It’s Better With A Baritone, Broadway’s Best Boys!” showcases baritone duets and memorable solos in Broadway musicals, and at most venues, will be performed with full orchestra! It has been an absolute treat to develop this show. When we started rehearsals many moons ago, who knew that the time would fly so fast? Well, I suppose it always does when you are having fun!
About this New Fundraising Show
Collaboration is an exciting process; made even more special by the phenomenal talent on this project. My latest show, “It’s Better With a Baritone!” is chock full of Broadway Blockbusters and a handful of Stunning Solos tossed in for good measure!
“Praises and joy for the concert keep pouring in! I think every one we sold tickets to stopped by to thank us before leaving (and that’s a lot of thank yous). All were thrilled beyond measure.Many comments, like mine, were centered on how well the baritone voices were perfectly matched and the balance was maintained throughout the program.”
This light-hearted evening features music and lyrics from Loesser, Sondheim, Schwartz, Kander & Ebb, Andrew Lloyd Weber, Jerry Herman, Michael Valenti and many others.You’ll be treated to favorites from Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, A Little Night Music, La Cages aux Folles and other hit musicals, plus a surprise or two. Since the 1940s, the Baritone (with a capital “B”) has been the quintessential Broadway leading man. Now, two acclaimed baritones from divergent backgrounds join forces to pay tribute to the best of Broadway. And if I do say so myself, the orchestrations and arrangements are spectacular!
The Other Baritone in this Dynamic Duo
For this new fundraising show, I team up with acclaimed actor/singer and historian Ron Spivak to pay tribute to musical theatre’s greatest male roles. As the show title implies, we place special emphasis on baritone duets. Ron has even contributed his lyrical talent; putting words to an original opening number by award-winning composer Micheal Valenti.
Ron has written, directed, and performed as narrator and singer for symphonic concerts with major orchestras across the country, and has sung with Steve Ross, Julie Wilson and other luminaries at Lincoln Center. As a musical theatre historian, Ron served as musicals editor/archivist for Samuel French play publishers, for whom he prepared the published scripts and scores for more than 50 musicals, including La Cage aux Folles, Woman of the Year, Little Shop of Horrors, and Dames at Sea. He has composed historical “liner” notes for Broadway cast albums, and has written for respected New York magazines.
With credentials and a talent like Ron’s, you can see why this collaborative process has been so inspired!
Rehearsing for a New Fundraising Show
It has been an intense several months of rehearsals and travel! The tradition of using multi-city musicians and collaborators continues in “It’s Better With A Baritone!” My co-baritone, Ron Spivak, lives in Manhattan, and now that I live in San Francisco. We’re certainly the Bi-coastal Baritones! Our rehearsals in NYC and via Skype made for delightful sessions in Palm Desert with the Coachella Valley Symphony. Time flies when rehearsals are this much fun!
Award-winning Collaborator Michael Valenti
Broadway award-winning composer, Michael Valenti has composed our opening number (lyric by Ron Spivak), plus we are singing two of Michael’s original love songs from his off-Broadway musical “Lovesong.” It has been an absolute pleasure to work with Michael Valenti on this project. Michael has awards, including an Emmy and a Peabody, and has composed, performed, recorded and conducted his way though an impressive resume. His catalog includes shows performed at some of the most prestigious theaters, and ranges from Broadway to orchestral and opera, and from chamber to concert band and television, and so much more. “It’s Better With a Baritone!” is an exciting project and it’s made an even bigger treat working with such a talented artist.
Book this Fundraising Show – 2014/2015 Dates Still Available
“It’s Better With a Baritone!” is on it’s feet, and on April 1, 2014 played to a SOLD OUT audience in Palm Desert with the Coachella Valley Symphony and Wayne Abravanel conducting. This fundraising evening for the CVS was a rousing success and such a fabulous way to get this new show off the ground! A special thank you to all the talented musicians of the CVS and to Wayne Abravanel for his skill behind the baton!
One rave reviewer says, “I never had known such sheer joy and fun coupled with musical expertise could be available in the Desert.”
We take “It’s Better With A Baritone, Broadway’s Best Boys!” to Portland in June 2014, in support of another wonderful group; the Portland Chamber Orchestra (PCO). This version of the show is more “unplugged & intimate” and will feature highlights from the show with Rick Modlin on piano. I am thrilled to be back at Jimmy Maks for this wonderful fundraising event. The PCO is such a deserving group of talented musicians!
In July 2014, we are booked in Gleneden Beach, OR for the Siletz Bay Music Festival at the Artists Showcase/Fundraiser. More on that as we get closer to the date. It will be here before we know it!
These, and other show dates are already booked (or pending) for Spring & Summer 2014 with even more more to come!For information or to Book “It’s Better with a Baritone!” for your fundraising event, please be in touch!
Publicity Photos and additional show info available may be found here.
