospel choir and 10‐piece band, horn section and string quartet of Crossroads Community Church. Dallas’ musical endeavors quickly spread beyond the church walls as he began writing, orchestrating, and producing large‐scale commissioned musical productions and performing with various local bands. As a band‐member with increasing producing and arranging capabilities, he realized that the highest quality produced song had its roots in the initial creative process. By 2005 Dallas was writing, arranging, and producing for most of the bands he was a member of under company alias, Zion. In September of 2008, Dallas built a safe‐haven where the process met the product, officially opening the doors of Zion Studios in Santa Ana, CA. Zion Studios is a full production recording studio where artists in residence have the opportunity to not only produce a song or album, but to utilize Dallas’ unprecedented multi-instrumental, song writing, engineering, and arranging skills throughout their creative endeavor. “We have 20ft ceilings, wood floors and walls, 3 Hammond organs (the REAL old ones, NOT the new digital ones), vintage keyboards and guitars ...the room sounds amazing so throw up some mics and get the artist in the moment and record!” says Kruse. “I try and make it as comfortable as possible for the artists so they feel like they’re coming into a cozy living room and just gonna sing some songs.” And Dallas’ good natured hospitality aside incomparable abilities keeps artists pouring in the doors with recent production and engineering credits including Suburban Legends “Let’s Be Friends…and Slay the Dragon Together”, Melanoid “Asleep in the Wake”, and Annie Bethancourt’s “Three Hundred Suns” to name a few. With a consistently full house at Zion, Dallas still manages to keep his on‐stage career in full force currently gigging with Justin Grennan, Melanoid, Barrett Johnson, The Project and Europe’s #1 Billboard chart topper, Until June. “My influences are people who tend to do things on the grandiose side...so “less is more” is something I strive for, but the voices in my head keep telling me to STACK IT!” What Artists Are Saying “Dallas Kruse is certainly the best session B3 and keyboardist I’ve seen or worked with in LA. I always laugh that it’s only a matter of time before he stops returning our gig calls cause he’s booked out withvSting.” – Josh Ballard, Until June “Not only is Dallas Kruse an incredibly talented musician, he is also an excellent songwriter, multiinstrumentalist, producer and arranger. He has produced an eclectic assortment of music and I am always amazed at how he can go from one genre to the next while being an ace at all of them. I’ve heard gospel, folk, rock, pop, soul, and R&B from him and it all has that special touch that only he can give. Ultimately it is all about the song for him and getting that across is what he does best as a producer.” - John Hanson, Melanoid “Working with Dallas as a producer has shaped and influenced the way I approach music now in so many different ways. I could go on and on, but just being around the guy is a lesson in life.” – Vince Walker, Suburban Legends To sum up: Neil Berg's 100 Years of Broadway revives the greatest show-stoppers of the last century. Stars who lit up the Great White Way in shows like Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, Jekyll and Hyde, Fiddler on The Roof, Wonderful Town, Tarzan,Cats, The Woman in White and It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues singing the finest hit songs of the last 100 years of Broadway musicals will shine again on the Rabobank Theater stage. Revel in well-worn favorites by Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Leonard Bernstein, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Frank Loesser and Frankie Valli. This isn't just a taste of Broadway—it’s a full sampling of the century. The show explores the evolution of the Broadway musical from the point of view of the performers. Five singers tell the stories of how they became who they are. It’s personal, intimate, and warm. The show provides background history, while also presenting the most familiar songs from the greatest shows in history.
Welcome to the Rabobank Theater Neil Berg's 100 Years of Broadway for a delightful evening of music from Broadway performed by actual Broadway stars.
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