Opening Nights - Manhattan Transfer

FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY | THE MANHATTAN TRANSFER | SPRING 2022–23

Emerge inspired.

Proud supporter of Opening Nights and their mission in Arts Education at Florida State University

TAYLOR • BLACKBURN FAMILY FUND

We are proud to support Opening Nights.

from the director o

n behalf of Opening Nights, we are thrilled to share the second half of our 25th Anniversary Season with you! We’ve saved the best for last this spring with so many incredible performances coming your way. In February, we kick off the vibrant lineup with:

The Other Mozart by Sylvia Milo at Turner Auditorium on February 4. This captivating one-woman show tells the story of Mozart’s forgotten sister, Nannerl, a piano virtuoso in her own right. Television, stage and film star Katharine McPhee will perform live at the home of the FSU President on February 6.

A month-long celebration of Black History Month kicks off with Step Afrika! on February 7 and is sure to delight all ages with an exciting blend of percussive dance styles that integrate songs, storytelling and humor. Pulitzer Prize winning author, Colson Whitehead will speak on February 9 about his writings and engage the audience with insightful discussion.

The Queens of Soul, Morgan James and Erica Gabriel take center stage with our very own Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra on February 11 for a celebration of the music of Motown, R&B and soul; celebrate Valentine’s Day with a breathtaking performance by contemporary dance company MOMIX and their visually stunning repertoire entitled Alice, inspired by Alice in Wonderland; and Ethiopian jazz singer, Meklit, will perform on February 28.

French-based Zodiac Trio will perform Benny Rides Again, a celebration of the songs of Benny Goodman on March 3; country and folk music legend Emmylou Harris takes the Ruby Diamond stage on March 4 for an unforgettable evening of the music that has thrived for more than 50 years; theatre fans get ready for New York Gilbert & Sullivan Player’s The Mikado on March 11 for a matinee performance; and families won’t want to miss

The Jungle Book performed live by the Panto Company on March 23.

Legendary late-night comedian and television host Jay Leno will pack Ruby Diamond for a memorable evening of laughs on March 29; Opening Nights continues its collaboration with the Chain of Parks Arts Festival with digital media artist John Ensor Parker on April 13; FSU’s PRISM is back with its traditional spring performance on April 16; and the season concludes with Piano Battle, a rollicking good time, on April 25.

Sponsorships and memberships make each season possible, and we are very grateful to the many people who have generously supported us this season. As we continue to celebrate the Opening Nights 25-year legacy into the next season, we invite you to renew or become a member or a sponsor of our 2023–24 Season. From town to gown, Opening Nights is a vital university and community performing arts program with a mission worthy of supporting and celebrating! These performances create a thriving cultural life in our community and create priceless educational experiences on campus and throughout the community. Ask any Opening Nights associate about these philanthropic opportunities. We hope you join us!

Thank you again for your support of the Opening Nights 25th Anniversary Season at Florida State University. Please enjoy these outstanding performances!

Jennifer Wright Director, Opening Nights at Florida State University

THAT EMPOWERING EACH OTHER GIVES US THE POWER TO CHANGE THE WORLD FOR THE GOOD OF ALL.

Potential is just the start of a push toward greatness. At FSU, the collaborative culture and supportive community helps to cultivate an environment that encourages innovative thinking. Because when we all bring our own unique perspectives and work together toward a common goal, we can all help make tomorrow better than today. Start your journey at fsu.edu/belivingproof

FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY

Be living proof.

Carlos Rodriguez, College of Business Shanquell Dixon, College of Medicine

upcoming performances

Florida State University

Richard McCullough President

Opening Nights Staff

Jennifer Wright Director

Lori Elliott Development Director

Grace Atkins Program & Operations Manager

Brad Lister Business & Patron Services Manager

Calla MacNamara Education & Engagement Manager

Amanda Cole Graphic Designer University Communications, Creative Services

Rodney Johnson Assistant Director of Creative Services University Communications, Creative Services

Opening Nights Development Council

Eric Friall, Chair

Gus Corbella, Immediate-Past Chair Susan Stratton, Secretary Kathleen Daly Brooke Hallock

John Marks

David Mica, Jr. Heather Mitchell Nan Nagy Tom Nelson Ron Sachs

Florida State University Office of the President College of Fine Arts College of Motion Picture Arts College of Music

College of Social Sciences & Public Policy

FSU Panama City University Communications University Relations

The Manhattan Transfer & DIVA vocal, jazz Sponsored by Earl Bacon Agency

International Guitar Night classical, flamenco, guitar, jazz

Voctave vocal, a cappella

The Other Mozart theatre Sponsored by Tallahassee Community College

Katharine McPhee vocal, Boradway, Sponsored by Capital City Bank and Chris & Beth Corum

Step Afrika! dance, world music Sponsored by The Jane & John Marks Foundation

Colson Whitehead author, speaker Sponsored by Bernadette & Roger Luca

Queens of Soul with Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra tribute, orchestral, r&b

MOMIX dance

Sponsored by Taylor Blackburn Family Fund

Meklit jazz, world music, vocal Sponsored by FSU License Plate

Cover photo: The Manhattan Transfer photo by John Abbott

PROUDLY SUPPORTING

Arts the

Arts the

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2022–23 members

producer’s circle

Mr. & Mrs. Bart Aiken ✽

Jann & Ray Bellamy H

Phillip & Betty Brown ✽

Kathleen Daly & Reinhart Lerch ON Liz Dudek ✽

Richard & Judi Earls ✽ Sharon & John Harris

Jimmie Crowder Excavating Paull & Nita Kirkpatrick

Carol Lees, Gregg & Kathy Villacorta ON Geof Mansfield & Jennifer Fitzwater ON Mike & Judy Pate ON Piekarewicz Family ✽ Sherrill & Jimmy Ragans ON 20+ Jayne M. Standley H

John D. Woods MD

partner level

Anonymous ✽

Cathy & Jim Bracher

Kathryn Karrh Cashin, Ph.D. ON Mike & Jeri Damasiewicz ✽ Bob Davis

Bill & Caryl Donnellan ON Patrick & Kathy Dunnigan ✽

Lori Elliott & Doug Hall Jack & Susan Fiorito ✽

Grossman Furlow & Bayo LLC ✽

Dave & Margaret Groves H Brenda & Tracy Hatch H Bill & Bunnie Hunter ✽

Linda & Rick Hyson ✽ Susan & Al Kaempfer

In Memory of Helen Keaton u

Los Robles Animal Hospital u

Stacey Lampkin ✽

Tom Nelson & Lisa Mergel

Raymond & Rhonda Merritt

Heather & Mark Mitchell

Kristine & Tom Parker

Johanna Van Lierop Plummer u Mary Anne Price ✽

Terry & Marilyn Reisman u

Stephen & Barbara Roberts ✽

Barbara Shapiro ✽

AS OF 12/1/22

Del Suggs & Denice Jones ON Warren W & Paula E Sutton H

The Rodney David Reeves Trust Fund

The Three Sisters

David Waters u Bernie & Lisa Waxman ✽

friend level

Greg & Sharon Beaumont H Nada Carey

Ellen Berler & Bob Contreras ✽

Mr. & Mrs. Bill Davis ✽ Sandy & Jim Dafoe H

The Hon. Stephen Everett & Meghan Everett ✽

Bill Graham & Shelley Hill Royce P. Gray, M.D. u Ken & Debbie Hodges ✽

John & Linda Kilgore H David & Linda Knopf

Mr. & Mrs. Lee H

Jimmy Martin & Carlos Fernandez Marjorie Masterman ON

Joan May Randi & Chris New ✽ Fred & Anna Roberson ✽ Eleanore Rosenberg & Larry Sack H Jason & Brenda Watts ✽ Bonnie & Woody Woodward David & Mary Jean Yon H

associate level

Dr. John Bailey & Bonnie Gaughan-Bailey

Greg & Karen Boebinger H Eileen & Don Bourassa ✽ Jennifer & Scott Boyles ✽

Karen Bradley

Bob Cohen & Karen Asher-Cohen ✽ Ms. Carol Cooper

Pamala J Doffek ✽ Colonel & Ms. Dunn ✽ Keith & Vangie Fields David & Paula Fountain ✽

Carole Goodyear u

Karen Herrick Robert G. Knight H

James Lee & Gordon Bedwell ✽

Shawn McCauley & Suzanne Smith u Susan McConnell ✽

McNeal/Dunn Family ✽ Emily Millett ✽

Mr. & Mrs. Jon Moyle, Jr. u Ed & Linda Oaksford ✽

Patsy Palmer

Dianne Phillips H

John Stephen Pirtle u

Bill & Connie Reinhardt H

Dr. David & Mrs Rhonda Saint u

Pat & Gary Smith H

Michael G. Stephens u Heather & Rob Telfer

Phillip Tomberlin Jr. & Martin Kavka H Mike & Angie Wallenfelsz u

debut level

Francisco Alarcon & Kathleen Kearney ✽

Cheryl Anderson

Kathleen Barnett & Dr. Lonnie Draper Mark & Patsy Bates u Adrienne J Bowen

Brafford Davis, CPA, PLLC Ann Brattain ✽

Bruce Campbell & Susan Stephens ✽

Robert & Linda Clickner ✽

Mary & David Coburn Ellen & Robert Crabtree ✽

Susan Crawford & Joseph Travis u Liz Dameron ON

Lynda deMarsh-Mathues ✽

Michael & Nancy Diamonti

June Dollar & Grady Enlow

Virlindia Doss u

Marcy P. Driscoll

Tom & Valeria Dudley u Anita Renee Favors

Rick & Joyce Fausone ✽ Robert Fingar H

✽

Member for 5 years or more H Member for 10 years or more ON Member for 15 years or more u First year members

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Thank you for supporting our students yesterday, today, and tomorrow with your purchase of the FSU tag.

Let’s brag with the tag for another 35 years!

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Visit any Florida tax collector’s office or mytag.fsu.edu to purchase your FSU tag. Proceeds support student scholarships and academic enhancements. FSU provides a $25 rebate for first time buyers.

Berger Singerman proudly supports Florida State University's Opening Nights and its efforts in bolstering arts education within the Tallahassee community.

2021–22 members, cont.

Mark Fontaine ✽

Tim & Jamela Fordyce ✽

Belinda T. France u Joy & James Frank u Meg Gibson

Tom & Daleen Gilpin u Richard & Christine Gordon ✽

Freddie Groomes-McLendon Drs. Vasken & Sharon Hagopian

John & Eleanor Hawkins ✽

Dr. & Mrs. Hayden H

Maura & William Heebink ✽ James & Hillary Hodges u Myles Hollander H

Gary Hudson u Susan & Bill Hurlbut u Keith Ihlanfeldt

Liz Jameson ✽

Dallas & Rita Johnson

Dr. David & Dottie Jones

Mr. Keelean & Mrs. Kampert H

Christine M Keller ✽

Kira Derryberry Photography

John & Sylvia Labie u

Bruce & Lametria Lamont

Brian R. Lockwood ✽

Terry & Fran Lewis ✽

Catherine May Tom, Leisa & Sean McCullion ✽

Tricia & Randy Merchant Mike & Karen Mobley

Corbin & Murray Moore

Dr. Debbie Justice Obley & Ross Obley H

Orange State Construction, Inc. u Susan Potts & Michael Mesler u David & Jo Ann Prescott H

Nikki Pritchett & Stephen Fox ✽

Cathy & Barney Ray Billie Reardon

David Reed

Mark E. Reichert

Charles & Mary Rooney u Mr. & Mrs. Robert Ross u Joann Sapolsky Susan Schatzman u

Sarah & Terry Sherraden u N. Stratis u

Sharon Strickland & Richard Pearlman ✽ Mr. & Mrs. Jesse Suber ✽

Dan Taylor & Tony Archer ✽

Phyllis Thomson & Steve Carter u Michael & Ressa Tomkiewicz Judith Underhill ✽

Marilynn Wills ON Ronald & Annette Wilson ✽ Nancy Wright H Kathy & Richard Zorn ✽

solo level

Robert Andrews u Senait Ashenafi u

Bob Atwood u Adrienne Barnes ✽

Dr. Bradley & Mr. Madden u Douglas E. Brodbeck

Terry Burgess, In Memory of Mark Burgess u

James & Kathleen Carr u Anthony & Janet Carro u Lisa & Ken Cashin ✽ David & Karen Cherni u Jim & Pam Cooke u Cheryl Cox u Julie Decker

Louise Divine u

Michael Erickson & Maria Cabrero u

Sharon & Rick Fallon u Kevin & Suzanne Fenton u

Kim Gabbard

Jim & Lori Keller

Janet Kistner

Mrs. Jo Anne Koch-Owens Mark Leadon u

Dian & Chas LaTour H Jan LeBar ✽

Stephen D. McDowell u Mike & Michelle McGinley u

Joe Picklesimer u

Joe Sigler u

Kelvin Wallace u Glenn Woodsum, DJ Wright u

distinguished artists fund

Mr. & Mrs. Daly

Kathleen Daly & Reinhart Lerch

Dr. & Mrs. Hayden Meghan Jankelow Lourdes Madsen

The Rodney David Reeves Trust Fund

opening nights in class

Dr. & Mrs. Hayden

The Rodney David Reeves Trust Fund Dan & Ashley Barrow

For more information and to become a member, visit openingnights.fsu.edu/support/membership

✽

Member for 5 years or more H Member for 10 years or more ON Member for 15 years or more u First year members

Herb & Mary Jervis

Congratulations Opening Nights for fostering the Arts in Tallahassee for the past 25 years.

The students, faculty, and staff of FSU and the citizens of north Florida have been enriched by your efforts.

We eagerly await what the next 25 years will bring.

WHERE GREAT SERVICE

IS

ALWAYS THE

STAR OF THE SHOW

by Marco Glaviano

The Manhattan Transfer has achieved an incomparable career of pop and jazz hits, a legacy that defines the group as it celebrates its 50th Anniversary. The legendary quartet has won 10 GRAMMY® Awards out of 20 nominations and has been inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame. Their dynamic performances and sense of style have led them to become one of the most iconic music groups in the world. With their enduring creativity, energy, and joy in their music, the group has joined the pantheon of the entertainment industry. With sold-out world tours and record sales in the millions, The Manhattan Transfer continues to bring unique and extraordinary melodic and jazz-infused vocals to new and established audiences, spanning generations.

Continued on pg. 23

SPONSORED BY

Photo

The Manhattan Transfer

Continued from pg. 19

Beginning with their first performances in the early 1970s, The Manhattan Transfer have become the cornerstones of contemporary music. Originally launched by Tim Hauser in 1969, Hauser, Alan Paul, Janis Siegel and Laurel Masse were the group by 1972. Cheryl Bentyne joined the group in 1979 after Laurel Masse left. Known for their amazing harmony and versatility, incorporating pop, jazz, R&B, rock and roll, swing, symphonic, and a cappella music, the group was signed by the legendary Ahmet Ertegun to Atlantic Records. The group made their recording debut with their self-titled album in 1975. Known primarily as an East Coast cult act, they expanded their following by starring in their own 1975 CBS-TV variety series as a summer replacement for the Cher Bono Show. Starting as an underground group in New York City, The Manhattan Transfer garnered international popularity when “Chanson D'Amour” from the 1976 Coming Out album became a number one hit in Europe.

One of the co-writers on The Junction—the group’s 2018 album which draws inspiration in part from The Transfer’s classic 1975 version of Glenn Miller’s “Tuxedo Junction”— is the group’s newest member, bass vocalist Trist Curless. Curless began subbing on the road for the late band founder Tim Hauser in 2013, officially joining after Hauser’s passing in late 2014.

Welcoming Curless—a founding member of famed Los Angeles a cappella group m-pact— to the fold, Janis Siegel (alto), Alan Paul (tenor) and Cheryl Bentyne (soprano) embrace a new dynamic and fresh possibilities for their legendary sound that artfully incorporates his low range into their established blend. The Junction, dedicated to the memory of Hauser, was produced by another master vocalist, five-time Grammy winner Mervyn Warren, a renowned film composer, arranger and producer. Warren wrote the album’s first single, the soulful ballad “Sometimes I Do.”

“It’s a whole different ball game, but one we feel is still musically very viable and exciting,” Siegel says. Paul adds, “The concept of The Junction is that this is a special meeting

place, a junction of merging our four and a half decade musical legacy with something new. It wasn’t exactly a seamless transition because Tim is irreplaceable, and he and Trist are very different singers. We weren’t looking to replace Tim’s unique personality, but found in Trist someone who could add a new element to the group, and take care of the bottom of the quartet with his true bass.” Curless reflects, “My personal desire was that the album would sound like The Manhattan Transfer, keeping what they’ve done, but bringing a new energy that would come naturally with my strengths as an artist, becoming a part of theirs.”

Coinciding with the release of The Junction was a national tour; and PBS Special titled The Summit, which featured Take 6 in a dual show. Part of the public television network’s legendary Soundstage concert series, The Summit was taped before a live studio audience at WTTW’s Grainger Studio in Chicago in January 2017. The two groups created a unique brotherhood onstage, with songs incorporating their combined 10-part harmony, lively segments including “Battle of the Bands” and a repertoire that includes songs neither band has ever recorded.

Defying easy genre categorizations, The Manhattan Transfer became the first act to win Grammy Awards in the pop and jazz categories in one year (1981) for “Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal” for “Boy From New York City” and “Best Jazz Performance Duo or Group” for “Until I Met You (Corner Pocket).” In 1985, their album Vocalese made history as the single greatest Grammy nominated album in history in one year with 12 nominations. Vocalese earned two Grammys: “Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Duo or Group”; and “Best Vocal Arrangement for Two or More Voices” for “Another Night

in Tunisia” (won by Bentyne and Bobby McFerrin). This album, which featured jazz legends Dizzy Gillespie, Ron Carter, and the Count Basie Orchestra, changed the perception of The Manhattan Transfer from superstar pop artists to formidable jazz singers.

For Siegel, performing “Birdland” in 1979 at The Grammy Awards was one of her personal highlights, along with singing twice at The White House, and performing at President Bill Clinton’s inauguration in 1993 with Little Jimmy Scott. She says the group was blessed to know giants of the music business. “Working with Ahmet Ertegun, Arif Mardin; artists who are no longer here like Laura Nyro,” she reflects. “We caught the tail end of an era.” The Manhattan Transfer has also sung with musical greats Tony Bennett, Smokey Robinson, Bette Midler, Phil Collins, B.B. King, Chaka Khan, James Taylor, and Frankie Valli of The Four Seasons.

“As our work on The Junction, and the theme of the album reflects—democracy is the fabric of the group, and has been from the beginning,” says Bentyne, who took leave of the group several times while undergoing treatment for Hodgkins’ lymphoma in the early 2010s, but has since made a complete recovery. “We all have a different take on music and appreciate different styles, so each member brings something to the table that is unique. We have tremendous faith in that process. This album is completely us, a true snapshot of who we are now, having survived so many hardships. We all give great credit to our producer Mervyn Warren, without whom this project would not have come together as beautifully as it did. His participation, oversight, brilliant arrangements and production helped us make one of the strongest musical statements ever.”

Photo by John Abbott

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