All righty then...
I began to write this in early March but somehow the mind never fully engaged. Too much to do, think about and take care of, I guess.
Let's go back to February. 3 Concerts with the wonderful Elgin Symphony, featuring Rich Ridenour on piano. I really love this Orchestra. Gershwin's Concerto in F, Warsaw Concerto and a number of Movie selections made this a fun concert. Next time, I have to get a car. I was in the hotel in Elgin, working on proposals and other fun things, and never got out during the day. Should have at least made the trek into Chicago but the weather was horrible and the room was warm and dry.
Went right from there to Tahlequah, Ok. for a Big Band concert with a local band and Brian Anthony, singing Sinatra. Band was from Tulsa and they played their butts off. Amazing the number of really fine players to be found all over the place these days, if you know where to look. Brian did a fun selection of Sinatra songs,and not just the usuals either. He does Pennies From Heaven and All I Need Is The Girl, among others. I made him do Skin and NY NY or we would have been run out of town. In the end, the audience loved him and the show and I really developed a fondness for the area. Right in the middle of the Cherokee Nation, it was a place I look forward to seeing again in the near future. Loved the people and the town.
Followed this up with a Bernstein Sondheim Tribute with the Santa Rosa Symphony. Songs from West Side Story, Sweeney Todd, Company, Candide, Forum, Night Music and more. Sarah Uriarte Berry and Eric Van Hoven. Both wonderfully talented singers who covered everything from Glitter and Be Gay to Getting Married Today and Maria to Little Priest. A lot to ask of two singers and these guys covered all the bases!
March found me at Carnegie Hall. playing drums on the Tribute To Judy Garland with the NY Pops.
A recreation of the 1961 April 23 comeback concert, it featured three Broadway singers, Ashley Brown, Karen Olivo and Heather Headley plus Lorna Luft. Lorna was really on, having flown all night from Palm Springs. Her renditions of The Man That Got Away, Come Rain Or Come Shine and Rock A Bye were really tremendous and gave the evening the jolt it needed. I thought the Pops played the music very well and our rhythm section of Jay Leonhart, Lee Musiker, Steve Bargonetti and myself had a ball playing together and making it feel good.
Two nights a Feinstein's with singer Jane Harvey along with Mike Renzi and Chip Jackson. Always great to play with Renzoid and Chip and I have years of road work together...just count it off and let us go. Jane did some of her Sondheim material and it was a challenge to play softly enough for her and still make it happen. Nice to see so many friends in the audience.
Next, back to Santa Rosa for two nights of Stayin Alive, a spot on sound alike Pops group from Canada covering the BeeGees musical canon.
Biggest audiences of the season! People dancing in the aisles, dancing in the balcony...even the cello section got up and danced! Hope to work with this group again!
Coming up...a Gala with Marvin Hamlisch in New Brunswick, NJ. Pops concerts in the future...Long Beach, Ca., Silicon Valley Symphony, California Symphony, Santa Rosa Symphony, Naples Symphony, Columbus Symphony, Southwest Florida Symphony and more to come!
Big Band gigs coming up...Buffalo, NY, Rochester, NY, Minnesota, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and more! Will keep everyone posted as to when, where, who, what and why!
Many symphony Orchestras are filing for Bankruptcy. The business model has to change folks. The marketing campaign has to change folks. We need to be relevant to our communities. The world is changing...we need not only to continue to perform the greatest music ever written but we also need to be thinking about how we can become an indispensable part of the cultural lives of where we perform. Got to do this smarter and better...I'd hate to think this would all be gone in 25 years...or that the Boards of these Orchestras were filing for Chapter 7 just to get out of paying pensions.
Oh well..
Until next time...
Berk
Friday, April 22, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
February..the Shortest Month and yet...
Hey,
We're back again. About to embark on three concerts with the Elgin Symphony. Rich Ridenour is the piano soloist. Concerto in F, Exodus, Warsaw Concerto and me, playing the piano os Concerto for Index Finger, done originally by Gracie Allen.
Then, beautiful Tahlequah, OK. awaits for a big band concert on the 22nd of Feb. Singer Brian Anthony will be doing the Sinatra songbook...and some very interesting choices on the program. Should be fun.
And then, the mighty Santa Rosa Pops on the 26/27 in a Tribute to the Music of Lenny and Steve. Bernstein and Sondheim, that is.
This Winter has been the worst in many a year. Today the temperatures reached 58 degrees so we are getting a bit of a thaw. Nice to get rid of this dirty snow and slickery ice.
The lovely Deirdre and I attended a Valentine's Concert yesterday. Two singers doing Opera love duets. In a local church. Very nice way to spend an hour or two.
And then we began to discuss the Nature of Friendship over a Pizza. Over the years, I have always marveled at people who are surrounded by friends. The phone never stops ringing, dinners with pals, vacations together, backyard cookouts in the Summer...I have spent my entire life trying to figure out how to get that to happen to me. i have almost 2000 friends on Facebook but they never call or write, although I get a nice response to my almost daily status updates. It seems that my entire life is pretty much about my Music and my Wife and our kids. My son has a large network of friends, some from college, many others not. I have been in NY for over 31 years and pretty much can count on one hand the people I feel I can call. Now, it's true, I have lost some very close friends over the years to illnesses and worse, and perhaps those people are impossible to replace. But still, I wonder what makes the gathering of many friends so easy for some, and seemingly so difficult for myself. Luckily, I am married to the greatest person in the World, and maybe having a relationship so close and so mutually fulfilling doesn't make room for a whole lot more.
So, if you have any answers or insights to the above, let me know. I'd love to hear your take on the matter.
See you in a week or two.
MB
We're back again. About to embark on three concerts with the Elgin Symphony. Rich Ridenour is the piano soloist. Concerto in F, Exodus, Warsaw Concerto and me, playing the piano os Concerto for Index Finger, done originally by Gracie Allen.
Then, beautiful Tahlequah, OK. awaits for a big band concert on the 22nd of Feb. Singer Brian Anthony will be doing the Sinatra songbook...and some very interesting choices on the program. Should be fun.
And then, the mighty Santa Rosa Pops on the 26/27 in a Tribute to the Music of Lenny and Steve. Bernstein and Sondheim, that is.
This Winter has been the worst in many a year. Today the temperatures reached 58 degrees so we are getting a bit of a thaw. Nice to get rid of this dirty snow and slickery ice.
The lovely Deirdre and I attended a Valentine's Concert yesterday. Two singers doing Opera love duets. In a local church. Very nice way to spend an hour or two.
And then we began to discuss the Nature of Friendship over a Pizza. Over the years, I have always marveled at people who are surrounded by friends. The phone never stops ringing, dinners with pals, vacations together, backyard cookouts in the Summer...I have spent my entire life trying to figure out how to get that to happen to me. i have almost 2000 friends on Facebook but they never call or write, although I get a nice response to my almost daily status updates. It seems that my entire life is pretty much about my Music and my Wife and our kids. My son has a large network of friends, some from college, many others not. I have been in NY for over 31 years and pretty much can count on one hand the people I feel I can call. Now, it's true, I have lost some very close friends over the years to illnesses and worse, and perhaps those people are impossible to replace. But still, I wonder what makes the gathering of many friends so easy for some, and seemingly so difficult for myself. Luckily, I am married to the greatest person in the World, and maybe having a relationship so close and so mutually fulfilling doesn't make room for a whole lot more.
So, if you have any answers or insights to the above, let me know. I'd love to hear your take on the matter.
See you in a week or two.
MB
Monday, January 24, 2011
2011 is in Full Schving!
Hello Music Lovers,
Just off the Red Eye from San Francisco to Newark. Concert Sunday afternoon with the California Symphony and then on the plane at 10:20, arriving NY at 6:30 AM. New Jersey Transit train to Penn Station and then, that fog that comes with total lack of sleep.
Not sure about continuing the Red Eye for future trips. I love not losing an entire day at Home but the passengers on every one of these flights has included an array of characters more likely to be found in a Fellini movie or the Star Wars Cantina. And TSA still won't allow me to take my Light Saber on board...just for my protection, of course.
California Symphony was wonderful. Quick rehearsal where we went through a Mess O' Music and then a concert two hours later. Copland/Rodeo...Carmen Suites 1 & 2, Gypsy Overture, Star Wars Throne Room and End Title, ET Flying Theme, West Side Story...Man, my arm was killing me! A large number of the members of the Orchestra had recorded and toured with John Williams and when they played his music, it was AMAZING! I just sat back and enjoyed the ride,
Next up...Elgin Symphony with Rich Ridenour, Big Band gig with me and Brian Anthony doing Sinatra Songbook in beautiful Tahlequah, Ok. followed by Bernstein and Sondheim concert w/Santa Rosa Symphony.
Still too cold here in the East. We have got to get out of here and move to a place where the Sun likes to shine and warm is in the air.
Back for more soon.
Best,
MB
Just off the Red Eye from San Francisco to Newark. Concert Sunday afternoon with the California Symphony and then on the plane at 10:20, arriving NY at 6:30 AM. New Jersey Transit train to Penn Station and then, that fog that comes with total lack of sleep.
Not sure about continuing the Red Eye for future trips. I love not losing an entire day at Home but the passengers on every one of these flights has included an array of characters more likely to be found in a Fellini movie or the Star Wars Cantina. And TSA still won't allow me to take my Light Saber on board...just for my protection, of course.
California Symphony was wonderful. Quick rehearsal where we went through a Mess O' Music and then a concert two hours later. Copland/Rodeo...Carmen Suites 1 & 2, Gypsy Overture, Star Wars Throne Room and End Title, ET Flying Theme, West Side Story...Man, my arm was killing me! A large number of the members of the Orchestra had recorded and toured with John Williams and when they played his music, it was AMAZING! I just sat back and enjoyed the ride,
Next up...Elgin Symphony with Rich Ridenour, Big Band gig with me and Brian Anthony doing Sinatra Songbook in beautiful Tahlequah, Ok. followed by Bernstein and Sondheim concert w/Santa Rosa Symphony.
Still too cold here in the East. We have got to get out of here and move to a place where the Sun likes to shine and warm is in the air.
Back for more soon.
Best,
MB
Monday, December 20, 2010
End of the Year...Let's Wrap This One Up...
December. Made it through a very strange and interesting and sad and happy year.
The year began with Liza and me no longer working together. That's Show Biz. My time with her was marked by playing some incredible concerts all over the World. The band was great... Chip Jackson, Liza's longtime Bass player who I brought back to the gig, said the band had never sounded better. Liza and I were great pals, eating dinner, riding together on planes and in cars, talking for hours and sharing confidences and trusting each other. After some new people came into Liza's world, everything changed. I was on the other team, along with her manager of 31 years, her agents, her lawyer and her assistants. Oh well, I've seen it happen time and time again. Someone new comes in, and all the old people are gone. I'm not about to judge anyone else about these things but I will say that Liza had a great team around her while I was there and leave it at that.
So, I then had to reinvigorate my other work, Conducting Symphony Pops and doing Shows for Performing Arts Centers...things I had let go in order to do all of Minnelli's gigs. For a while a tour was talked about with Susan Boyle, with me conducting the Orchestra and handling the Musical logistics. After the tour was rebooked three times and I almost got on a plane to Scotland, it was decided that Susan wasn't going to tour...and in light of various incidents over the past year, I guess that was a good thing. But it's too bad that Susan isn't touring...Millions of people would love to hear her sing in person all over the World. Maybe next year.
I needed some time to cool out. Did my gigs that were booked with Orchestras plus some Krupa Band tours with the Four Freshman, etc. and then just came home to relax and recover.
Began to visit with old friends in the Production World. Meetings and Events, etc. Decided I would dive back into that business for the time being as it's something I know how to do well and it's fairly lucrative.
Went back to work in July in the office World. Nice to be in an environment that wasn't so nuts, although the pressure to produce in the Production biz is quite intense. In the meantime, I began to get some new shows together for Pops Orchestras and started the Marketing Campaign for those. We have had some great success with my new Programs and I'll be doing concerts all over the US again with Orchestras in California (3), Illinois, Indiana, Connecticut, Florida and many more. Plus a new tour of my Sinatra and Basie at The Sands show is being booked and it looks like we will be touring that as well.
In October, my very dear friend and Liza's manager of 31 years, Gary Labriola, passed away. A lifetime of doing business with Artist's like Sinatra, Liza, Steve and Eydie and many more, came to an end. For whatever reasons, he is no longer with us and especially in the Holiday Season, I'm finding it hard to believe that he's not a phone call away. Tragic stuff.
What have I learned this year? Loyalty is a very important thing and very hard to come by. Sincerity, friendship, honesty, trust...Worth more than Gold. To my friends who have stuck around over the years, thanks. It means more than you will ever know. To my fair weather friends, those just looking for something or keeping options open...I know who you are.
In November I was asked to be a part of a Tribute to Al Cobine in Bloomington, Indiana. Al's band was the group behind Henry Mancini, Johnny Mathis and many more stars over the years and it's where I got my start.
Al's drummer, and my friend, Jack Gilfoy, who had been traveling with me whenever we had a Mancini Pops Concert, passed away last year so I was called to take over his drum chair for the Tribute. I was honored to be asked. I brought some of Jack's cymbals with me to Bloomington, so that Jack would be there in more ways than just Spirit. It was a great night. I enjoyed the band, the music was superb and the audience danced all night. Wonderful to see old friends llke Gary Potter and Mike Lucas, plus many more. This was a homecoming to me and one that was badly needed this year. I thank everyone who was a part of that magical night.
On the homefront, the lovely Deirdre and I are still on our Honeymoon, after 21 years. Our 17 year old Kitty named Taz is driving us crazy and we love him for it, all our children are doing what they want to do and are living their lives beautifully.
May 2011 be the best year ever. My kindest wishes for all of you out there and keep in touch. It's nice to hear from friends...old and new.
Mike Berkowitz
December 20, 2010
The year began with Liza and me no longer working together. That's Show Biz. My time with her was marked by playing some incredible concerts all over the World. The band was great... Chip Jackson, Liza's longtime Bass player who I brought back to the gig, said the band had never sounded better. Liza and I were great pals, eating dinner, riding together on planes and in cars, talking for hours and sharing confidences and trusting each other. After some new people came into Liza's world, everything changed. I was on the other team, along with her manager of 31 years, her agents, her lawyer and her assistants. Oh well, I've seen it happen time and time again. Someone new comes in, and all the old people are gone. I'm not about to judge anyone else about these things but I will say that Liza had a great team around her while I was there and leave it at that.
So, I then had to reinvigorate my other work, Conducting Symphony Pops and doing Shows for Performing Arts Centers...things I had let go in order to do all of Minnelli's gigs. For a while a tour was talked about with Susan Boyle, with me conducting the Orchestra and handling the Musical logistics. After the tour was rebooked three times and I almost got on a plane to Scotland, it was decided that Susan wasn't going to tour...and in light of various incidents over the past year, I guess that was a good thing. But it's too bad that Susan isn't touring...Millions of people would love to hear her sing in person all over the World. Maybe next year.
I needed some time to cool out. Did my gigs that were booked with Orchestras plus some Krupa Band tours with the Four Freshman, etc. and then just came home to relax and recover.
Began to visit with old friends in the Production World. Meetings and Events, etc. Decided I would dive back into that business for the time being as it's something I know how to do well and it's fairly lucrative.
Went back to work in July in the office World. Nice to be in an environment that wasn't so nuts, although the pressure to produce in the Production biz is quite intense. In the meantime, I began to get some new shows together for Pops Orchestras and started the Marketing Campaign for those. We have had some great success with my new Programs and I'll be doing concerts all over the US again with Orchestras in California (3), Illinois, Indiana, Connecticut, Florida and many more. Plus a new tour of my Sinatra and Basie at The Sands show is being booked and it looks like we will be touring that as well.
In October, my very dear friend and Liza's manager of 31 years, Gary Labriola, passed away. A lifetime of doing business with Artist's like Sinatra, Liza, Steve and Eydie and many more, came to an end. For whatever reasons, he is no longer with us and especially in the Holiday Season, I'm finding it hard to believe that he's not a phone call away. Tragic stuff.
What have I learned this year? Loyalty is a very important thing and very hard to come by. Sincerity, friendship, honesty, trust...Worth more than Gold. To my friends who have stuck around over the years, thanks. It means more than you will ever know. To my fair weather friends, those just looking for something or keeping options open...I know who you are.
In November I was asked to be a part of a Tribute to Al Cobine in Bloomington, Indiana. Al's band was the group behind Henry Mancini, Johnny Mathis and many more stars over the years and it's where I got my start.
Al's drummer, and my friend, Jack Gilfoy, who had been traveling with me whenever we had a Mancini Pops Concert, passed away last year so I was called to take over his drum chair for the Tribute. I was honored to be asked. I brought some of Jack's cymbals with me to Bloomington, so that Jack would be there in more ways than just Spirit. It was a great night. I enjoyed the band, the music was superb and the audience danced all night. Wonderful to see old friends llke Gary Potter and Mike Lucas, plus many more. This was a homecoming to me and one that was badly needed this year. I thank everyone who was a part of that magical night.
On the homefront, the lovely Deirdre and I are still on our Honeymoon, after 21 years. Our 17 year old Kitty named Taz is driving us crazy and we love him for it, all our children are doing what they want to do and are living their lives beautifully.
May 2011 be the best year ever. My kindest wishes for all of you out there and keep in touch. It's nice to hear from friends...old and new.
Mike Berkowitz
December 20, 2010
Friday, November 19, 2010
A lovely note from a happy Buyer in Aurora, Illinos:
November 2010
To Whom It May Concern:
If you are looking to book top notch entertainment with incredible crowd appeal, look no further! Live at the Sands-A Tribute to Sinatra and Basie with the Michael Berkowitz Band & Tony Babino is the show for you. In addition to their spot on sound and their professionalism, their product sells to all ages.
We recently had the privilege of presenting this show and were so pleased with the performance and the audience reaction. Don’t miss out on this sure sell out.
Valerie Devine
Production Manager
Paramount Theatre
What's new?
After a busy October, with stops in California, Illinois, Texas and Indiana, things are quieting down for the Holidays.
2 weeks ago I did get to be a part of the Al Cobine Big Band in Bloomington, Indiana. Alumni Hall at the Student Union Building was the venue. Great to see people and play music in a place I last set foot in 1971!
A tour of the IU Music Building with Dr. Gary Potter convinced me that the Jacobs School of Music has the finest facilities in the World...and they're in beautiful Bloomington...Southern Indiana.
Thanksgiving coming up and we are expecting a full house. Looking for some last minute decor to add some fun to the dinner. Unfortunately, I think all of the Air supported Turkeys are Sold Out in my neighborhood.
Concerts coming up include Bernstein and Sondheim Tributes, Judy at Carnegie Hall concerts and more things next time.
Happy Holidaze!
MB
November 2010
To Whom It May Concern:
If you are looking to book top notch entertainment with incredible crowd appeal, look no further! Live at the Sands-A Tribute to Sinatra and Basie with the Michael Berkowitz Band & Tony Babino is the show for you. In addition to their spot on sound and their professionalism, their product sells to all ages.
We recently had the privilege of presenting this show and were so pleased with the performance and the audience reaction. Don’t miss out on this sure sell out.
Valerie Devine
Production Manager
Paramount Theatre
What's new?
After a busy October, with stops in California, Illinois, Texas and Indiana, things are quieting down for the Holidays.
2 weeks ago I did get to be a part of the Al Cobine Big Band in Bloomington, Indiana. Alumni Hall at the Student Union Building was the venue. Great to see people and play music in a place I last set foot in 1971!
A tour of the IU Music Building with Dr. Gary Potter convinced me that the Jacobs School of Music has the finest facilities in the World...and they're in beautiful Bloomington...Southern Indiana.
Thanksgiving coming up and we are expecting a full house. Looking for some last minute decor to add some fun to the dinner. Unfortunately, I think all of the Air supported Turkeys are Sold Out in my neighborhood.
Concerts coming up include Bernstein and Sondheim Tributes, Judy at Carnegie Hall concerts and more things next time.
Happy Holidaze!
MB
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Gary Labriola
Gary Paul Labriola July 8, 1954 - October 17, 2010
Gary Labriola took care of people. His Family, his friends, everyone on the road and on tour...Gary was there and Gary made it better.
From the Streets of the Bronx, Arthur Avenue, Hartsdale, NY., Parkland, Florida...Gary made it better.
He was the best at whatever he did...Selling T shirts and posters, building houses and apartments, arranging for pianos in foreign countries an hour before show time, getting work permits in the UK at 5:30 before an 8 pm Show. Gary got it done. That's what he did. He made it better.
He lived by a Code. Loyalty to your friends. Family comes first. Share the Wealth. Protect your people. Make it work. Make it better.
He loved good food. He loved to go to a ball game. Loved his dogs and feeding the cats in the barn. He loved to power wash everything. Simple things, simple pleasures.
He was the best friend you could ever have. And we will all miss him. I think the following might apply to Gary more than anyone else I've ever known.
"When you succeeded, he stood back and took no credit. When you failed, he was always the first one at your side."
Sleep Warm.
Mike Berkowitz
Gary Labriola took care of people. His Family, his friends, everyone on the road and on tour...Gary was there and Gary made it better.
From the Streets of the Bronx, Arthur Avenue, Hartsdale, NY., Parkland, Florida...Gary made it better.
He was the best at whatever he did...Selling T shirts and posters, building houses and apartments, arranging for pianos in foreign countries an hour before show time, getting work permits in the UK at 5:30 before an 8 pm Show. Gary got it done. That's what he did. He made it better.
He lived by a Code. Loyalty to your friends. Family comes first. Share the Wealth. Protect your people. Make it work. Make it better.
He loved good food. He loved to go to a ball game. Loved his dogs and feeding the cats in the barn. He loved to power wash everything. Simple things, simple pleasures.
He was the best friend you could ever have. And we will all miss him. I think the following might apply to Gary more than anyone else I've ever known.
"When you succeeded, he stood back and took no credit. When you failed, he was always the first one at your side."
Sleep Warm.
Mike Berkowitz
Thursday, October 7, 2010
This should be fun!
TODAY'S BEST BET
Pocket Sandwich gets spooky with ‘Dracula: The Melodrama’
View Full Calendar »
SHOW VS. SHOW • Mother & child reunion
Posted on 07 Oct 2010 at 7:07pm
On the same weekend, Dallas gets Liza Minnelli at the DSO and Debbie Gravitte in a Judy Garland tribute
Call it serendipity, but when Liza Minnelli stops by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra the same weekend as Irving Arts Center’s tribute to Judy Garland, we have to shed a tear. In a very special installment of Show vs. Show, we couldn’t resist pitting “mother” against daughter.
Minnelli is an icon in so many ways. Whether she’s a movie legend based on her Oscar-winning star turn as Sally Bowles in 1972’s Cabaret or as a drag queen go-to with that signature short hair and adorable warbly voice, Minnelli is literally the stuff of legends — hardly the case with many of today’s stars.
But she’s also Liza. As in the woman who keeps marrying the non-marrying kind (translation: gay) or the lady who always seems a bit on the nutty end of the ice cream bar, We wonder, “What is up with her?” And we love her just for that.
An Evening With Judy Garland showcases Debbie Gravitte singing signature Garland tunes on the anniversary of Judy’s famous Carnegie Hall show. Don’t expect a Rufus Wainwright type recreation: Gravitte and music director Michael Berkowitz inject their own personalties into the show (see sidebar).
Will Liza’s legendary status trump the weekend, or will Gravitte knock this show out of the park? Choices, choices…
………………….
Liza
…. is a true diva with an Oscar, Tony and an Emmy to her name.
…. married some friends of Dorothy.
…. embarrassingly performed Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” on the Sex and the City 2 soundtrack — which we hope she doesn’t do at this show.
…. was on Larry King recently, expressing sympathy and empathy for Lindsay Lohan’s drug use and alcoholism.
…. had her solo Broadway show, Liza’s At the Palace…!, replacing the musical Legally Blonde.
…. had a small comeback in 1989 by going in a different musical direction with her album Results, produced by the Pet Shop Boys.
…. hocked her velvet jumpsuits on Home Shopping Network.
…. has embraced her gay icon status, even performing at Pride in Paris last year.
…. performs with Dallas Symphony Orchestra at the Meyerson Symphony Center, 2301 Flora St. Oct 8 and 9 at 8 p.m. $45–$122. DallasSymphony.com.
……………………………..
Judy (aka Debbie)
…. got a miniature Oscar for her role as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz — ouch. (Gravitte has her own Tony, though, for Jerome Robbins’ Broadway).
…. Was Dorothy. And she married some friends of Dorothy. Apparently a genetic trait.
…. embarrassingly messed up some of the words in her famous Carnegie Hall appearance. Still, “Single Ladies” trumps that.
…. was the Lindsay Lohan of her day. Minus the paparazzi.
…. had her Carnegie show recreated detail for detail by gay singer Rufus Wainwright.
…. had several comebacks including Oscar-nominated performances in A Star is Born and Judgment at Nuremberg
…. had a better idea with that red velvet gown from Meet Me in St. Louis.
…. embraced gay men as husbands but responded to a reporter about her iconic status, “I couldn’t care less. I sing to people.” Umm, we guess that’s cool.
…. isn’t portrayed by Debbie Gravitte as much as she is celebrated, which Gravitte discusses further below.
— Rich Lopez
……………………………..
Recreating a legend
Debbie Gravitte just found out that her show where she performs Judy Garland songs is the same weekend Liza Minnelli comes to Dallas. The scheduling conflict for friends of Dorothy could have massive repercussions, but it is an easy (and obvious fix).
“There is a perfect way to work it out,” Gravitte says. “See her on Friday and see me on Saturday.”
Gravitte teams up with former Minnelli music director Michael Berkowitz, pictured, for An Evening With Judy Garland at the Irving Arts Center Saturday. The solo show commemorates Garland’s iconic Carnegie Hall concert exactly 50 years ago. But Gravitte assures that she is not doing a Judy impersonation.
“This is a tribute, a celebration of this one incredible night of her life,” she says. “I don’t look anything like her and maybe I sound like her a tiny bit, but it’s not like we are recreating Judy. We want to channel that joyful part of her instead of recalling the tragic.”
With a full orchestra behind her, Gravitte would even venture to say this is more of a concert than a show; Berkowitz agrees. His closeness to Garland’s material is far beyond just his work with Minnelli.
“I was always a fan. I was a friend of Bill LaVorgna, Liza’s drummer before me. Bill and I knew each other for 40 years. I first heard his playing on the Garland Carnegie Hall recording. That alone was worth it to me.”
As for the dueling shows, Berkowitz thinks anyone who gets out to either comes out ahead.
“I didn’t know Liza May was in town this weekend as well,” he says. “It’s going to be a double header of great music and entertainment.”
Gravitte knows the gays are gonna hold her to task, but she’s not daunted. In fact, she even challenges her audience a bit.
“I welcome everyone to come dressed in their best Judy,” she says. “We are gonna do a sing along and I want people to sing every fucking line!”
— Rich Lopez
Irving Arts Center, 3333 N. MacArthur
Blvd., Irving. Oct 9 at 8 p.m. $19–$54.
IrvingArtsCenter.com.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition October 8, 2010.
Pocket Sandwich gets spooky with ‘Dracula: The Melodrama’
View Full Calendar »
SHOW VS. SHOW • Mother & child reunion
Posted on 07 Oct 2010 at 7:07pm
On the same weekend, Dallas gets Liza Minnelli at the DSO and Debbie Gravitte in a Judy Garland tribute
Call it serendipity, but when Liza Minnelli stops by the Dallas Symphony Orchestra the same weekend as Irving Arts Center’s tribute to Judy Garland, we have to shed a tear. In a very special installment of Show vs. Show, we couldn’t resist pitting “mother” against daughter.
Minnelli is an icon in so many ways. Whether she’s a movie legend based on her Oscar-winning star turn as Sally Bowles in 1972’s Cabaret or as a drag queen go-to with that signature short hair and adorable warbly voice, Minnelli is literally the stuff of legends — hardly the case with many of today’s stars.
But she’s also Liza. As in the woman who keeps marrying the non-marrying kind (translation: gay) or the lady who always seems a bit on the nutty end of the ice cream bar, We wonder, “What is up with her?” And we love her just for that.
An Evening With Judy Garland showcases Debbie Gravitte singing signature Garland tunes on the anniversary of Judy’s famous Carnegie Hall show. Don’t expect a Rufus Wainwright type recreation: Gravitte and music director Michael Berkowitz inject their own personalties into the show (see sidebar).
Will Liza’s legendary status trump the weekend, or will Gravitte knock this show out of the park? Choices, choices…
………………….
Liza
…. is a true diva with an Oscar, Tony and an Emmy to her name.
…. married some friends of Dorothy.
…. embarrassingly performed Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” on the Sex and the City 2 soundtrack — which we hope she doesn’t do at this show.
…. was on Larry King recently, expressing sympathy and empathy for Lindsay Lohan’s drug use and alcoholism.
…. had her solo Broadway show, Liza’s At the Palace…!, replacing the musical Legally Blonde.
…. had a small comeback in 1989 by going in a different musical direction with her album Results, produced by the Pet Shop Boys.
…. hocked her velvet jumpsuits on Home Shopping Network.
…. has embraced her gay icon status, even performing at Pride in Paris last year.
…. performs with Dallas Symphony Orchestra at the Meyerson Symphony Center, 2301 Flora St. Oct 8 and 9 at 8 p.m. $45–$122. DallasSymphony.com.
……………………………..
Judy (aka Debbie)
…. got a miniature Oscar for her role as Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz — ouch. (Gravitte has her own Tony, though, for Jerome Robbins’ Broadway).
…. Was Dorothy. And she married some friends of Dorothy. Apparently a genetic trait.
…. embarrassingly messed up some of the words in her famous Carnegie Hall appearance. Still, “Single Ladies” trumps that.
…. was the Lindsay Lohan of her day. Minus the paparazzi.
…. had her Carnegie show recreated detail for detail by gay singer Rufus Wainwright.
…. had several comebacks including Oscar-nominated performances in A Star is Born and Judgment at Nuremberg
…. had a better idea with that red velvet gown from Meet Me in St. Louis.
…. embraced gay men as husbands but responded to a reporter about her iconic status, “I couldn’t care less. I sing to people.” Umm, we guess that’s cool.
…. isn’t portrayed by Debbie Gravitte as much as she is celebrated, which Gravitte discusses further below.
— Rich Lopez
……………………………..
Recreating a legend
Debbie Gravitte just found out that her show where she performs Judy Garland songs is the same weekend Liza Minnelli comes to Dallas. The scheduling conflict for friends of Dorothy could have massive repercussions, but it is an easy (and obvious fix).
“There is a perfect way to work it out,” Gravitte says. “See her on Friday and see me on Saturday.”
Gravitte teams up with former Minnelli music director Michael Berkowitz, pictured, for An Evening With Judy Garland at the Irving Arts Center Saturday. The solo show commemorates Garland’s iconic Carnegie Hall concert exactly 50 years ago. But Gravitte assures that she is not doing a Judy impersonation.
“This is a tribute, a celebration of this one incredible night of her life,” she says. “I don’t look anything like her and maybe I sound like her a tiny bit, but it’s not like we are recreating Judy. We want to channel that joyful part of her instead of recalling the tragic.”
With a full orchestra behind her, Gravitte would even venture to say this is more of a concert than a show; Berkowitz agrees. His closeness to Garland’s material is far beyond just his work with Minnelli.
“I was always a fan. I was a friend of Bill LaVorgna, Liza’s drummer before me. Bill and I knew each other for 40 years. I first heard his playing on the Garland Carnegie Hall recording. That alone was worth it to me.”
As for the dueling shows, Berkowitz thinks anyone who gets out to either comes out ahead.
“I didn’t know Liza May was in town this weekend as well,” he says. “It’s going to be a double header of great music and entertainment.”
Gravitte knows the gays are gonna hold her to task, but she’s not daunted. In fact, she even challenges her audience a bit.
“I welcome everyone to come dressed in their best Judy,” she says. “We are gonna do a sing along and I want people to sing every fucking line!”
— Rich Lopez
Irving Arts Center, 3333 N. MacArthur
Blvd., Irving. Oct 9 at 8 p.m. $19–$54.
IrvingArtsCenter.com.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition October 8, 2010.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)