Lyric at the Birch

Five Questions for Emily Douglass

2010-11-07T12:05:00.000-08:00

In between rehearsals, one of our stars in "The Barber of Seville", Emily Douglass, was gracious enough to let us poach some of her down time to respond to our period column of questions.

When did you know you wanted to be an opera singer?

It was during my freshman year in college. Up until then, I was studying the French Horn. My professors noticed my voice and encouraged me to pursue vocal studies. I’d heard from my family, “Oh, you have a nice voice” but I never took them seriously until the college professors started to say something.

Did you have a mentor? Who was it and what did he or she do to encourage you?

I had many mentors, however it was my voice teacher who encouraged me to “seize the moment.”

What’s the most unusual or useful advice you’ve ever received concerning your career?

That’s difficult to answer as I’ve received a lot of advice. As a singer, it was difficult to really take any advice provided, since each singer will have different opportunities afforded them and varied career options. But I did pick a lot of brains in the within the industry and have made my own decisions based on the experiences I’ve gone through. I do recall that my voice teacher, Natalie said “Sing with meaning!” and I’ve taken that to heart.

What do you think most people would be surprised to know about working in opera?

It’s a constant financial struggle to make it as an artist. There’s a lot of truth to the “starving artist” perception.

If you could have a different career, what would it be?

I love to teach, but this [singing] is what I’m called to do. It’s what I’m compelled to do.

What’s on your iPod these days?

Hmm…let’s see. My favorite sopranos: Sills, Sutherland, Callas, Fleming, Te Kanawa. I love Yo Yo Ma, so I have some of his music on my iPod. I also love ABBA, John Denver and Joni Mitchell.

What’s your funniest dressing room recollection?

Nothing really funny per se, but it’s pretty typical to have to share a dressing room with at least four other artists in this profession. I do recall one production where I needed to make a quick change of costume and it had to be done offstage in the wings. Typically, this is not an issue since these types of productions have a prepared dressing area with screens or drapes with which to make the change quickly and in some semblance of privacy. There was this one occasion where an opera conductor, who was considering hiring me for a future role, came to watch my current production performance. He was observing my performance from the wings at the opposite end of the stage. Unfortunately, due to the set up of the costume change area, the conductor was able to watch nearly all of my costume change in full view.

If you could live in any other country, what would it be and why?

Italy! I’m drawn to everything about it – the culture, art, people, food and fashion.

How has raising a child changed your approach to performing (or has it)?

It has enriched my performance. Getting older changes your body and subsequently, your voice. You notice your instrument gets richer; particularly for sopranos as you get to your 30^th birthday. For bases and baritones, they reach their full vocal maturity at 40 years old. As far as acting goes, you now have more experiences to draw upon as you perform. There’s more texture and nuance to your stage work.

At the end of your life, how would you like to be remembered?

Wow…that’s a tough one. I’d have to say that I’d like to be remembered as a true artist for my singing. But more importantly, I’d like to be remembered for good human qualities. It’s more about me as a person and how I may have helped others in a positive way.

“Jazz in North Park” Series presents the Cannonball-Coltrane Project on Oct. 6

2010-10-05T16:52:00.000-07:00

North Park jazz addicts – your monthly fix is almost here! Lyric’s Jazz in North Park Series, presented in conjunction with Holly Hofmann, continues at the Birch North Park Theatre with the Cannonball-Coltrane Project on October 6, 2010.

Led by bassist Luther Hughes, the Cannonball-Coltrane Project was formed as an homage to the 1959 Cannonball Adderley-John Coltrane landmark album, “The Cannonball Adderley Quintet in Chicago.” The band pays tribute to these jazz giants with arrangements and original compositions related to or inspired by Cannonball and/or Coltrane. Besides Hughes, the band includes Glenn Cashman on tenor, Bruce Babad on alto, Ed Czach on piano, and Paul Kreibich on drums. “If Cannonball and ‘Trane were here I’m sure they would have given (the band) two thumbs up,’’ says legendary guitarist Mundell Lowe about the Cannonball-Coltrane Project.

The last Jazz in North Park show features The Ken Peplowski Quartet on November 3.

Details and tickets for all shows are here.

Jazz in North Park is presented by Lyric at the Birch in collaboration with Music Director Holly Hofmann, in association with KSDS 88.3 FM) radio.

Five Questions for Leigh Scarritt

2010-09-14T17:20:00.000-07:00

San Diego theatre veteran Leigh Scarritt is appearing with Lyric for the first time this season, as Aunt Alicia in Gigi. Leigh is a regular on San Diego stages including Starlight and the Old Globe. She’s an actress, singer, dancer, choreographer, director, writer, and composer, who also teaches voice and is a personal exercise trainer (whew). Leigh wrote, composed, and directed the play Angels Among Us at the Coronado Playhouse. She has appeared in television shows including Three's Company, Too Close for Comfort, General Hospital, and The Jerry Lewis Show. Her movie appearances include Used Cars with Kurt Russell and In Search of My Son with Richard Thomas. She took a break from rehearsals to answer our Five Questions.

When did you know you wanted to be in musical theatre?

I think I did my first prossional show when I was maybe 4. I was Gretel in The Sound of Music. My grandfather was dying at the time and he came to see the show. It felt like a gift for him and it was such a gift for me that even though he was ill, he came to see it. I remember the power of his love from the audience and my love for him, and that anchored me in the power of love as it transferred over the pit lights.

Also, I was a very painfully shy kid. I always felt the most free and the most myself on stage.

Did you have a mentor? Who was it, and what did he or she do to encourage you?

My mother’s a brilliant musician herself, and really planted in myself and my siblings the love for art in every different form, whether painting or sculpting or instrumental music, theatre… She birthed that and fostered it. Then there was a wonderful woman here in San Diego named Deanne Johnson, who picked my out of a lineup for a show at Lyric Dinner Theatre when I was 16 -- the lead in Babes in Arms. She saw something in me that she thought was worthwhile. It was my first lead role as an adult, and I got my Equity card from that. I must have done 20 shows for her in the next 20 years.

What’s the most unusual or useful advice you’ve ever received concerning your career?

Don’t try to be someone you’re not, be exactly who you are, so you get hired for the right projects. Don’t try to chase your tail.

What do you think most people would be surprised to know about working in musical theatre?

It ain’t all that glamorous backstage! Sometimes there’s only one toilet.

If you could have a different job, what would it be?

I wouldn’t have a different job! My first job is being a parent, and I would completely content if that was all I had ever been. But any other profession -- no.

Tenor Benjamin Robinson Chats about “Gigi” and More

2010-09-14T17:13:00.000-07:00

After a triumphant Lyric debut as Frederic in last season’s Pirates of Penzance, young tenor Benjamin Robinson tenor returns this season Gaston LaChaille in Gigi and will be back in spring as Marco in The Gondoliers. This year he also makes his debut with the Cape Cod Symphony in a program of Viennese operetta alongside former co-star and Lyric favorite, Megan Weston, and sings Lieutenant Joe Cable in South Pacific with Anchorage Opera.

1. What was it about the role of Gaston that interested you? What do you like best about performing with Lyric?

This role is really different from what I usually do; he's grown up and sophisticated. He can have anything he wants, but he is most moved by Gigi, who is an unlikely choice.

Working at Lyric is great not only because of the beauty of San Diego, but because this theatre offers me a chance to grow when I come here. Jack and Leon are very insistent that I get something out of my experience, and expand on what I bring to the table.

2. There is an iconic performance of Gaston on film, by Louis Jourdan. How will your portrayal be different or similar to his? With a famous role like this, is there pressure to either copy his style or be completely different?

Louis Jourdan certainly oozes confidence, class, and style and I would be lucky to get away with one of those three in my own life. I think the audience wants to see similarities to Mr. Jourdan's performance, but I think that this lies mostly in the "nuts and bolts" elements: my deportment, my "charm," and my likability. Personally, I see Gaston as someone who has been waiting a lifetime to get out of the rut that his social life has presented to him. I really want to work up to riding this wave of discovery that Gaston experiences as he and Gigi begin to have a romantic chemistry.

3. What do you like about being a traveling artist? What habits have you developed to make life on the road easier?

Certainly coming to places like San Diego make being a traveling artist a nice lifestyle. I haven't been in "the biz" for a long time, but already I look forward to returning to places I've previously worked so I can see the friends I've made, eat at restaurants that I remember, and try new things. I really love getting to know a place thoroughly, and you do when you get to stay there for a month at a time!

Life on the road for me is FULL of bad habits- I can never remember what to pack! It has helped to condense my traveling life to as little stuff as possible. I think the thing that helps the most though is contacting old friends or family in the area and making arrangements to see them. I have family in Huntington Beach that I rush up to see when I get my first break from rehearsals. Reconnecting with people has really been a highlight of this kind of travel.

4. What's on your iPod? How do you pass the time when not working?

I'm a complete opera geek- I've been listening to the fabulous Carol Neblett (a southern California native) in La Fanciulla del West lately. When I stray from classical music, I really appreciate singers who can sing! Christina Aguilera, Norah Jones, Beyonce.

When I'm not working, I love gardening- don't have a garden in Boston, but I love going home to my parents in Michigan and working outside. In high school I was a swimmer, so if I can get to a pool, I do. Other than that, I occasionally subject people to my cooking experiments (never baking!). Sometimes that ends up being better than bad.

Don’t miss Ben and the rest of the talented cast of Gigi - tickets are on sale now.

Challenge Grant: You Can Help Lyric Get “Back in the Black”

2010-09-14T17:08:00.001-07:00

Every now and then generous donors to nonprofit organizations will come up with what is known as a Challenge Grant. These grants are a promise to match donations – that is, for every dollar the organization raises, the donor will match it. If you’ve been considering making a donation, doing it as part of a Challenge Grant is a great opportunity to increase the value of your gift at no cost to you.

To kick off the Lyric season right, a special group of our board members has offered a Challenge Grant, above and beyond their normal contributions. They want to help raise enough money to let Lyric start getting back to where we were a few short years ago, when Jack Montgomery used to be able to announce in his pre-show introductions from the stage, “We're in the black.”

This is how it works: for every two dollars we raise, our board group will match it with one dollar up, to $50,000. For example, if you donate $50, the board will add $25 to your gift. Fulfilling this grant will provide us with an additional $150,000 toward the bottom line. While we rank among the most efficient of performing arts organizations, earning 66 percent of our costs through selling tickets, ticket sales simply don’t cover all our production costs, or the fixed costs of maintaining our beautiful building, the Birch North Park Theatre.

We’ve now been open at the Birch for five years. Did you know that we have hosted approximately 800 events during this time, nearly half of them sponsored by Lyric? Or that there are around 70 new businesses in North Park that weren’t there before the Theatre opened? Or that hundreds of people now have new jobs in North Park? And (nearest to our hearts) dozens of tweens and teens have had the opportunity to enhance their performing arts skills at our summer Academy?

Gifts from supporters like you have helped propel these achievements. Please help us get back to being “in the black,” so we can continue this work. The more generous you can be, the better off we will be in the end. Donating online is easy: just click here. If you prefer, you can send in a check or call the office to make a donation over the phone. Thanks in advance for your support!

Five Questions for Laura Bueno (“Gigi”)

2010-09-13T15:10:00.000-07:00

We’ll soon get to see local singer Laura Bueno return to Lyric for her first ever lead role, as Gigi. Laura most recently stole all her scenes as Petra in Lyric’s production of A Little Night Music and as Hope in Anything Goes. She regularly performs with musical theatre companies all over town and in the San Diego Opera Chorus, and somehow finds time to teach ballroom dance to kids.

Laura was nice enough to inaugurate our new “Five Questions” feature. Watch this space to see featured artists answer these same questions all season long.

When did you know you wanted to be in musical theatre?

Thanks to my parents, I grew up watching the classics, such as The Music Man, Carousel, Meet Me in St. Louis, The King and I, and Gigi. I was hooked on them. When my high school did The Music Man my freshman year of high school, that was it - I knew I was in it for life! As a junior and senior, I had the opportunity to star in No, No, Nanette and State Fair, two musicals that aren't done very often.

Did you have a mentor? Who was it, and what did he or she do to encourage you?

I've always been inspired by my grandmother, who sang professionally for several years in the 1930s here in Southern California, but who died when I was 8 years old. I have always felt a closeness to her and I know that she's looking down and approves of my career choices. I'd also have to say that my mother has been my biggest cheerleader. She's been to every single one of my performances and has encouraged me to follow my dreams.

What’s the most unusual or useful advice you’ve ever received concerning your career?

Hmm... I'd have to say that the most useful is that people have always said to not give up. Rejection is part of the process, regardless of how good you might be. Also, don't ever stop studying your craft. There is always room for improvement.

What do you think most people would be surprised to know about working in musical theatre?

It truly is a tricky and complicated job. You've got to be able to sing, dance and act and completely become a character and make that character your own regardless of how cheesy the plot might be. There are no second takes like in television and film. You've got to go out there and make every single performance better than the last. I'm not sure if that's really surprising, but it sure is true!

If you could have a different job, what would it be?

I wouldn't want a different job! If I could be in a show all the time, I'd be in heaven. I'd pretty much pick starring in a show over anything else.

Got your tickets yet? See Laura dazzle on stage in Gigi, opening at the Birch on Sept. 24.

High-Tech Innovations Add to Success of Summer Academy

2010-09-13T15:05:00.000-07:00

The fifth annual Summer Academy at the Birch North Park Theatre concluded on July 29. Each year middle-school and high school students who are seriously interested in performance careers attend this prestigious program. The Academy offers extensive, in-depth training in every aspect of musical theater performance, from the basics of vocal performance, dancing, and acting to how to prepare for an audition.

This year’s Academy students were from schools all over San Diego, including Canyon Crest, La Jolla High, Corriea Middle, Francis Parker, Dana Middle, Bell Middle, Valhalla High, High Tech Middle Media Arts, The Bishop's School, and Golden Valley High. “They were big on talent,” says Academy director Shirley Giltner. “Everyone was very impressed with the talent level of the students and how much we were able to teach them in such a short amount of time.”

An exciting innovation this year was to make use of technology to add to the students’ learning experience. Teachers conducted a master class with baritone Christopher Johnstone via the free online video chat service Skype. Board member Alex Tiscareno volunteered his time and expertise to set up a computer link in the classroom so the students could have a live video chat with Johnstone, who was in Denver rehearsing for the national tour of “South Pacific” (he will soon take over the role of Lt. Cable). “It was a wonderful way to expose the students to someone who is currently out there in the thick of it,” said Giltner. Artistic Director J. Sherwood Montgomery led the students in a question-and-answer session and then the students had questions of their own. The Skype master class went so well that Giltner plans to repeat it next year with soprano Andrea Huber.

At the end of the Academy’s month of lessons and training, the students performed “Schoolhouse Rock Live Jr.” on stage at the Birch North Park Theatre for a packed audience of family, friends, and the public.

For more information about Lyric’s Summer Academy please visit the website.

Jazz In North Park Series: Four Women Only, Sept. 1

2010-08-13T18:17:00.000-07:00

Lyric’s Jazz in North Park Series, presented in conjunction with Holly Hofmann, continues at the Birch North Park Theatre with Four Women Only on September 1, 2010.

Gathering from across the country, Four Women Only is a stellar quintet of players brought together by a common love of jazz. Led by Holly Hofmann on flute, Four Women Only includes Mary Fettig on alto sax, Mimi Fox on guitar, Kristin Korb on bass, and Sylvia Cuenca on drums. All of these artists are top players on their instruments, each with an extensive background in jazz performance and improvisation. This is a rare opportunity to hear this talented group of players in Southern California.

Next up in the Jazz in North Park series:

October 6: Cannonball-Coltrane Project

November 3: The Ken Peplowski Quartet

All performances begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are $22 for seniors, KSDS 88.3 FM members, and Lyric members, and $27 for general admission. Student discount tickets for $15 are available on the day of the show. For tickets call (619) 239-8836, or order online.

Jazz in North Park is presented by Lyric in collaboration with Music Director Holly Hofmann, in association with KSDS 88.3 FM) radio.

Lyric at the Birch: What’s in a name?

2010-08-10T09:32:00.000-07:00

The more sharp-eyed among you may notice that our company is changing the way it refers to itself.

Instead of “Lyric Opera San Diego” or “LOSD,” our various materials will now refer to us as “Lyric at the Birch,” or often simply “Lyric.” Our logos will also be modified to reflect this change.

As a company, we have been evolving since our creation in 1978. Then, we were called the San Diego Gilbert & Sullivan Company, because that’s what we exclusively performed. Over the years we have changed our name: to San Diego Comic Opera, then to Lyric Opera San Diego. Each time the change heralded a shift in repertoire, mission, or focus; each change brought us a little closer to what we believe is our true calling. We are San Diego’s affordable, accessible musical theater company; the emphasis has never been on opera above other musical theater genres, and we feel our new name rightly focuses the attention on what we are really about: lyric theater. That means musical theater of all kinds, not just opera.

In addition, as a result of our hard work and your undying support, we have had the great good fortune to move into our fabulous new home and take over ownership of the Birch North Park Theatre. Councilman Todd Gloria said recently that this glorious building is the “economic engine” that drives North Park, the heart and soul of a thriving arts community, and we find it only fitting that we include it in our name as a reminder that we are a part of this community, and dedicated to its success.

This is who we are; this is where we are: we’re Lyric at the Birch. Doesn’t get simpler than that.

Looking for an Angel

2010-08-10T09:28:00.000-07:00

We are looking for an “Angel” to underwrite the upgrade of our two web sites. Alonso Creative, a local Web designer consultant, is donating their design skills to complete the upgrade of the Birch North Park Theatre site. They are further offering their services at a significant discount to upgrade the Lyric site and fully integrate both sites. (Check Alonso Creative out on the web and you’ll understand how fortunate we are to have their support.)

We need about $10,000 to purchase software our office needs to maintain and interface with the new site – and to pay Alonso’s reduced fees. This upgrade will make it easier and quicker for us to respond to you, our patrons, and will reduce the time needed to regularly update our event calendar from several hours to a few minutes. If you know anyone who can help us, please contact Pam Arnold at 760-738-9079. Thanks for your support!

Jack’s Notes: Gigi

2010-08-10T09:23:00.000-07:00

Observations on Lyric’s season from our Artistic Director, J. Sherwood Montgomery

Well, here we are about to open our thirty-second season, and the very fact that we are still here is more than a miracle. We are grateful to all in the community who continue to allow us to bring you music for everyone, at a high artistic level, at the lowest ticket price for this kind of entertainment in town. No other company gives you a full orchestra and chorus for every show in an attractive and intimate setting, with no seat farther than sixty feet from the stage, in an historic movie palace that is an ideal “house of dreams.” This season we are on a journey that we have never taken in this way before: four shows that are each a classic in their own right, that seen together, promise to give you thrilling music making and memorable theater.

We open with our first ever Lerner and Loewe show, Gigi, which represents the final collaboration of this great team of music theater masters. The stage version of their 1958 film was the final time they worked together. The show has California roots as it was presented by Edwin Lester, the fabled producer of the Los Angeles and San Francisco Civic Light Opera, which guaranteed eighteen sold-out weeks of tryout to any new show or national touring company that was lucky enough to get the gig. The stage production featured a cast of music theater marquee names, Alfred Drake in the Maurice Chevalier role of Honoré, Agnes Moorehead in her final role ever (she died of cancer during the run), Daniel Massey as Gaston, and Lila Kedrova as Mamita. This is the first time the show will have been mounted in San Diego in twenty years, and it will feature Laura Bueno as Gigi, J. Sherwood Montgomery (myself) as Honoré, Benjamin Robinson as Gaston, and two debuts of local stage personalities, Leigh Scarritt as Aunt Alicia, and Rita Cantos Cartwright as Mamita.

The film Gigi represented the last hurrah of the Freed unit at MGM and Vincente Minnelli pulled out all the stops in casting and sets and costumes to bring this French novel by Colette to vivid life. Maurice Chevalier himself gave the composer and lyricist the idea for one of his songs on the occasion of their first meeting. Lerner and Lowe met with Chevalier in Paris to sign the contract and talk about the film. They began by sharing some hot Hollywood scandal gossip and Chevalier smiled and said: “I'm glad I’m not young anymore.” Immediately a hit number was added to their canon of great songs, and we look forward to bringing this charming diversion to our stage for the first time in all its splendor and sophistication.

Gigi runs from September 24 to October 3. Tickets and season subscriptions are available online so please make a plan to join us today!

Behind the Scenes at Lyric: The Singing Chef

2010-07-07T22:18:00.000-07:00

You already know that Lyric’s General Director, Leon Natker, is multitalented onstage and off. The talented singing actor also conducts and directs, and runs the company and the theatre. But did you know he happens to be a gourmet cook as well?

Leon calls cooking “a hobby I started at Juilliard because I was tired of eating canned tuna and hamburger all the time.” In those days, Leon explains, college students didn’t have computers and videogames to take up their spare time, so he thought he’d take some cooking classes to see what he could do on a tight budget.

Leon’s Juilliard roommate was the actor John de Lancie (now best known for his recurring role as Q on “Star Trek: The Next Generation”), whose father, the late John de Lancie, was the principal oboist of the Philadelphia Orchestra. De Lancie the elder helped pay for Leon and John to take cooking classes, in part, Leon thinks, because he was tired of constantly taking the perpetually broke students out to eat during his frequent visits to New York.

Cooking has remained a lifetime passion for Leon, who has continued to take every opportunity to learn new techniques and recipes. In Chicago, he was even the sous-chef for a time at the Halsted Street Fish Market, the first fish-only restaurant in Chicago. “I learned how to fillet a fish, shuck oysters, open clams, you name it.” Leon has also planned vacations around cooking classes, including a cooking school tour of Thailand and another in China. Although he says his favorite type of cuisine is “whatever I’m doing at the moment,” he has a special fondness for Chinese cooking. “I love the variety of Chinese cuisine, it’s imply amazing,” he says. “I also love what you might call Continental cooking – French/Italian, what the Italians would call ‘cucina povero,’ simple, poor people’s food. You can make a lot with a very little if you just know some techniques.”

Anyone who’s been lucky enough to be invited to a dinner party at Leon’s house can attest to his skills, which came in handy during the years of fundraising for the restoration of the Birch North Park Theatre. Intimate dinners for six or eight, with Leon as chef, proved a popular auction item at fundraising events. “Jack and I really enjoyed those dinner the most, although we also love giving large parties for the cast of whatever show is currently in production,” Leon says.

Here’s one of Leon’s favorite recipes of the moment:

Summery Grilled Pork Chops

4 thick cut boneless pork loin chops

2 cloves garlic, finely minced

2 teaspoons grated lemon zest

1 tbsp. fresh ginger, finely chopped

2 teaspoons prepared Chinese mustard (you can use Dijon if you can’t find the Chinese variety)

Mix to the marinade together well, place the chops and marinade in a

sealed plastic bag for at least two hours.

Sauce:

1/4 cup cider vinegar

1 tsp sugar

4 - 6 dried prunes, chopped

Grill the chops so that they are still juicy and just a little pink inside. The time will depend on your grill, five minutes to a side is a good judge. Place them on a plate and cover while you prepare the sauce.

In a skillet, bring the vinegar, sugar and prunes to a boil, lower the heat and reduce the liquid by 1/3, pour over your chops. They are ready to serve.

Serves 4

Members Only! Join the Club

2010-07-07T22:12:00.000-07:00

Admit it, you’ve always wanted to be a Maestro, an Impresario, or a Wandering Minstrel. Perhaps a Pirate King or even a Grand Poo-Bah? Or perhaps you have your sights set higher – President, CEO, or Chairman of the Board. Thanks to Lyric’s many levels of giving opportunities, you have the chance to attain one of these exalted titles, no matter the size of your donation.

Lyric is committed to providing outstanding musical theatre performances while keeping ticket prices at an affordable level, so that the performing arts may be enjoyed by all San Diego’s citizens. This has been especially difficult over the past two years, as the recession has hit everyone hard. Attaining our goals is only possible with the help of our loyal supporters. We welcome your help!

If you’re already a Member, please renew your membership, if you haven’t already. If you’re not a Member, you can become one when you purchase tickets or a subscription. There are other ways to help, but Membership is the best way to show your commitment to musical theatre in your community.

There are, of course, perks and benefits among the various ways we show our gratitude for your support. These begin at a $50 donation level, and the sky’s the limit from there. But let’s get real – you won’t donate to Lyric for a free coffee in the lobby or a chance to have your photo taken with a tenor. You’ll donate because you believe in what we’re doing and you want to help. Everything else is icing on the cake. (Mmm… cake.)

It’s easy to become a Member or make a donation. All the levels, details, and benefits can be seen here.

Online donations by credit card are safe and secure with payment processing via PCCharge. To donate by check, please make your check payable to Lyric Opera San Diego and mail to 2891 University Avenue, Ste. 1 San Diego, CA 92104. You can also donate by phone using a credit card: call 619-231-5714, ext. 110.

For information on Underwriting Opportunities or Endowment contributions, please call our Development Director, Pamela Arnold at 619-231-5714, Ext. 108 or email pparnold@cox.net.

All donations are 100% tax deductible to the full extent of the law. Tax ID 95-3426868.

“Jazz in North Park” Heads Into Summer with Denise Donatelli and the Geoffrey Keezer Quartet

2010-07-05T14:01:00.000-07:00

Lyric’s series of jazz concerts, “Jazz in North Park,” heads into summer at the Birch North Park Theatre with Denise Donatelli and the Geoffrey Keezer Quartet, on Wednesday, July 7, 2010.

“The love for jazz is evident when Donatelli sings, as each note opens with the vibrancy of a lush flower and holds with the precision of a long-time student of the art. With picture-perfect pitch and a crystalline quality to her higher notes, she presents a vocal palette that is appealing, energetic, enticing, and sensual.” – Jordan Richardson, blogcritics.org

Born in Allentown, Penn., Denise Donatelli was drenched in music from an early age. She has performed in jazz clubs and jazz festivals across the country. Her first CD, “In the Company of Friends,” was released in 2005 on the Jazzed Media label and her 2008 release, “What Lies Within” on the Savant Records label, debuted on the National Jazz Week Chart at #15 and peaked at #11. Her upcoming release with pianist, composer/arranger, Geoffrey Keezer, who will join her on this double bill, is scheduled for a spring 2010 release.

Keezer, who now lives in San Diego, is an immensely talented pianist who, at 17, joined the great Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers, then went on to perform with Art Farmer, Ray Brown, Christian McBride, Jim Hall, and countless others. His own projects cover a wide range of musical expression from acoustic jazz to electronica to diverse world-music collaborations including his 2009 Grammy-nominated CD “Aurea.” Joining the quartet for this performance is San Diego’s favorite guitarist,  Peter Sprague.

Jazz in North Park is presented by Lyric Opera San Diego in collaboration with Music Director Holly Hofmann, in association with KSDS 88.3 FM) radio. Tickets are $27 for adults, $15 for students. Show Lyric or KSDS membership card and save $5 off single show tickets. Tickets and information: www.birchnorthparktheatre.net or (619) 239-8836.

July 15 is Single Ticket On-Sale Day!

2010-06-30T22:23:00.000-07:00

July 15 is a big day around the Lyric box office. It’s the day single tickets to all our shows in the coming season go on sale.

That’s right – starting on July 15, members of the general public will at last be able to get their hands on individual tickets to all our coming shows. With a season like ours, we anticipate they will be knocking down the doors to the box office. What does this mean to you? If you’re a returning subscriber, and you haven’t renewed your seats yet, on July 15 you might LOSE THEM.

We don’t want this to happen, and we know you don’t want it to either. So don’t wait until the last possible moment – if you haven’t already, renew your subscription today to keep your great seats for Gigi, The Barber of Seville, The Gondoliers, and Fiddler on the Roof.

What about if you’ve never ordered before? Well, if you’re considering buying a subscription – and you should! – don’t miss out on this final chance to reserve great seats at a great savings over single ticket prices!

Click here to renew or buy online.

A Constellation of LOSD Stars Take the Stage in 2010 Season

2010-06-02T16:35:00.000-07:00

Have you renewed your Lyric Opera subscription yet?

Just in case you needed more motivation, here are some casting tidbits from next year’s shows. We think you’ll see some of your LOSD faves in this list!

Benjamin Robinson made his LOSD debut as Frederic in last season’s fabulous Pirates of Penzance and we couldn’t wait to bring him back, so you’ll enjoy him as Gastone in Gigi alongside our own J. Sherwood Montgomery as Honoré (the Maurice Chevalier role) and Laura Bueno (last seen as Hope in 2009’s Anything Goes in the delightful title role of Gigi!

Another Pirates debut last year was the wonderful bass Ashraf Sewailam as the Pirate King. We’re bringing him back in The Barber of Seville as Don Basilio, and the beauteous Emily Douglass (last seen in Daughter of the Regiment, 2008) returns as Rosina. Robert Boldin gets to let his hair down as Count Almaviva, after pouring out his suffering on stage as Henrik in last season’s A Little Night Music. Our own Walter DuMelle will crack you up as Doctor Bartolo.

As the dashing leads Marco and Giuseppe in Gilbert and Sullivan’s Gondoliers, Benjamin Robinson steps in again, well matched with Jordan Miller (Mr. Lindquist from last season’s A Little Night Music). These two are definitely easy on the eyes AND ears!

Oodles of talent and decades of experience will collide on stage in Fiddler on the Roof as our own Leon Natker as Tevye, Broadway star Jimmy Ferraro as Lazar Wolf, and LOSD’s hometown girl Fan Hartshorn as Golde. Another reason to cheer: alumni from our Summer Academy will fill children’s roles in both Gigi and Fiddler on the Roof. With all this to look forward to, what are you waiting for? Renew or buy your subscription today.

2010-05-28T10:46:00.001-07:00

Here's a nice story about Transfer in today's Union-Tribune. See them tonight at the Birch!

Four Hot Local Bands, presented by The Casbah, Take Over the Birch

2010-05-27T10:53:00.000-07:00

The pop music scene in San Diego is more exciting than ever, and on Friday May 28, four of the city’s hottest, award-winning bands will come together for one amazing night of music.

Dirty Sweet, Transfer, The Silent Comedy, and Apes of Wrath usually sell out every club where they play, so premiere live music presenter The Casbah is bringing them together at the Birch for one night only. The concert is for all ages, general admission, and begins at 7:30pm. Tickets are $19 in advance, $21 on the day of the show.

With a wide range of musical influences and styles, the four bands have a few things in common: they’re all in the burgeoning stages of their careers, playing local clubs and touring, getting noticed at the SXSW festival and similar showcases, getting noticed by recording labels, and releasing their first few recordings, building a rabid audience base that may catapult them to the next level.

Three won San Diego Music Awards last year: Transfer for best rock band, The Silent Comedy for best pop band, and Apes of Wrath for best alternative band; Dirty Sweet walked with the award for best rock band in 2008, 2007 and 2005.

Dirty Sweet is an American rock band steeped in this nation’s musical roots, from country to R&B, gospel to classic rock and heavy metal to proto-grunge. A mixture of disparate influences such as The Rolling Stones, jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt, and early U2 make the band an interesting addition to today's budding rock climate. The San Diego-based quintet’s name perfectly describes their two-pronged approach to writing and performing, what the NME calls “skuzzy, ass-shaking rawk ‘n’ roll” crossed with the ability to pick up their acoustic guitars and craft a melodic ballad.

A review of their performance at last year's SXSW festival wrote, “Ryan Koontz gives you everything you need in a front man, his commanding vocals matched by his shimmying and shaking across the stage. This band rips, with a born-in-a-garage sound and an effortless Sunset Strip strut that also appreciates the rootsy side of the street. Most importantly, they have a damn good time up there, with their faces beaming as they assault you with a balls-to-the-walls approach. Just a fan-freaking-tastic rock band, keep on eye on them.”

The Silent Comedy started as a side project of the now defunct post-punk group Dehra Dun, named for a city in India where some of the founding members had lived in 2002. The band changed from its original idea of a fluid lineup and a strict “recording only” vision to a five-piece core with a variety of guests. In addition to a cast of guest performers, The Silent Comedy is known for its frequent instrument changes, and lively stage antics. Their live show has become their defining characteristic.

Old-time clothes, high-energy stage antics, foot stomping, and group sing-a-longs define a Silent Comedy performance. "It's some kind of mix between vaudeville and a tent revival meeting," says violinist I. Forbes. “We want to give you more for your money than just a bunch of indie guys on stage trying to look as bored as possible. We don't care a whole lot about being cool."

Over the last year Apes of Wrath (Robert Kent, Jake Bankhead, and Dustin Elliott) have adjusted their lineup from 4 to 3 members, and continue to pump out a large, catchy, and energetic sound. Now that the unsigned San Diego band have recorded and released their first CD, and grown into their ability to give memorable live performances, Apes of Wrath are ready to give audiences and listeners their catchy and frenetic brand of metamorphic indie pop. At the SXSW festival they were a part of two Future Sounds Rumble showcases, a Beauty Bar Austin showcase, and the Obscure Magpie Two Headed Party showcase.

As for Transfer: “Transfer is a muumuu of music draped over the grandma of their genre.”

Click here for more info and tickets.

Are YOU Looking for a Job in the Theatre?

2010-05-19T11:20:00.000-07:00

If so, we want to hear from you!

LOSDBlog is taking a serious moment out of our usual hilarity to tell you that we're hiring a Theatre Chief Operating Officer, and if you or someone you know fits the bill, we want you to contact us. Feel free to pass this on.

Here's the job description:

Reporting to the Board of Directors of Lyric Opera San Diego, the Theatre Chief Operating Officer will assume leadership of the administrative operations of the Birch North Park Theatre, overseeing the theatre budget, as well as seeking and managing the revenues necessary to assure a sound financial base for the Birch North Park Theatre. The Theatre Chief Operating Officer is the ambassador and advocate for the Birch North Park Theatre in the community. Major areas of responsibility include: Finance, recruiting and supervising administrative personnel, executing a long-range plan, income generation and liaison with City of San Diego government and arts organizations.

The successful candidate will have experience in the areas of financial management, strategic planning, staff/board development, and have a proven track record in seeking earned and contributed revenues including: Theater Rentals, corporate sponsorships, individual contributions, and special events).

The ideal candidate will be a highly motivated individual with experience in not-for-profit management; preferably theatre, excellent analytical, financial and organizational skills; oustanding written and oral communication skills; knowledge of theatre operations, as well as a track record in responsible fiscal stewardship and good board relations. Astute political skills and the ability to communicate with a broad spectrum of personalities are essential characteristics.

Training or relevant experience in not for profit management/arts administration and/or finance is required. Preference will be given to qualified San Diego area applicants.

Salary commensurate with experience. Please send resume, cover letter with salary requirements and a list of references to: General Director, Lyric Opera San Diego, 2891 University, San Diego, 92104 or e-mail lnatker@lyricoperasandiego.org.

One of the Hottest Jazz Tickets in Town!

2010-05-18T10:19:00.000-07:00

It's official! The Birch North Park Theatre has become one of the top venues in San Diego to hear great jazz. Find out for yourself with the Terell Stafford Quartet, featuring Gerald Clayton, on Wednesday, June 2.

Presented by Lyric Opera San Diego in collaboration with Music Director Holly Hofmann, in association with KSDS (88.3 FM) radio, the concert begins at 7pm. Single tickets are $27 for adults, $15 for students (Day of Show).  You can show your Lyric Opera or KSDS membership card and save $5 off single show tickets. (Discounts and show packages not available online.)

Born in Miami to a musical family, trumpeter Terell Stafford spent his formative years as a sideman in alto player Bobby Watson’s Horizon quartet. Since leaving Watson, Stafford has spent time with McCoy Tyner, Wynton Marsalis, Jon Faddis, and with Jay Leno’s “Tonight Show” house band.

Terell is an exciting performer and his playing shows a lyrical commitment to melody with an adventurous spirit. His rich, expressive tone can be heard on two recent recordings from MaxJazz Records, including “Taking Chances: Live at the Dakota.” Stafford’s quartet features the young pianist Gerald Clayton, the son of bassist John Clayton. The critics comment that Clayton has “a lyrical and ethereal approach,” and he’s a pianist that is “always intriguing,” adding that his playing is “extremely sensitive and consistently satisfying.”

The Jazz in North Park Series wraps up for the summer with Denise Donatelli and the Geoffrey Keezer Quartet on July 7 -- one of a handful of real jazz vocalists featuring one of the best pianists/arrangers in the business! Joining the quartet for this performance is San Diego's favorite jazz guitarist, Peter Sprague.

For more info or to purchase tickets, you know where to go: http://www.birchnorthparktheatre.net or (619) 239-8836

2010-05-18T10:16:00.000-07:00

Is there such a thing as too much jazz? The Union-Tribune's pop and jazz writer, George Varga, takes a look at the San Diego jazz scene, noting that the Birch North Park Theatre has become a home for great jazz concerts like this one.

Jazz Guitar Star Graham Dechter Makes San Diego Debut at BNPT

2010-04-28T12:03:00.000-07:00

Jazz washes away the dust of everyday life. —Art Blakey

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of anticipation you have when you take your seat in a theatre and the lights start to go down. Even more pleasant is the feeling of knowing you’re about to hear an amazing musical performance by a rising young star for the first time, in an intimate environment like the Birch North Park Theatre.

You can be part of the audience having that experience when up-and-coming jazz guitar star Graham Dechter makes his San Diego debut on May 5, as part of Lyric Opera San Diego’s series of jazz concerts, “Jazz in North Park.”

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Dechter is from a family of musicians, and at age 23, is just coming into his own. This performance marks the release of his debut CD, “Right on Time,” on Capri Records, featuring drummer Jeff Hamilton, pianist Tamir Hendelman and John Clayton on Bass.

“Once in a blue moon, a talent comes along who grabs everyone’s attention. Graham is the most recent one to grab MY attention,” Hamilton says of his protégé. “His dedication, work ethic, awareness, and musical sensibility has brought him to this point in his young career. This is only the beginning.” Dechter’s first-ever CD includes such tunes as “The Nearness of You” and the Ellington-Johnny Hodges cut “Squatty Roo.” Citing what it calls “Dechter’s good taste,” the All Music Guide to Jazz says “Right on Time” is “a sure sign of the rarest of commodities – a virtuosic guitarist with nothing to prove.”

Single tickets are: Adults $27, Students (Day of Show) $15. Show your Lyric Opera or KSDS membership card and save $5 off single show tickets.  (Discounts and show packages not available online.) Tickets and information: www.birchnorthparktheatre.net or (619) 239-8836.

Park 2 Park Shuttle Debuts in the ‘Hood!

2010-04-19T17:46:00.000-07:00

A big North Park welcome to the Park 2 Park Shuttle, making its grand debut on April 22. The Park-2-Park Shuttle is a fun, new, convenient way to see and do more when you’re in North Park, South Park, Normal Heights, or University Heights. The shuttle connects these communities with nine shuttle stops at local restaurants, bars, studios, and music venues.

For one $5 pass, in the form of a wristband, you can ride the Park 2 Park shuttle all night from 6:00 p.m. - midnight on Thursday and 6:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. Click here to see where you can purchase a pass, or buy one on PayPal and then pick the pass up at the time you board.

You can follow Park-2-Park on Twitter: @SDPark2Park for updates, news and promotions.

Are You a People Person?

2010-04-19T17:42:00.000-07:00

If so, we can use your help. Birch North Park Theatre has the opportunity to participate in several fun community events throughout the summer, and we’re looking for a few good men and women to help staff our booths at these street fairs and festivals.

Volunteers take turns handing out flyers and brochures, and chatting with passers-by about how great we are, so you know it can’t be that hard. You get to be out in the fresh air, doing some excellent people-watching. We could really use the help! If you think you’d be interested in giving us a hand, please call Stacie Shelby at (619) 231-5714.

The Earth Moved, The Audience Cheered – And Left

2010-04-09T08:20:00.000-07:00

The Act I finale of last Sunday’s matinee performance of The Pirates of Penzance had the audience rising to its feet – literally!

Easter Sunday’s 7.2 magnitude earthquake centered in Mexico came about 40 seconds before the end of Act I, said General Director Leon Natker, who was at the podium at the time at the Birch North Park Theatre. The audience came to its feet and house management brought up the lights, but the musicians and singers completed the act even as the chandeliers were saying and audience members were filing out without panicking. Once the act was over, the artists were also evacuated. When it was determined there was no danger, everyone re-entered the theatre and Act II began after a regular intermission.

“The good news is that every penny of City of San Diego Redevelopment Agency money that was spent on earthquake retrofitting the theatre was well spent,” said Natker, noting that there was no damage that could be discerned to the recently renovated 82-year-old building. “No cracks, nothing broken, as far as we can tell everything held up perfectly, which was the whole idea.”

“There is nothing like singing a high c during an earthquake,” said Megan Weston, in the lead role of Mabel. “I was downstage center, right over the orchestra. I felt the stage move like a wave. The house lights came up and the audience headed for the exits, but we all kept going to the end!”

There’s still a weekend left to catch this earth-shaking show, so if you haven’t seen Pirates yet, now’s your chance!

2010-04-04T23:16:00.000-07:00

SD Uptown News' Jeff Britton reviews "Pirates of Penzance" here. Tickets still available for next weekend!

Get Your Italian / French / Pizza Here

2010-04-02T17:26:00.000-07:00

Another month, another bunch of great restaurants opening in North Park!

The latest offering for your pre- or post-theatre dining is Il Postino, an Italian eatery from the fine folks who brought you the very popular Arrivederci in Hillcrest. Located in the La Boheme building on 30th Street, a block from the Birch North Park Theatre, Il Postino boasts a large location including a wine bar with an extensive wine list, bottle shop, antipasti counter on one side and a full bar, pizza bar, and restaurant on the north. Your faithful blogger just had dinner there before opening night of "Pirates" and can assure you the quality is up to Arrivederci's standards.

Not far away at 3408 30th Street is The Smoking Goat, a French eatery designed by Bells & Whistles, open since February. Chef Frederick Piehl, a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, previously ruled the kitchen at the Lodge at Torrey Pines, Nine-Ten restaurant in La Jolla, and Avenue 5 Restaurant in Bankers Hill. Among his French-inspired menu items are Burger on Brioche, Steak au Poivre, and Homemade Vegetarian Lasagna. Local foodies are already raving about the cool design and great food at this new place.

Also at 30th and University and due to open in April is URBN, a 5,000-square-foot spin-off of entrepreneur Jon Mangini’s BASIC Urban Kitchen + Bar brand. The second URBN location (original in Vista) will continue to keep it simple with a full-service bar and a one-page menu featuring Mangini’s signature thin-crust New Haven style pizza. URBN selections will include everything from traditional pepperoni pizza to signature toppings like fried eggplant, broccoli, fresh littleneck clams and the famed garlic mashed potato and bacon pie.

Make it a night and try the great new eateries in our neighborhood before the show!

2010-03-30T16:57:00.001-07:00

Click here to see video clips from opening weekend of The Pirates of Penzance!

San Diego's Best-Kept Secret No More: Lyric Opera's Summer Academy

2010-03-29T13:54:00.000-07:00

Do you have a budding Patti Lupone or Mandy Patinkin in your family? Are you looking for a way to keep your teenaged theatre rats busy and happy when they’re out of school this summer? Then let us introduce you to the best-kept secret in San Diego: Lyric Opera’s Summer Academy.

2010 will be the Academy’s fifth year summer at the Birch North Park Theatre, providing top-notch musical theatre instruction and performance preparation by professional musical theatre artists to rising young stars from middle and high schools throughout San Diego County.

Trust us, some actors appearing on stages around the country right now haven’t had preparation this good. The Academy is a four-week intensive training program for middle school and high school students aged 11-17 who harbor a serious desire to pursue future careers in opera and musical theater. Each week the students spend 30 hours studying and training in all aspects of musical theater. They all participate in acting, voice, and dance classes, as well as well as rehearsals for a final performance of a classic musical, which this year is “School of Rock.”

Partially underwritten by the Visual and Performing Arts Department of San Diego City Schools, the Academy is the long-time dream of company directors Leon Natker and J. Sherwood Montgomery, and forms the third branch of Lyric Opera San Diego’s mission: “Art, Entertainment, Education.” Leon and Jack’s goal is for the Academy’s students to leave the program prepared with the skills, materials, and confidence to approach auditions and performances in a professional manner. The students discover that theatre is not only fun, but is an art form which requires hard work and discipline. We’re proud to say Academy graduates have gone on to perform on Broadway and at The Old Globe, San Diego Repertory Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, San Diego Opera, and Lyric Opera San Diego, among others.

Just look at who the teachers are:

Academy Director/Stage Director: Jack Montgomery 

Academy Asst. Director/ Choreographer/Dance Teacher: Shirley Giltner 

Voice Teacher/Musical Director: Enrique Toral

Accompanist/Assistant Music Director: Braden McKinley  

Acting Teacher: Leon Natker  

Master Classes: Shauna Ostrom, Pam Stompoly, and members of the South Pacific national tour

If you’re interested in placing your budding Tony Award winner in Lyric Opera’s Academy, click here for full details about the application process. There are limited scholarships, and applications and essays are required. Break a leg!

Ready to Set Sail?

2010-03-29T13:46:00.000-07:00

Now’s the time to book the best seats for your 2010-11 season renewal!

If you’re a current LOSD subscriber, first of all, THANK YOU and we love you more than ice cream with chocolate sauce. Second, if you have already received your season subscription renewal packet, we want you to know that NOW is the best time to renew or improve your seats, before season subscriptions go on sale to the general public!

Let us remind you what delights are in store as we take you around the world on a musical journey next season: Gigi in Paris; The Barber of Seville in, er, Seville; The Gondoliers in Venice and/or Venice Beach; and finally Fiddler on the Roof in the Russia of old. What a trip to make with our exciting musical theatre and opera performers, our live orchestra, and our wonderful chorus, all in the spectacular Birch North Park Theatre. So click here and make sure your seats are in first class for this theatrical trip of a lifetime!

"Pirates" Ready to Sail

2010-03-25T23:08:00.000-07:00

Well, the invited audience at last night's final dress rehearsal for "Pirates" gave it a standing O, and from all the laughing we heard throughout the evening, we're pretty sure we have a hit on our hands.

Tenor Benjamin Robinson is a real find as Frederic, making his debut with LOSD. Young, handsome, and what a voice! And the other debut, Ashraf Sewailam as the Pirate King, is a true operatic bass-baritone who looks and sounds great on stage. Our returning favorites Megan Weston (Mabel), Fran Hartshorn (Ruth), and Walter DuMelle (Police Sergeant) are as great as ever. As for J. Sherwood Montgomery as Major-General Stanley... well, he simply owns this role. He's "San Diego's favorite funnyman," the king of slapstick and the master of the patter song, and those are few and far between these days.

Here are some of Craig Deutsch's photos to give you a little preview... see you on opening night!

A Note About Opening Night Parking for “The Pirates of Penzance”

2010-03-22T14:21:00.000-07:00

Setup for the San Diego Indie Music Fest, a vibrant musical event happening right here in North Park, coincides with opening night of our next show, “The Pirates of Penzance.” The folks at Indie Fest are working with us to make sure this has as little an impact on your parking and access to the theatre as possible, but we wanted to make sure you took the following information into account:

• The 5 Star street-level parking lot behind the Birch North Park Theatre will be CLOSED on March 25 through March 27.

• The parking structure on 29th street will be available on Friday March 26.

^{• Street access to and drop-off at the theatre’s main entrance will not be blocked or restricted.}

^{• There will be some tents on the sidewalk near Starbucks on Friday March 26, but they should not interfere with theatre access.}

^{• Volunteers will direct you to the entrance of the parking structure and assist with your access to the box office and main entrance.}

Armed with this info, we’re sure you’ll have no trouble finding parking and joining us for opening night! Thanks for your understanding!

Jazz Greats Collaborate in Duo Piano Concert

2010-03-22T14:17:00.000-07:00

Presented by Lyric Opera San Diego and Holly Hofmann, the “Jazz in North Park” Series continues at the Birch North Park Theatre with Mike Wofford and Kenny Werner on April 7.

The genius of pianist Mike Wofford can be found in his fluid, but hard-swinging reharmonization of classic jazz standards, and improvisations that have earned him the esteem of critics and colleagues alike. His resume, which goes back to the ’60s West Coast jazz movement, includes stints as pianist for such giants as Shelly Manne, Stan Getz, and Kenny Burrell, among many others. Longtime San Diego resident Wofford’s rare performances at home are always must-see shows for the best in innovative and original jazz. Joining Wofford is highly regarded New York pianist Kenny Werner, lauded for his ability to perform at an exceptionally high level in all types of music. He has recorded with Mingus, Joe Lovano, Toots Thielemans and a host of others. There are few performances in jazz that are as exciting, or as difficult, as duo piano. Both of these players are at the top of their craft and reputations.

Remaining concerts in the Jazz in North Park series are:

Graham Dechter Quartet featuring Tamir Hendelman, John Clayton, and Jeff Hamilton, May 5, 2010

Terell Stafford Quartet featuring Gerald Clayton, June 2, 2010

Denise Donatelli with Geoffrey Keezer Quartet, July 7, 2010

Tickets are $27 for adults, $15 for students on the day of show. A three-show package for the rest of the Jazz Series is $66. You can show your Lyric Opera or KSDS membership card and save $5 off single show tickets. Order tickets here.

Love Letters, Dessert and Champagne

2010-03-18T12:51:00.000-07:00

We know you're tired of the same old fancy-pants fundraising galas, and so are we. So this year, we said to ourselves: "Selves, why not have a little fun? All we want is to get together with our favorite people, see some of the artists we love do something fun, eat a little chocolate, drink a little bubbly, and raise a little money for the company." (Okay, a LOT of money - hey, we can dream, right?)

So our own Artistic Director, J. Sherwood Montgomery, and the lovely and talented San Diego stage veteran Kandis Chappell, who recently graced the stage as Madame Armfeldt in our critically acclaimed February production of A Little Night Music, will team up in A.R. Gurney’s Pulitzer-nominated play, Love Letters, on June 6, 2010 at the Birch North Park Theatre. Longtime Lyric Opera family member Joseph Grienenberger will serve as Musical Director.

Love Letters centers on just two characters, Melissa Gardner and Andrew Makepeace Ladd III. They share the nearly 50 years of notes, letters and cards that have passed between them throughout their separate lives, in which they discuss their hopes and ambitions, dreams and disappointments, victories and defeats.

The one-night-only event is a benefit for our terrific Lyric Opera Summer Academy and will include a show, champagne, and dessert for only $40. That's right - I said JUST FORTY DOLLARS. Order tickets here or here or by calling our Box Office at (619) 239-8836.

Fresh Talent Debuts in “The Pirates of Penzance”!

2010-03-14T15:23:00.000-07:00

One of the most important things we do at Lyric Opera is discovering fresh talent and putting exciting young artists on our stage for your listening and viewing pleasure. For The Pirates of Penzance we’re delighted to introduce two Lyric Opera debut artists we think you’ll love: bass-baritone Ashraf Sewailam as the Pirate King and tenor Benjamin Robinson as Frederic.

The Egyptian-born Ashraf Sewailam made his U.S. singing debut in 2004 with Opera Colorado, as Leporello in Don Giovanni. Since then he has performed with Seattle Opera, Lake George Opera, Mobile Opera, Virginia Opera, Nevada Opera, and Fresno Grand Opera. In 2007 Ashraf debuted at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall with Grattacielo Opera. The New York Times singled him out as “the standout performance” in the roles of Uin-Sci in Leoni’s L’Orocolo and Salomone in Montemezzi's L’Incantesimo. Subsequent reviews, including in Opera News, described his voice as “purring and velvety with Ramfis-like top range” and his stage presence as “strong, mesmerizing and mysterious.”

Last summer 2009 Ashraf debuted with Chautauqua Opera in Il Trovatore and The Consul. He was also heard last season as Colline in La Bohème with The Chattanooga Symphony and Opera, and Escamillo in Carmen with Fargo-Moorhead Opera. His other engagements this season include Pistola in Falstaff with Seattle Opera, Alidoro in La Cenerentola with Opera Southwest, and Sparafucile in Rigoletto with Fresno Grand Opera.

Here’s something to tell your kids: In addition to his singing engagements, Ashraf served as music director for Disney Character Voice International (DCVI), dubbing Disney productions into Arabic, as well as performing several of the characters himself! We have a feeling he’s going to rock the house as the Pirate King.

The young and handsome tenor Benjamin Robinson earned degrees in music from the University of Michigan and the University of Houston, and is fresh out of the Kentucky Opera Young Artists Program, where he sang a variety of opera and operetta roles over the past two years. He has also performed with Ohio Light Opera and the Bay View Music Festival, including the leading Gilbert & Sullivan roles of Marco in The Gondoliers and Nanki-Poo in The Mikado, so we think he’s going to fit right in around here! We know you will want to welcome these exciting new talents to Lyric Opera, so make sure to buy your Pirates tickets today!

Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A Pirate’s Life for Us

2010-03-08T11:09:00.000-08:00

Arr, mateys! Break out the Jolly Roger, the peg legs, and the eye patches, because it’s time to head back to Penzance!

You won’t find Captain Jack Sparrow anywhere near the place, but yes, Lyric Opera’s 31st season is coming to a rousing close with the most beloved of Gilbert and Sullivan classics, “The Pirates of Penzance”! These beloved high-seas bumblers, their lady loves, and the hapless police who pursue them return to the Birch North Park Theatre on Friday, March 26, 2010 -- running for three weekends.

We do so love performing this show for you, and we have two exciting new artists to introduce to you in leading roles: tenor Benjamin Robinson as Frederic and bass-baritone Ashraf Sewailam as the Pirate King. As Mabel, one of our favorite people, the luminous soprano Megan Weston, returns to our stage. And last but not least, “San Diego’s favorite funnyman,” our own Artistic Director J. Sherwood Montgomery, the master of the patter song, returns in one of his signature roles as Major General Stanley. General Director Leon Natker will direct and conduct the production.

The show opens March 26 and runs through April 11. Watch this space for closer looks at the show and the artists in days to come!

Priti Gandhi in Today's North County Times

2010-03-05T13:37:00.000-08:00

Get yourself all worked up for Priti Gandhi's recital tomorrow with this great interview from today's North County Times. Thanks, Pam!

Preservation Hall Jazz Band: Like No Other

2010-03-04T12:42:00.000-08:00

There are still some tickets available for tonight's concert featuring the Preservation Hall Jazz Band. If you're a jazz fan, you can't miss this.

“Preservation Hall. Now that's where you'll find all of the greats.” — Louis Armstrong

“Miraculous” — National Public Radio

“At its heart, New Orleans jazz may be the ideal musical expression of the American notion of democracy: individuals expressing themselves in a singular way, while working together toward a common goal, in this case in service to the songs at hand. That keeps this outing from being simply a nostalgic salute to a bygone form of music. It makes it a vibrant collaboration with its vision locked squarely on the future. –Randy Lewis, Victoria Advocate

“Stunning” — Jazziz.com

“The Preservation Hall Jazz Band has always been rooted in tradition, and at this point, the group is a tradition itself… the band has enjoyed an artistic renaissance over the last decade, and the tragic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina whose destruction forced the temporary closure of the historic Preservation Hall, their home base for nearly 50 years, has only fueled their fire.” – AllAboutJazz.com

“Preservation Hall keep its jazz hot.” — Los Angeles Times 

“The mission of Preservation Hall, to showcase and nurture one of America's greatest indigenous national, cultural treasures – New Orleans Jazz – is as important today as it was when Preservation Hall officially opened its doors in 1961.” – AntiMusic.com

“New Orleans’ Preservation Hall Jazz Band keeps the joyousness alive.” — Tucson Weekly

Also don't forget our dinner-and-ticket deal with Gulf Coast Grill!

2010-03-03T16:28:00.000-08:00

Here's a nice mention of Priti Gandhi's upcoming recital in SDNN's "On the Town." Do you have your tickets yet?

Priti Gandhi Prepares for Her First Solo Recital

2010-03-01T14:15:00.000-08:00

Still basking in the glow of “A Little Night Music,” we barely have the time to catch our collective breath before our next exciting event: our dear friend, Priti Gandhi, gives her first ever solo recital at the Birch North Park Theatre on March 6.

We’ve known Priti since she was a wee babe, or at least it feels that way. She’s as close to a San Diego native as most people ever get – born in Mumbai, India, but raised in Del Mar since the age of 2. Her combination of gorgeous voice, determination, winning personality, and wholesome beauty helped her establish an opera career any young singer would be proud of. And now, to our great delight, she’s chosen to give her first solo recital at our very own theatre, accompanied on the piano by another fabulous friend of ours, Nicolas Reveles.

We asked Priti what inspired her in creating the program for the recital, which will include songs from and about her native India as well as her adopted homeland of the United States and the European opera tradition.

“I created this recital with a desire I've had for a few years. When I started singing, I became curious about what kind of relationship there might between some sort of Indian influence and Western classical music,” said Priti. “There ARE no Indian operas per se, and the style of opera is completely different in technique and background than that of Indian classical music... but there had to be a place where the two met. And since I am a product of both cultures, I decided to start scouring the Western classical music spectrum for any hints of such a fusion.

“What I found was a hidden but definite influence of Indian culture and poetry on various composers and art song cycles through the years... hidden, but it's there! Getting my hands on some of the music was a challenge, but I've been collecting it for about five years now. Finding recordings of some of these pieces was even more challenging.

“The result is a recital that is part Indian, part American... a program that is a fusion of two different backgrounds. I wanted this recital to reflect who I was... and I think I have found that. Not only in the music that appealed to me, but its background, the lyrics, the settings-- all of it.

“All of the music is Western classical music, but the first half is called INDIA.... there are song cycles with poetry by Rabindranath Tagore, arias from operas with Indian characters, and the like. I found so much material that choosing what to use was quite difficult! This half reflects my background, my culture, and the upbringing I learned in my Indian home. It also speaks to how I have seen my birth country from thousands of miles away. The second half is called AMERICA, and in this set, I chose pieces that rang true to my upbringing here in America, lyrics that spoke to my childhood, and songs that reflected what being an American meant to me.”

Priti Gandhi in Recital is Saturday March 6 at 7:30pm. Tickets are $40: http://www.birchnorthparktheatre.net or (619) 239-8836.

Jazz + Cajun Food = Yum

2010-02-26T08:20:00.000-08:00

What goes better with hot Lousiana jazz than spicy Cajun cuisine? Our friends at Gulf Coast Grill are getting in the spirit of New Orleans by offering an exclusive dinner package for our concert featuring the Preservation Hall Jazz Band on Thursday March 4.

Gulf Coast Grill was born out of love for good times and good food. Their hot menu is inspired by the flavorful and diversified cuisines of the Gulf Coast, the home of New Orleans jazz. On the night of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band concert, Gulf Coast Grill offers two options:

DINNER A

- Glass of House Wine

- Soup or Salad

- Entrée Choices: Seafood Gumbo, Jambalaya OR Mississippi Catfish

- One Preservation Hall Jazz Band ticket (25% discount)

Dinner and Gold Circle ticket: $56 per person

Dinner and Reserved ticket: $49 per person

DINNER B

- Glass of House Wine

- Soup or Salad

- Choice of entrée from the menu

- One Preservation Hall Jazz Band ticket (25% discount)

Dinner and Gold Circle ticket: $62 per person

Dinner and Reserved ticket: $55 per person

(This ticket price is not valid for previously purchased tickets. If you’ve already purchased your concert ticket, Gulf Coast Grill will give you a 20% discount if you dine there on the event night - just show your ticket.)

You can buy these dinner and ticket packages directly from Gulf Coast Grill: 619-295-2244 or gulfcoastgrill@gmail.com.

Gulf Coast Grill is a short drive from the theatre, at 4130 Park Blvd. near the intersection of Park Blvd., El Cajon Blvd. and Normal St. in the North Park/Hillcrest area of San Diego. We'll see you there!

Announcing our 2010-11 Season!

2010-02-22T14:30:00.000-08:00

Oh boy, are we going to have fun next season! Ready for a musical trip around the world?

It’ll be our 32nd season, if you can believe that. We find it a little hard to believe ourselves sometimes. But you can bet that after 32 years of doing this, we know what works, what’s great, what audiences will love, and what will give both our veteran artists and the new up-and-comers the best possible showcase for their talents on our stage.

(A reminder: all our productions feature our own live orchestra and talented singers, performed at our own Birch North Park Theatre. Why do we always mention that? Because there just simply aren’t all that many musical theatre companies that consistently offer that these days.)

We’re starting the season in Paris, with Lerner & Loewe’s Gigi, based on the classic film musical of the same name. The musical is by the same talented guys that gave us My Fair Lady. Gigi hasn’t been seen live in San Diego in more than 20 years. Our J. Sherwood Montgomery will take the Maurice Chevalier role, singing that famous ditty “Thank Heaven for Little Girls.”

“Figaro, Figaro!” Next it’s off to Seville, Spain, for one of the most popular comic operas of all time - The Barber of Seville. The lovely Emily Douglass, most recently seen here as our Daughter of the Regiment, will be back as Rosina.

Our Venice Beach staging of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Gondoliers is a real crowd-pleaser, so we’re bringing it back with a fresh new cast. The show is full of tuneful melodies and snappy patter that keep the story moving between the imaginary kingdoms of Venice and Barataria, poking fun of nobility and royalty as only G&S can.

And finally, we wrap up with a trip back in time to Tsarist Russia as our own G.D. Leon Natker reprises one of his signature roles, Tevye in the record-breaking, award-winning Broadway smash Fiddler on the Roof. If you’ve never seen Leon perform this role – here’s your chance. He’ll be joined by Jimmy Ferraro (who was our Sancho in Man of La Mancha) for his first turn as Lazar Wolf. This will be a show not to be missed.

Here’s the bottom line: you can get all four shows for $108 to $188. That’s less than it costs to see just one show at some musical theatre or opera companies. Want to subscribe? www.lyricoperasandiego.org or (619) 293-8836.

2010-02-20T16:59:00.000-08:00

We blush at the praise in this review. But we agree! Thanks, Uptown News!

Raves for "A Little Night Music"

2010-02-15T08:44:00.000-08:00

We're back! Opening weekend of "A Little Night Music" went off beautifully. We never get tired of this beautiful show and our cast is simply magnificent. Don't take just our word for it:

"Mr. Gregory made for a very likable Fredrik, and Mr. Ayers lived up to his advance billing as someone who is going places, both as a singer and as an actor. Ms. Chappell was both sly and regal as the worldly-wise countess. As Désirée, Ms. Huber was luminous and her take on "Send in the Clowns," probably the most popular song in the Sondheim canon, was entirely fresh." - Bill Eadie, sandiego.com

"Among the principals, Andrea Huber’s Désirée Armfeldt is an unalloyed delight, by turns earthy and wise, glamorous and giddy." "Raymond Ayers as Count Malcolm threatened to take over the show every time he was onstage, singing with a big, punchy baritone and acting with a sure sense of style." "...a rewarding evening in the theater." - Marcus Overton, San Diego Union-Tribune

"A Little Night Music" has four performances left this week and weekend, so if you haven't bought your tickets yet... you know what to do.

"A Little Night Music" Photos

2010-02-11T14:04:00.000-08:00

Last night's final dress rehearsal of "A Little Night Music" has us inordinately excited about opening night tomorrow. The show is beautiful to look at, beautifully staged, and the cast is one of the finest we have ever assembled. (Above: Scott Gregory as Frederik and Andrea Huber as Desiree.)

We've posted Ken Jacques' photos on our Facebook page, so you can see for yourself. (While you're there, become a Fan!)

Sondheim on "Send in the Clowns"

2010-02-09T10:03:00.000-08:00

Speaking of "Send in the Clowns," here's an interesting video featuring composer Stephen Sondheim talking about how he wrote the song from "A Little Night Music" that became his biggest commercial hit.

Valentine's Day Dinner Package at West Coast Tavern

2010-02-08T17:43:00.000-08:00

LOSD fans, here's a great Valentine's Day special offer: How about a pair of tickets to "A Little Night AND dinner for two at West Coast Tavern for just $115!

Come to the Valentine's Day matinee show at 2:30pm and then follow it up with a delicious prix-fixe dinner right across the lobby, at West Coast Tavern at 5pm. On the menu: choice of Dungeness crab cakes with spicy remoulade or steak tartare with traditional accompaniments; choice of pan-roasted pork tenderloin with molasses mustard glaze, smashed sweet potatoes and sauteed greens or lemon spice-crusted scallops with citrus beurre blanc, crispy potato cakes and grilled asparagus; and choice of panna cotta with strawberry balsamic reduction or chocolate flourless torte with raspberry coulis.

Click on this link and scroll down for details and to purchase the package - NOT AVAILABLE THROUGH OUR BOX OFFICE. Happy Valentine's Day!

There Should Be Clowns…

2010-02-04T16:58:00.000-08:00

“A Little Night Music” may be one of Stephen Sondheim’s many Broadway hit shows, but it stands out from all the rest because it is the show that gave Sondheim his only pop hit to date: the ballad “Send in the Clowns.”

Even those who have no idea who Stephen Sondheim is, and who have never heard of “A Little Night Music,” instantly recognize “Send in the Clowns,” which has become a jazz standard performed by everyone from Judy Collins and Frank Sinatra to Kenny Rogers and, most famously, Barbra Streisand. From the very first bars and the opening line, “Isn’t it rich?”, audiences know they are in for a musical and vocal treat that is also achingly romantic and bittersweet.

The principal character, Desirée, sings the ballad in Act II of “A Little Night Music.” She reflects on the ironies and disappointments of her life, reacting to her former lover Frederik’s rejection after she urges him to leave his young wife and reunite with her. The song is later reprised as a coda after Frederik’s young wife runs away with his son, and Frederik is finally free to accept Desirée’s offer.

Sondheim wrote the lyrics and music over a two-day period during rehearsals for the play's Broadway debut. He wrote the song specifically for the actress Glynis Johns, who created the role of Desirée on Broadway. According to Sondheim, “Glynis had a lovely, crystal voice, but sustaining notes was not her thing. I wanted to write short phrases, so I wrote a song full of questions,” and the song’s melody is within a small music range. It became Sondheim’s most popular song after Judy Collins (right) recorded it in 1975. Subsequently, many other famous artists have recorded the song, and it has become a jazz standard.

Click here to see a video clip of Barbra Streisand sing "Send in the Clowns."

Is it, in fact, a song about the circus, as some assume from the title? Uh, no. The “clowns” symbolize fools, as Sondheim has explained in various interviews: when it comes to love, we are all capable of being fools. In the song, Desirée experiences both deep regret and furious anger, allowing artists a wide range of interpretations to play with in performing the song.

“Send in the Clowns” can now be found on more than 900 recordings by hundreds of performers, including Frank Sinatra, Shirley Bassey, Bing Crosby, Frida (of ABBA), Grace Jones, Mel Tormé, Frankie Laine, Elizabeth Taylor (for the 1978 film adaptation of “A Little Night Music,” in which she starred); Carmen McRae, Many Patinkin, Angela Lansbury, Barbra Streisand, Bryan Ferry, Glenn Close, Tom Jones, the Tiger Lilies, and even Krusty the Clown on “The Simpsons.” We’re sure you have your favorite version. But we’re also quite sure hearing the gorgeous Andrea Huber sing it LIVE on our stage will be an experience to remember. Buy your tickets… now!

Dinner and a Play for Valentine’s Day! What Could Be More Romantic?

2010-02-04T16:42:00.000-08:00

If you’re planning a perfectly romantic evening with your sweetie, look no further than our production “A Little Night Music” at the Birch North Park Theatre, combined with dinner or dessert at one of the fabulous restaurants within steps of the theatre.

“A Little Night Music” includes some of the most romantic music ever written for Broadway, including the bittersweet “Send in the Clowns,” made famous by Barbra Streisand and countless other great jazz and pop singers. The play itself is a wonderful tribute to love of all kinds – young love, unrequited love, lost love, and the incomparable happiness of lost love regained after the rekindling of an former romance. Although each couple takes the audience along on an emotional roller-coaster ride throughout the show, in the end true love triumphs and all is as it should be. What could be more fitting on Valentine’s Day weekend?

As for dinner, there are so many options in our vibrant neighborhood that the hardest part is deciding where to eat. Of course, there’s the lively West Coast Tavern right in our lobby, where a full bar and bistro menu make a great casual meal. Steps away on neighboring streets, choices include Urban Solace, Sea Rocket Bistro, The Linkery, the brand-new North Park Fish Market & Grill, Rancho’s Natural Foods, Spread, and Peking House, to name just a few. And for coffee and dessert after the show, there’s Starbucks on our corner, Claire de Lune Coffee Lounge right across the street, and the aptly named Heaven Sent Desserts one block away. Make it an evening to remember with theatre tickets and a wonderful meal! Happy Valentine’s Day!

San Diego Veteran Kandis Chappell Makes Lyric Opera Debut in “A Little Night Music”

2010-02-04T16:24:00.000-08:00

San Diego theater fans will be delighted to learn a beloved local veteran, Kandis Chappell, is finally coming to our stage as Madame Armfeldt in “A Little Night Music”!

Kandis grew up in San Diego and is an Associate Artist of the Old Globe Theatre. She did her first show as a prop girl there and has since appeared in more than 25 Old Globe productions. She has performed in numerous productions at South Coast Rep in Costa Mesa, and earned Los Angeles Drama Critics’ Circle Awards for Outstanding Lead Performance for four of those shows, more than any other actor. The productions for which she was recognized show her tremendous range: “The Crucible,” “Shadowlands,” “Woman in Mind,” and “Collected Stories.”

Outside San Diego, Kandis has worked at theatres across the country including Lincoln Center, the Huntington in Boston, Milwaukee Rep, Seattle Rep, ACT in San Francisco, the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles, and North Coast Rep in Solana Beach. We can’t wait to see her Lyric Opera San Diego debut in this wonderful role of Madame Armfeldt, who acts as a sort of dramatic compass in this wonderful show, Feb. 12-21 at the Birch North Park Theatre. If you haven’t bought your tickets yet, do it today!