issue THE SCOOP
IN THIS Micky Dolenz
Don't Tell Nonnie TAO: Drumheart Catapult
Cirque Éloize: Saloon Judy Collins Clay Walker
The Villages Philharmonic Orchestra CCD Camp The Studio Red The Staff Spotlight Backstage at The Sharon
A Word From
Volume 3, Issue 3 | March 2018
WHITNEY
Whitney Morse, Artistic Director, The Sharon® L. Morse Performing Arts Center
This Summer at the Studio™: March!? It’s March already!? Time flies in the winter around here; Season 2 at The Studio is entering its fourth and final chapter with John Logan’s Red and we are looking toward the summer! We have so many exciting things in store for you in the early part of the summer at The Studio. First, we have White Rabbit Red Rabbit by Nassim Soleimanpour. This is going to be a mystery even to me, as only a few people on my staff have read the script. Since I am performing it (on April 29), I am not allowed to read it or rehearse beforehand. I will be reading and performing the script for the first time in front of a live audience. HOW COOL IS THAT!? I am so excited that I get to go first, because that means I get to watch both of the other actors perform it. I am so thrilled to watch both Lon Ward Abrams (on May 6) and Meghan Maroney (on May 13) do the same scary thing on their respective dates. The other offering we have for you this summer is Tell Me On A Sunday by Andrew Lloyd Webber. I am so elated and a little overwhelmed to be playing the only character “Girl,” in the one woman musical as part of our ongoing Summer Song Cycle Series. Gary Powell and I have already begun rehearsing the 25 songs that I will need to know by the end of April. It’s no easy feat considering that Webber’s music is notoriously challenging. He wrote Evita, Cats, The Phantom of the Opera, and many more. His love of the “five four time signature” (a musical meter characterized by five beats in a measure) is going to be the end of me. But as always, Gary and I have a great time working together, and in a few weeks the entire dream team will be back together as Trevin Cooper will be directing the piece. The Cooper – Powell – Morse trifecta is one of my favorite combinations. I can’t wait to get Tell Me On A Sunday on its feet so we can share it with all of you. See you all at The Studio! PG. 20
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MAR 10TH 3
Come sing with us!
April 2nd, 2018
5PM & 8PM
$30-$75
NONNIE Show Time: 7:30pm to 10:00pm Show (arrive and exit at any time)
Time
Micky Dolenz ‘The voice of The Monkees’
Micky Dolenz IS the voice of The Monkees. The unmistakable performer that moved a generation and led this pop culture phenomena to a dozen Top 20 singles, four #1 albums and two Emmy Awards. Having entertained audiences his entire life, Micky brings a one-of-a-kind presence to the stage, drawing on his background in television, film broadcasting and Broadway.
Doors Open at 7:00pm
Bring sheet music or peruse our collection, sing a song and cheer for your friends, and in between special guest Whitney Morse and Gary Powell will perform some of their favorite cabaret numbers. Cost is $15 per ticket, which includes a free drink at the bar. Guests are to bring their own sheet music in their key (or choose a song from Gary's selections) and sing in the lobby while accompanied by Gary on the piano. Everyone is welcome to get their chance in the spotlight or just come and be entertained.
Try the Signature Dri n
The Nonnie Sour
k:
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TAO: DRUMHEART
Drum Art 芸 TAO: 7 Million Spectators all over the world have experienced Japanese Drum Art, DRUM TAO. Drum Heart is the latest production from TAO, internationally-acclaimed percussion artists. TAO’s modern, high-energy performances showcasing the ancient art of Japanese drumming have transfixed audiences worldwide. Combining highly physical, large-scale drumming with contemporary costumes, precise choreography, and innovative visuals, the performers of TAO: Drum Heart create an energetic and unforgettable production. For more information visit: www.drum-tao.com/main/english
MAR 13TH
7PM
$30-$76
THE ART OF THE DRUM
“The highly acclaimed debut of DRUM TAO in Broadway will represent not only Japanese entertainment but Japan itself ” －Newsweek－
“The highly acclaimed debut of DRUM TAO in Broadway will represent not only Japanese entertainment but Japan itself”
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-Newsweek
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$25-$55 7PM MAR 15TH 7
The Amazing Magic of Shadow Dancing as seen on America’s Got Talent!
Catapult is, technically, a shadow dance company. What it really is: a theatrical art form that is an amazingly imaginative combination of dance, story-telling, and sculpture. Founded in 2009, by Adam Battlestein (choreographer, Creative Director and Master Teaching Artist for Pilobolus Dance Theatre for 19 years), Catapult catapulted to fame on Season 8 of America's Got Talent, earning their way to the finals of the NBC-TV hit show.
people inside the window. You will never figure out how they do it, and you won't know what they will make next – you will be surprised and delighted again and again. Audiences of all ages love what appear to be effortless transformations and applaud over and over as more and more unbelievable images appear.
Catapult is all about the human body and its ability to transform. The talented Catapult dancers work behind a screen to create seemingly impossible dancing shadow silhouettes of shapes from the world around us. You won't believe your eyes as you watch these incredible dancers become a mountain, a full size elephant, a helicopter, a house with a window and
is full of humor, emotion, and engaging stories. There are 8 fully realized stories told through music and shadows and 6 short shadow dance videos which play between the live dances – brief moments of poetry or humor which perfectly cleanse the palate and prepare the audience for their next shadow journey. Audiences leave this show dazed and happy, and they will never look at their own shadow the same way again!
Catapult's theatrical touring production is called “Magic Shadows”. Not only is the show packed with hundreds of shape transformations, but it
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$20-$65 7:30PM MAR 19TH 9
A driving force in the circus art reinvention movement, Cirque Éloize has been creating award-winning entertainment content for nearly 25 years and ranks among the world's leading contemporary circuses. Cirque Éloize has taken part in numerous prestigious international festivals and has seduced both New York's Broadway and London's West End. Its productions are crafted for a wide range of audiences and have been embraced by over fifty cultures. In the last 24 years, Cirque Éloize's twelve productions have proudly boasted more than 5,500 performances in over 500 cities and have been seen by over 3.5 million spectators. iD, Cirkopolis and Saloon are respectfully the eighth, ninth and eleventh touring shows under the Cirque Éloize banner. In addition to its touring shows, more than 1,500 Cirque Éloize-designed events have taken place worldwide. Come see their production of Saloon featuring 11 acrobats and musicians on stage including live music including songs from Johnny Cash and Patsy Cline, it's fun for everyone!
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MAR 22ND
7PM
$20-$75
An Evening With
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Judy Collins
Judy Collins has inspired audiences with sublime vocals, boldly vulnerable songwriting, personal life triumphs, and a firm commitment to social activism. In the 1960s, she evoked both the idealism and steely determination of a generation united against social and environmental injustices. Five decades later, her luminescent presence shines brightly as new generations bask in the glow of her iconic 50-album body of work, and heed inspiration from her spiritual discipline to thrive in the music industry for half a century. The award-winning singer-songwriter is esteemed for her imaginative interpretations of traditional and contemporary folk standards and her own poetically poignant original compositions. Her stunning rendition of Joni Mitchell's Both Sides Now from her landmark 1967 album, Wildflowers, has been entered into the Grammy Hall of Fame. Judy's dreamy and sweetly intimate version of "Send in the Clowns," a ballad written by Stephen Sondheim for the Broadway musical A Little Night Music, won "Song of the Year" at the 1975 Grammy Awards. She's garnered several top-ten hits gold- and platinumselling albums. Recently, contemporary and classic artists such as Rufus Wainwright, Shawn Colvin, Dolly Parton, Joan Baez, and Leonard Cohen honored her legacy with the album Born to the Breed: A Tribute to Judy Collins. Judy began her impressive music career at 13 as a piano prodigy dazzling audiences performing Mozart's "Concerto for Two Pianos," but the hardluck tales and rugged sensitivity of folk revival music by artists such as Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger
seduced her away from a life as a concert pianist. Her path pointed to a lifelong love affair with the guitar and pursuit of emotional truth in lyrics. The focus and regimented practice of classical music, however, would be a source of strength to her inner core as she navigated the highs and lows of the music business. In 1961, she released her masterful debut, A Maid of Constant Sorrow, which featured interpretative works of social poets of the time such as Bob Dylan, Phil Ochs, and Tom Paxton. This began a wonderfully fertile thirty-five year creative relationship with Jac Holzman and Elektra Records. Around this time Judy became a tastemaker within the thriving Greenwich Village folk community, and brought other singer-songwriters to a wider audience, including poet/musician Leonard Cohen - and musicians Joni Mitchell and Randy Newman.Throughout the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, and up to the present, she has remained a vital artist, enriching her catalog with critically acclaimed albums while balancing a robust touring schedule. Prolific as ever, Judy recorded a DVD special Judy Collins: A Love Letter To Stephen Sondheim, in her hometown of Denver, CO. Along with the Greely Philharmonic Orchestra, Judy dazzled the audience with Sondheim's beautiful songs and her lovely, radiant voice. DVD and CD companion were realeased in early 2017. Judy also released a collaborative album in June 2016, Silver Skies Blue, with writing partner, Ari Hest. Silver Skies Blue has been GRAMMY nominated for BEST FOLK ALBUM in 2017, this is the first GRAMMY nomination for Collins in over 40 years.of 20 million copies.
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$31-$106 7PM MAR 25TH 13
Certain artists just seem to have an innate sense of what it takes to please an audience. Clay Walker is one of those artists. Whether on stage or in the recording studio, Walker never gives less than a hundred percent, and it's that kind of dedicated work ethic combined with God-given talent that have made him one of the most successful country acts of the past decade. He first topped the Billboard country singles chart in 1993 with "What's It to You" and followed with his second consecutive No. 1 hit, "Live Until I Die." Since then he's
placed 31 titles on Billboard's singles chart including such additional chart toppers as "Dreaming with my Eyes Open," "If I Could Make Living," "This Woman and This Man," and "Rumor Has It." (The latter two songs each spent two weeks at the summit.) He's enjoyed his share of success at the cash registers and has consistently been one of the busiest artists on the road. He's scored four platinum-selling albums, signifying sales of a million units, and two gold albums, discs that sold over 500,0000 units.
4 Platinum Albums 2 Gold Albums 31 Chart Topping Singles 11 Million Albums Sold Top Songs: “What’s it to you” “Then What” “If I Could Make A Living” “Little Miss Whiskey”
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$20-$60 $25-$45 7PM 7PM MAR 28TH FEB 26TH 15
hilharmonic
Orchestra Pasquale Valerio
Music Director
Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major (Op. 15) Symphony No. 1 in C Major (Op. 25)
PASQUALE VALERIO (CONDUCTOR)
Pasquale Valerio is the creator, nurturer, mentor and guiding light for The Villages Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorale. Pasquale was born in Naples, Italy and began his music studies at the age of 9. In 1996, Pasquale relocated to the United States. In 2004, he became the Founder and Music Director of The Villages Philharmonic Orchestra where he continues to serve today. Maestro Valerio was also the founder of Lake Sumter Chamber Orchestra as well as co-founder and conductor of The Florida Lake Symphony from 2005-2006. Pasquale has been regularly invited as guest conductor at the Orchestra Filarmonica 900’, Teatro Regio, and the Viotti International Music Festival.
LAURENT BOUKOBZA (PIANO) Born in Villemomble, France, Laurent Boukobza made his entrance into the world of music at the age of 10 when he began studying with Catherine Collard. He continued his studies at the Paris Conservatory where upon graduation he worked as the Assistant Piano Instructor. He is the recipient of the First Prize of Piano and Chamber Music from the Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique de Paris. Mr. Boukobza has studied with the respected instruction of Germaine Mounier, Yvonne Loriod and Michel Beroff. His background also encompasses studies of Chamber Music with Jean-Claude Pennetier, Christian Ivaldi, and the “Amadeus Quartet”. He made his first professional recording at the age of 21.
Musical Numbers: Elgar : Strings Serenade Op. 20 L.V.Beethoven, Piano Concerto In C Major No 1 Op. 15
Intermission L.V. Beethoven, Symphony No 1 in C Major Op. 21
-Ludwing van Beethoven16
-PRESENTS-
Ca m p I nf o: Ju n e 2 5 - 2 9
9 a m- 3 pm
Grade s admit t e d: 1s t - 8t h
There is an aftercare option that g oes from 3 pm - 5 pm , if parents would like to opt in for that op por t un i t y a s wel l .
$85 $25 $10
per student with 2 show tickets included in the price for the additional aftercare Extended Day Camp show tickets (open to the public)
P are nt P e rforma n c e: Ju n e 2 9 & Ju n e 3 0
5pm
Mo re i n fo rm at i o n at TheSharo n .com o r The Sharo n B ox Offi ce ( 352-751-7799)
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SEASON TWO
STAY TUNED FOR ANNOUNCEMENTS ON THIS SUMMER’S UPCOMING PRODUCTIONS! APRIL 29th MAY 6th MAY 13th
SEASON 3 ANNOUNCEMENT APRIL 3RD!
The Studio Theatre Tierra del Sol 806 San Marino Drive, The Villages, FL 32159 www.TheSharonStudio.com | (352) 751-7799 #TheStudioTheatreTDS
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Bleed for your art.
March 20th to April 22nd | $35 Famed abstract expressionist painter Mark Rothko asks his recently hired young assistant, Ken, the loaded question, "What do you see?" John Logan's visceral two-hander, Red, features artist Mark Rothko at the height of his career. Set in 1950s lower Manhattan, this biographical play illustrates Rothko struggle as he lands the biggest commission in the history of modern art, a series of murals for New York's famed Four Seasons Restaurant. When Ken begins to challenge Rothko, he faces the agonizing possibility that his crowning achievement could also become his undoing. This six time Tony Award winning play takes a compelling look at the ever-changing relationship between an artist and his creations.
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John Lombardi* as Mark Rothko & Colton Butcher as Ken
*Member of Actors' Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers, appearing under a special agreement with Actors' Equity Association.
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THE STAFF SPOTLIGHT
What is your role at The Sharon™ ? At the Sharon, I am the Assistant Lighting Director, which means that I support all of the shows that come through The Sharon and The Studio as well as help maintain the entire lighting related inventory. One of the best parts of the job is that I constantly learn more about my craft and of those around me as I lend a hand to rigging, carpentry, and audio on all of our day to day endeavors.
Tell us about your clown upbringing..
Michael Giovinco
The Sharon's™ Assistant Lighting Director Who is Michael? Michael Giovinco is a recent graduate from the University of Virginia where he studied Drama and Cognitive Science. Working as a designer, director, technician and performer, Mike spends comes to enjoy all aspects of theatre and the common goal of storytelling. While at UVA, he designed and did master electrician work for a lot of groups in the university and Charlottesville area, worked as the Production Stage Manager while reworking the script for Arctic Circle and a recipe for Swedish Pancakes and developed a devised circus show called Grounded with students and local circus artists. Since his time in college, he worked as an Assistant Stage Manager for Pig Iron Theatre Company’s A Period of Animate Existence, toured with Circus Smirkus’ Midnight at the Museum on their Tent crew, and worked at Walt Disney World’s Animal Kingdom as a stage technician.
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The most common thing I hear from people that I work with or meet is that I smile a lot. I always tell them that it is because I come from a family of clowns and I find it much more difficult to stop smiling. My family has provided family entertainment in the Philadelphia and New Jersey area since before I was born. They did parties and large events and provided entertainment for many of the New Jersey Boardwalk’s “Family Nights” throughout my childhood. Their skills involve clowning, balloon art, stilt walking, juggling, comedy magic, face painting and more, but most importantly they worked as a dynamic pair through developing their art and their business. Their clowns, Captain Visual and Hoopla, became pretty popular in the clowning community thanks to my dad’s books on balloon art which many clowns and balloon artists have used when first learning their craft. My dad became prominent as the individual who developed the basic body to create many of the cartoon character’s bodies out of balloons and taught people how to do more than
just make shapes, but how to create more complex balloon sculptures through choices of color and through combining skills that artists were already using to make many of the classic animal bodies. I have many fond memories of going to clown conventions around the country and on a few international trips where my parents sold their wares and offered workshops. And I am always amazed at the conversations I see online about how my family has influenced so many careers in the clowning industry.
What’s your favorite part of the job?
Since my early days as a stilt walker, I have always considered myself an artist that deals with movement and how it interacts with other mediums. I started to dabble with lighting in college because I wanted to work on ways to control lighting in the theatre with the movement of a performer. That became a long journey through working as an electrician and designer on a lot of different projects and eventually receiving a grant to start developing that communication from movement to a lighting rig. As my schedule winds down this summer, I plan to continue testing the limits of what my setup can do and hoping to find ways to implement it at the Sharon and the Studio. On top of the didactic environment here, I absolutely love the variety. I am excited to get to work on some of my favorite shows, like A Chorus Line and Jersey Boys while also getting to work with Cirque Éloize: Saloon and the other variety acts coming through like Catapult and Olate Dogs.
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BACKSTAGE AT THE SHARON
Tony Bennett and The Sharon made a wedding anniversary even more special! Linda and Adelaide had a once in a lifetime meeting with Tony Bennett, and it all started with a letter*: "I have recently purchased two tickets for February 7th for myself and my mother, Adelaide Olivieri to see Tony Bennett. For this reason I am sending you this email. My Italian American mother is 92 years old and about to be greatly surprised to find out that she is going to see Tony Bennett after she arrives in The Villages on the 19th of January. She has no idea that this event has been planned. My father passed away a little over three years ago after they celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary. The significance of this is that they were married February 7th, 1948 which means the night of the concert would be their 70th wedding anniversary. (There is no doubt in my mind that my father will very much be present in spirit with mom.) Tony Bennett is one of their favorite singers next to the late Dean Martin. My parents had a magical life whereby they traveled and danced all over the world. I just wondered if in any way Mr Bennett might say hello or dedicate an Italian song on their behalf? If not perhaps a meet and greet before or after the concert could be arranged? My father, Joseph J. Olivieri was a WWII veteran. (1st Lieutenant in the Army 1943-1947) He started a bank on the Southeast Side of Chicago in 1959. After 46 years of great banking success and the growth of 6 additional locations, our family owned bank was sold in May, 2005. My father and mother raised five children, who went on to give them 11 grandchildren. One grandson "Our Hero" PFC Michael Olivieri, US Army, paid the ultimate price to his country, when he lost his life in Iraq in June 6, 2011 at the age of 26, when his base was attacked by insurgents. They also have been blessed with 5 great grandchildren." -Linda Yosha
Linda Yosha (right) with her mom Adelaide Olivieri (left) meeting with Tony Bennett *The Sharon team will try their best to help everyone meet their dream artist, but all special requests are pending on the artist.
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THE SHARON SCHEDULE
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available in The Sharon® Lobby! * For select shows
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for directions to all 3 theatres!
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The Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center has a mission to provide quality entertainment to The VillagesÂŽ and its surrounding communities. www.TheSharon.com #TheSharon
Our mission is to inspire the residents of Central Florida to examine relevant issues by elevating them through innovative and intimate storytelling. Think outside the box, inside the box at The Studio Theatre. www.TheSharonStudio.com #TheStudioTheatreTDS Š 2018 The Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center. Prices and availability subject to change without notice.