2009-2010 Entertainment Season
We are extremely excited to be offering our first full season of professional entertainment in 2009-2010.We have booked seven professional acts which we hope will provide something for everyone. The season is heavily geared toward music lovers, and we hope that we can provide an enjoyable music experience for our community in our outstanding concert hall. In addition to these professional shows, we are promoting two Van Buren High School theater productions and four high school music events. The Van Buren band and choir programs will provide excellent Christmas holiday activities and their year-end concerts in the spring will allow spectators the opportunity to hear first-rate student musicians perform.
September 26, 2009 7:00 p.m. Groovelily Concert Musical
"Sleeping Beauty Wakes"
Rock Band? Musical Theater? The Best Of Both.
New York City trio GrooveLily inhabits that contemporary space where creative
musicians ignore the boundaries laid down by words like rock, folk, jazz and
pop. Intelligent original songs with no shortage of wit connect lush musical
textures and soaring vocals with the blazing six-string electric violin of Valerie
Vigoda, the lightning-fingered piano of Brendan Milburn, and the joyful drums
of Gene Lewin. With backgrounds in classical music, musical theater, jazz and rock, the three members of
GrooveLily are making a new music that's all their own. The success of their first concert-musical, the criticallyacclaimed
holiday show STRIKING 12, has led them farther into the world of theater, where they have carved out a
unique niche as a rock band writing and performing shows. After years on the indie touring circuit, they are
delighted to be creating many projects with various collaborators: STRIKING 12, the first GrooveLily concert-musical
(Off-Broadway 2006, Lucille Lortel Nomination for Outstanding Musical, Bay Area Theatre Critic's Choice Award);
TOY STORY THE MUSICAL for Disney; SLEEPING BEAUTY WAKES for Deaf West Theatre/Center Theatre Group (Two
2007 Ovation Awards, including World Premiere Musical; Valerie was also nominated for Lead Actress);
WHEELHOUSE, the second GrooveLily concert-musical; LONG STORY SHORT for City Theatre of Pittsburgh/
TheatreWorks Palo Alto; A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM for McCarter Theatre/Paper Mill Playhouse; and ERNEST
SHACKLETON LOVES ME, a new 1-woman fever-dream musical. Their latest/proudest productions are Brendan and
Valerie's son Mose (age 3), and Gene and his wife Suzanne's son Elias (age 1 1/2). All three band members live in
Brooklyn.
Valerie Vigoda, electric violinist and singer, is the founding member of GrooveLily. Originally from McLean, VA,
Valerie is a classically-trained musician, honors graduate of Princeton University, and former Army lieutenant. She
has toured the world with Cyndi Lauper (opening for Tina Turner and Cher), Joe Jackson and the Trans-Siberian
Orchestra. She founded GrooveLily (originally "The Valerie Vigoda Band") in 1994, with a critically-acclaimed CD
called "Inhabit My Heart." Dirty Linen Magazine wrote: "to call Valerie Vigoda talented barely seems to do her justice.
She has a great voice, is an intelligent lyricist ... and an ace violinist. Methinks we'll hear more of her." Valerie is a
two-time winner of the Jonathan Larson Award for Excellence in Writing for the Theatre, along with her husband
and longtime collaborator Brendan Milburn.
Brendan Milburn (keyboards/vocals) graduated from Pomona College and NYU's MFA program in Musical Theatre
Writing. He does a lot of arranging for GrooveLily, and he's an accomplished record producer as well. He often
yearns for his native San Francisco. Seth Rogovoy wrote: "Milburn was a deft pianist, his nimble fingerwork doing
double-duty as the band's bassist and provider of its harmonic foundation, delivered with the jazzy sophistication
of Steely Dan's Donald Fagen and the rock and roll theatrics of Billy Joel." Brendan's music and/or lyrics have been/
will be featured in a growing number of off/on-Broadway shows, and he's always on the lookout for new projects/
productions which will add more slashes ("/") to his bio/credits.
Gene Lewin plays the drums and sings, and hails from Princeton, NJ. Like many of his heroes (Jack DeJohnette, Russ
Kunkel, Vinnie Colaiuta), Gene joyfully blurs the lines between jazz and rock, supporting and complementing the
music but unafraid to instigate when the time is right. After graduating from Princeton University, Gene earned a
Master's degree from the Manhattan School of Music. He tours regularly with Audra McDonald, and has appeared on
CDs with George Coleman, John Patitucci, and many others. "His gift lies in his frenzied dynamo attack of cymbals
and skins. Think Tony Williams sits in with Weather Report." (Mark Corroto, All About Jazz
Click for "Striking 12" Video
Click for "Sleeping Beauty Wakes" Video
Groovelily Webpage
October 3, 2009 7:00 p.m.
Toxic Audio
A cappella sensation Toxic Audio has picked up a number of accolades over the course of
their career. However, little did they know at the time that their participation in a benefit
concert for the Actors’ Fund of America in September 2004 would result in their first ever
Grammy nomination.
Ghostlight Records released a CD of the benefit concert of the musical, Hair¸ which was
announced as one of five nominated for Best Musical Show Album in the 48th Annual
Grammy Awards. Toxic Audio’s
performance of the song, “Electric Blues,” was featured alongside performances by Harvey
Fierstein, Jai Rodriguez, Billy Porter, John Tartaglia, Ana Gasteyer and others. The concert
originally took place at New York City’s New Amsterdam Theater.
“That show supported a great cause, and we had a lot of fun sharing the stage with so many
talented entertainers,” said Toxic Audio co-creator, Rene Ruiz. “The fact that it has been
recognized by the Grammys and at the same time, gives us our first Grammy nomination, is
an unexpected honor which makes that concert even more special for us.”
Toxic Audio picked up a 2004 Drama Desk Award for “Outstanding Unique Theatrical
Experience” for their extended Off-Broadway run where their show was rated Number One
in the WALL STREET JOURNAL/ZAGAT THEATER SURVEY surpassing Lion King and
Beauty and the Beast. The group just completed a three month stint at the Luxor Resort &
Casino in Las Vegas, NV and they will be bringing their critically acclaimed show to Japan
for a six week tour beginning in January. Their most recent album, Word of Mouth, is
available on DRG Records.
The six members of Toxic Audio (René Ruiz, Michelle Mailhot-Valines, Jeremy James,
Shalisa James, Paul Sperrazza, and sound man John A. Valines III) merge their
considerable talents for an explosion of vocal acrobatics, unstoppable rhythm and improv
comedy in a show which takes the audience on an unforgettable musical journey which
defies definition. They use no instruments other than their own voices to create complex
sonic textures which sound amazingly like a full band is on stage backing their astounding
harmonies.
Toxic Audio Promotional Video
Toxic Audio Website
November 14, 2009 Bits N Pieces Puppet Theater
Alice in Wonderland 2:00 p.m.
The stage is filled with squeals of delight when the award-winning Bits 'N Pieces Puppet Theatre brings its splendiferous GIANT puppet musical, Alice in Wonderland, to town.
When Alice escapes her boredom of this world to venture into a dream of another, madcap high jinks and outlandish adventures are the order of the day as lavishly costumed characters and giant nine-foot tall puppets whirl, dance and sing on their journey through Lewis Carroll's mythical setting, Wonderland. Our heroine learns it takes self-reliance and quick thinking to tame the comic nonsense of the Queen of Hearts, the Cheshire Cat, and Wonderland's other unpredictable residents. Actor and master puppet builder Holli Rubin plays the title role. Puppeteers cavort in towering 9-foot tall puppets, portraying the Mad Hatter, the March Hare, and other characters in this beloved tale.
The high-spirited musical boasts a mix of jumbo nine-foot-tall body puppets, costumed characters, traditional puppetry and children from the audience.
Click for Alice and the Queen Video
Bits N Pieces Puppet Theater Website
November 20-22, 2009 VBHS Music and Theater
Cole Porter's Anything Goes
November 20 7:00 p.m.
November 21 7:00 p.m.
November 22 2:00 p.m.
The Van Buren High School Theater and Music Departments will present
Cole Porter’s classic Broadway musical Anything Goes, for a four show run.
November 18th will be a school performance, and November 19th and 21st
public evening performances,with a Sunday afternoon matinee at 2:00 p.m.
on November 22nd. The 1987 Beaumont theater revival will be staged, which includes classic American Broadway tunes, Anything Goes, I Get a Kick Out of You, You’re the Top, and DeLovely. Cole Porter’s musical commentary on changing American life should provide a wonderful entertainment opportunity for musical
theater lovers in our area. The Beaumont revival is based on the original
score written by Porter in 1934 and includes music not included in the original version. The Beaumont revival won Tony Awards for Best Revival, Best Choreography, and Best Featured Actor in a musical and was nominated for 7 more Tonys, including Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Costume, Scenic and Lighting design.
1987 Tony Awards Video Featuring Patti LuPone
February 19-20, 2010 7:00 p.m.
VBHS Theater Stageplay Proof
VBHS Theater's first spring stageplay. David Auburn's critically acclaimed dramatic script with a unique blend of mathematics and mental illness.
A dramatic story about a family's struggle.
February 27, 2010 7:00 p.m.
Ryan and Ryan Mirrored Pianos
Steinway Artists Donald Ryan and son Barron will perform their Mirrored Pianos show on February 27th at the Fine Arts Center. The duet portion of the concert, performed on two 9 foot Steinways, will feature music from Milhaud, Grusin, Phoebe Knapp, George Gershwin and Rachmaninoff. The Jazz trio will perform peices from Cole Porter, Gershwin, and Mercer to Billy Joel and the Beatles. Join us and the Ryans for a wonderful evening of outstanding jazz, pop and classical music at the Fine Arts Center.
March 13, 2010 7:00 p.m.
The Glenn Miller Orchestra
In March one of the legendary big bands, the Glenn Miller Orchestra, will bring a classic program and a hint of nostalgia to the Van Buren School District fine arts center. The current lineup includes 18 musicians and a vocal duo, including musical director Larry O’brien who is the seventh band leader since the group was founded in 1939. The Glenn Miller Orchestra is an iconic big band, and charted more than 70 top-ten hits between 1939 and 1945, including String of Pearls, Tuxedo Junction, Little Brown Jug, Pennsylvania 6500 and Moonlight Serenade. Consistently touring for the last forty years, The Glenn Miller Orchestra performs 300 dates per year, for a combined audience of more than one half million people. The orchestra has performed in all fifty states, as well as through Europe, Australia, Iceland, New Zealand, Guam, the Philippines, Central and South America and Japan. The “Road Book” carried by the band contains over 300 charts, many of them of the original library. Today, the complete library contains over 1,700 compositions, including all of the original charts compiled by both the Army Air Force Band, and civilian band.
Glenn Miller Orchestra Video Moonlight Serenade
Glenn Miller Orchestra Video Tuxedo Junction
Glenn Miller Orchestra Homepage
March 19, 2010 7:00 p.m.
Route 66
Take a dollop of GREASE, mix in some PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES and add a generous dose of FOREVER PLAID and you've got the pedal-to-the-metal, high-octane fun of Roger Bean's ROUTE 66. Chock full of hilarious characters, wild antics and good old fashioned schtick, this sure-fire crowd-pleaser features hit songs from the late-50's and early-60's: Dead Man's Curve, King of the Road, Little Old Lady from Pasadena, Six Days on the Road, GTO, Fun, Fun, Fun, I Get Around and of course, Route 66. Route 66 is now touring with a larger, more elaborate set and a live music combo. This musical comedy review will be a fun-filled evening for all ages.
Route 66 Promotional Video
Hyperion Productions Route 66 Webpage
April 10, 2010 7:00 p.m.
The Harlem Gospel Choir
The internationally known Harlem Gospel Choir will perform in Van Buren in April. The Choir has performed for many well known dignitaries, including Nelson Mandella, and Pope John Paul II. They have also performed with Diana Ross, Cindy Lauper, Whoopie Goldberg, Sir Elton John, Lyle Lovett, Jimmy Ciff, Danny Glover, Harry Belafonte, and U2. Their inspirational music should provide a wonderful finale for the 2009-2010 year.
The world famous Harlem Gospel Choir is the most famous gospel choir in America today. It travels the globe, sharing its joy of faith through its music, & raising funds for children's charities. The Choir was founded in 1986 by Allen Bailey, who got the idea for the Choir while attending a celebration in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the Cotton Club in Harlem. The Choir presents the finest singers & musicians from Harlem's Black Churches & the New York/Tri-State area.
The Harlem Gospel Choir has shared its message of love & inspiration with hundreds of thousands of people around the world. Through its dynamic performances the Choir strive to create a better understanding of the African-American culture & the inspirational music called Gospel as it relates to the Black Church. The theme of every performance is "bringing people & nations together & giving something back".
In this new era of hope and change the Choir's voices reflect the RENAISSANCE of Harlem's culture. The Harlem Gospel Choir's music is always "UNFETTERED, JOYOUS & INSPIRATIONAL". Their songs of gospel and inspiration will touch the depths of your soul and lift your spirit to angelic heights - every performance will take your breath away!
Harlem Gospel Choir Video
Harlem Gospel Choir Homepaage
April 16-17, 2010 7:00 p.m.
VBHS Theater Stageplay Steel Magnolias
Steel Magnolias,VBHS Theater stage play finale. Robert Harling's popular story of six southern women centered in the mythical town of Chinquapin Louisiana.
April 30, 2010 7:00 p.m.
Arkansas Symphony Quapaw String Quartet
Join us at the Fine Arts Center for a relaxing evening of classical music with the Quapaw String Quartet.
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