| Greetings!
Dear Friends & Family,
Thanks for your kind response to the first edition of my newsletter. I heard from many of you who enjoyed hearing about the debut of my latest project, Princess of the Nile, and was happy to see quite a number of friends and family in the audience last weekend. Sunday's performance was quite full with over 100 people, and since the Dutchess County Fair was in direct competition, the Princess cast and crew were all so grateful that you came to enjoy the show. I'll keep you posted on the next stop for my Princess project.
This Saturday and Sunday, I'll be putting on my singing/performing hat to join my talented friends from the Gilbert & Sullivan Musical Theater Company here in the Hudson Valley. We're doing our annual Labor Day weekend special cabaret performance of Highlights from the Footlights! See the feature article in today's newsletter and please join us for some great songs from musical theater, operetta and cabaret. Hope to see you at the CENTER!
Enjoy! Barbara |
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BR at G & S |
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 For the last 7 years, I've enjoyed being a part of the Gilbert & Sullivan Musical Theater Company here in the Hudson Valley. I loved my role as Desiree in Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music (pictured here) and roles in our other exciting shows, but I always look forward to our Labor Day Hightlights from the Footlights performances at the CENTER. It's a chance to sing different songs and styles from past shows, and even work on something new that I've wanted to do for years. Two years ago, I decided to work on "Getting Married Today," another Sondheim song, from Company, a show that was produced this summer at the CENTER . It was all I could do to memorize the hundreds of syllables sung at breakneck speed and learn the whole song in 3 weeks. A great challenge, but great fun, too, and the audience seemed to like it. This year, I'll be singing 2 familiar songs from my repertoire, "Broadway Baby" (Sondheim again), "Nelson" (with Bernie Ruderman as my very own Nelson Eddy), plus I've added a third "cabaret-style" song to spice it up a bit. Years ago in NYC, I heard Bebe Neuwirth, a marvelous talent, who has excelled as a performer both on Broadway (A Chorus Line, Chicago) and TV (Frazier), sing this in a Martin Charnin (lyricist of Annie), review and I've wanted to do it ever since! I certainly hope you'll come to hear me along with 10 other very talented performers in a cabaret setting. I don't think you'll be disappointed...see you at the CENTER!!!
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| Horus Saves the Day! |
 Last weekend, Princess of the Nile was in full swing at the CENTER with 5 shows in 4 days. The last one on Sunday was really fun for the actors with over 100 people in the audience, mostly children. Their reactions to the music & lyrics, storyline, sets and costumes was great to observe. You'd think a child might be frightened to see the above headdress of Horus, the god of the Pharaoh (designed and crafted by Costume Designer Natalie Lunn), on an actor's head, but everyone seemed mesmerized when Horus entered to save the day for the Princess of the Nile. After the show, I asked a little boy who his favorite character had been, and he said Horus. I was thrilled! When I realized that he was the son of actor Terry Weaver who was playing the part, it made perfect sense that he would love Horus until his mother told me that he had no idea his father was under 2 beady eyes, a beak and all those feathers! I'd say that was a combination of a clever costume and great acting. All in all, it was a terrific run, and we're hoping to produce the show in other schools and children's theater venues. Stay tuned! |
| Go Yanks! |
Well, it's crunch time for the NY Yankees, and every die-hard fan knows it. After sweeping the Boston Red Sox this week in a very exciting series, the Yanks lost their Labor Day weekend opener to Tampa Bay, 9-1. Now, why you say, is an article about the Yanks appearing here in this issue of InsideThe Music Room. Well, because I am a devoted life-long fan of the Yankees and try to watch or listen or know about what happens in every game! So even while I'm rehearsing, performing, and writing, I have one ear listening in the background to what's going on in the game...just ask anyone! Saturday, the Yanks have brought up young pitcher, Ian Kennedy, to make his first start in the major leagues, and at a crucial time in the season. We have to win to maintain our lead in the Wild Card Division ahead of Seattle, or to try and catch AL East Division leaders, the Boston Red Sox! Every game is important, however, it's an afternoon game Saturday, so you can see it and still come on out to the CENTER in Rhinebeck at 8:00 PM for Highlights from the Footlights! Go G&S and Go Yanks! |
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Dear Friends and Family,
Hope you can join me for this exciting event at the CENTER! Look for my next issue...soon!
Warm regards,
Barbara Rankin...from InsideThe Music Room |
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| Highlights from the Footlights |
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What could be more fun for devotees of musical theater than to spend an evening with members of The Gilbert and Sullivan
Musical Theater Company in a cabaret style and hear the great songs of operetta, musical theater and cabaret? Over the past several years, it has become a tradition every Labor Day weekend to present Highlights from the Footlights at the CENTER for Performing Arts in Rhinebeck, and the response has been great! It's a wonderful opportunity to hear the music of not only Gilbert & Sullivan, but also Gershwin, Porter, Berlin, Sondheim, and even Tom Lehrer (from this year's production of Tomfoolery!) all in one show! Veteran performers such as Jim Klosty, Joanne Fenton, Barbara Hardgrave
& David Rodriguez will delight you with their talent and versatility. Come out to the CENTER for this wonderful show. Oh, and I'll be joining them as well with some Sondheim, Jerry Herman and a cabaret-inspired ditty by Martin Charnin. Join us for great music this weekend!
Next Performance:
HIGHTLIGHTS from the FOOTLIGHTS
Brand New & Totally Delectable!
The Best of Broadway, Cabaret and Operetta
Saturday, September 1, 8:00 p.m.
Sunday, September 2, 3:00 p.m.
Tickets: $18 general admission
$16 seniors & children
Center for Performing Arts at Rhinebeck
Box Office: 845-876-3080
Directions to the CENTER:
The CENTER for Performing Arts is located on Route 308, 3.5 miles east of the light in the Village of Rhinebeck.
www.centerforperformingarts.org |
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