Damn Yankees a Grand Slam
Musical Theater Works consistently produces high-caliber, entertaining shows, and this Memorial Day weekend, Damn Yankees was no exception. With four short months of hard work, musical director Carolyn Miller and stage director Christina Lazo mount almost professional productions, not the least through superb casting intuition — each young actor is set up in a position to shine. The company, whose main stage shows utilize students between the ages of 8 and 15, guarantees each student a role, and then blends various levels of ability and experience into a potent brew that’s nothing short of magical.
The 1955 play, music and lyrics by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross, tells the story of Joe, who sells his soul to the devil in order to play baseball for the Washington Senators, and then leads them to a Pennant victory against the stronger New York Yankees. While the entire cast performed superbly, there were a few standouts worth mentioning. The hilarity of the devil, Mr. Applegate, was brought out by Zoe Fassler’s mastery of facial expression, gesture and timing. Also alluring was Applegate’s assistant Lola, played by Grace Bingham, whose dancing and singing was mature, showing promise of a future in musical theater. Her “Whatever Lola Wants, Lola Gets” was seductive in an appropriate G-rated manner, and her lead on “Who’s Got the Pain” made that one of the most engaging dance numbers in the show. Michael Garfagnoli captured the naïveté of young Joe Hardy, his voice rising to the challenge of the lead male role.
Group numbers in Damn Yankees were energetic and rousing — something Musical Theater Works does particularly well. The small stage at San Francisco’s Randall Museum was filled with even the youngest members of the cast all doing their part to create a dazzling swirl of movement and song in perfect time. This combined with a small professional “band,” stellar costumes and sets all made for great entertainment, whether or not your child was up on stage. Visit musicaltheatreworks.org to learn more about their summer camps and year-round classes.
Bon Voyage, El Camino Youth Symphony!
It’s been a wonderful season for the senior group of the El Camino Youth Symphony, and it’s about to get better. The orchestra heads off on a two-week tour of Spain and France on June 21, performing concerts along the Mediterranean and finishing up in Paris. For some, the tour is bittersweet. It’s not uncommon for some of the newly graduated seniors to have been with the orchestra for five or six years.
In a preview of the tour for audiences here, Dr. Camilla Kolchinsky will conduct the ECYS in several Bon Voyage concerts on June 18 and 19. They are thrilled to have special guest artist, 23-year-old pianist Naomi Kudo with them, performing Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 2. Kudo made her debut at the age of 16 performing Tchaikovsky's First Piano Concerto with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. She is a winner of many competitions including the Gina Bachauer International Piano Competition at the Juilliard School, a silver medalist at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, and a Chopin Prize to name a few. Quite an inspiration for the kids, she represents the type of artist that ECYS likes to support in their career growth. Also on the program are Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite and Berlioz’ Le Carnaval Romain. Bon voyage et bon chance! See event info here.
Santa Rosa Youth Orchestra Gives Back
Back in January, SFCV reported on the Youth Orchestra Festival in Davies Symphony Hall which raised money for local charities, bringing you videos of such participants as the Santa Rosa Symphony Youth Orchestra. Now in May, the kids had the satisfaction of coming full circle, when Santa Rosa Symphony Director of Education Benjamin Taylor presented their portion of the funds raised, a check for $4,125, to Valley of the Moon Children’s Foundation (VOMCF). Members of the youth orchestra had chosen VOMCF, Sonoma County’s only 24-hour emergency shelter for abused, abandoned, and neglected children, as the beneficiary.
Among other projects, their money will fund the playground, resource center and scholarships for former foster youth. Meg Easter-Dawson, program manager of VOMCF, said: “This contribution is especially touching because it is an example of youth helping other youth to succeed.”
For more information about the Santa Rosa Symphony’s Training Young Musicians program and its Summer Music Academy, visit www.srsymphony.org.