Applause Newsletter - Holiday 2012 by The Center for the Performing Arts

applause THE CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

Official Newsletter HOLIDAY

2012

THE GIVING SEASON

10 PEOPLE YOU NEED TO MEET PAGE 6

Classic film series kick-off PAGE 4

PLUS: Read an excerpt from Michael Feinsteinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new book PAGE 11

PRESENTED BY :

Armand Diangienda, founder and conductor of the Orchestre Symphonique Kimbanguiste in the Democratic Republic of the Congo toured the Palladium on September 24, 2012 (see pg.9) photo credit: alan petersime

COMING SOON See the complete lineup at TheCenterPresents.org. MARTINA MCBRIDE

Carmel Repertory Theatre presents

Dance Kaleidoscope presents

NOVEMBER 8, 7:30 PM | THE PALLADIUM

SCROOGE, THE MUSICAL DECEMBER 7–23 | THE STUDIO THEATER

MELISSA ETHERIDGE

Carmel Symphony Orchestra presents

PACIFICA QUARTET JANUARY 18, 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

SPONSORED BY THE BUCK GROUP AT MERRILL LYNCH BOSE MCKINNEY & EVANS LLP

CLASSICS SERIES

SPONSORED BY PRINTING PARTNERS

The Great American Songbook Movie Series

| THE PALLADIUM

LUCIE ARNAZ JANUARY 26, 8PM | THE PALLADIUM KISS ME KATE FEBRUARY 1, 7:30 PM

The Great American Songbook Movie Series WHITE CHRISTMAS NOVEMBER 15, 7:30 PM

FAB FAUX JANUARY 19, 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

EMPIRE BRASS WITH ELISABETH VON TRAPP

JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT DEC. 14– JAN. 5 | THE TARKINGTON

The Great American Songbook Movie Series

SEASON PRESENTED BY

BIG BAD VOODOO DADDY

SPONSORED BY MARQUIS COMMERCIAL SOLUTIONS

SUPERTRAMP’S ROGER HODGSON NOVEMBER 13, 7:30 PM | THE PALLADIUM

The Great American Songbook Movie Series DELIVERED BY THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR

HOLIDAYS WITH SYLVIA MCNAIR DECEMBER 8, 3PM | THE PALLADIUM DECEMBER 8, 7:30 PM | THE PALLADIUM

OLD BLUE EYES JANUARY 18–19 | THE TARKINGTON

Indianapolis Symphonic Choir presents

FESTIVAL OF CAROLS DECEMBER 22, 8PM | THE PALLADIUM STARS OF THE RUSSIAN BALLET

SPONSORED BY THE BUCK GROUP AT MERRILL LYNCH

JANUARY 5, 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

THE MUSICAL OF MUSICALS FEBRUARY 1–24 | THE STUDIO THEATER BBC CONCERT ORCHESTRA FEBRUARY 2, 8PM | THE PALLADIUM

Carmel Symphony Orchestra presents FAMILY FUN! FEBRUARY 3, 2PM

CO-PRESENTED WITH THE INTERNATIONAL VIOLIN COMPETITION OF INDIANAPOLIS

FEBRUARY 5, 7:30 PM | THE PALLADIUM

Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre presents

THE FOX ON THE FAIRWAY FEBRUARY 8–23 | THE TARKINGTON

Carmel Symphony Orchestra presents

MOZART’S FLUTE & HARP CONCERTO FEBRUARY 9, 7:30 PM | THE PALLADIUM

Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra presents

JOHN PIZZARELLI JANUARY 10, 7:30 PM | THE TARKINGTON

THE BEST IS YET TO COME FEBRUARY 10, 7:30 PM | THE PALLADIUM

The Great American Songbook Movie Series

BLACK WATCH & SCOTS GUARDS FEBRUARY 13, 7:30 PM | THE PALLADIUM

ALEXANDER’S RAGTIME BAND JANUARY 11, 7:30 PM | THE PALLADIUM MUMMENSCHANZ JANUARY 12, 8PM | THE TARKINGTON JANUARY 13, 3PM | THE TARKINGTON

Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra presents

Indiana Wind Symphony presents

MAHLER AND MOZART FEBRUARY 16, 7:30 PM | THE PALLADIUM DRUMLINE LIVE FEBRUARY 17, 4PM | THE PALLADIUM

Subscriptions to the 2012-13 Season at the Center are still available! Call the Box Office at 317.843.3800. applause

HOLIDAY 2012

| THE PALLADIUM

EAST COAST CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

HAIRSPRAY! IN CONCERT JANUARY 13, 7:30 PM | THE PALLADIUM

| THE PALLADIUM

DEAR FRIENDS, The holiday season is a joyous time at the Center for the Performing Arts and the Michael Feinstein Great American Songbook Initiative. Our team has planned an ambitious line-up for the holiday concert series from holiday-themed productions by the resident companies to the newly-announced Great American Songbook Movie Series. We look forward to welcoming you and your family. While I find great inspiration from performances on stage, I’m equally inspired by the people working behind-the-scenes. I was blessed to make a new friend earlier this fall when Armand Diangienda stopped by the Palladium for a tour. You undoubtedly saw the Maestro’s compelling story on “60 Minutes.” He is the founder and conductor of the Orchestre Symphonique Kimbanguiste in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is the only symphony orchestra in Central Africa. Diangienda – an airplane pilot — has built the symphony orchestra from the ground up, literally transforming his home into a make-shift conservatory. Filled with self-taught musicians, many of whom travel two hours by foot for rehearsals and play on home-made instruments, the orchestra’s very existence provides hope and promotes peace in a country full of poverty and war ( more on pg.9). Inspired by Diangienda’s giving spirit, I wanted to share stories of the Center’s fleet of generous citizens. Turn to page 6 to meet a group of committed individuals. You’ll be inspired by their giving and we welcome you to join them in serving our region. As a non-profit organization, the Center for the Performing Arts relies on generous individual monetary gifts and sponsorships to fulfill our mission. Giving also comes with advantages. During this season of giving, I hope you will consider making a contribution by visiting our website at TheCenterPresents.org. We look forward to celebrating the holiday season with you at the Center for the Performing Arts! All good wishes,

Tania Castroverde Moskalenko PRESIDENT/CEO

IN THE NEWS See classic Hollywood movie musicals in the Palladium

The series will include guest speakers and discussions at select screenings. The first guest will be Michael Feinstein for the “An American in Paris” screening on Nov. 16.

Heartland Truly Moving Pictures and the Michael Feinstein Great American Songbook Initiative are partnering for a new film series launching the weekend of Nov. 15-17. The Great American Songbook Movie Series, presented by Printing Partners, will bring classic Truly Moving Picture Award-winning movies to the big screen on the stage of the Palladium concert hall.

Single tickets for The Great American Songbook Movie Series, presented by Printing Partners, are $7.50 and are now available for purchase. Purchase online at TheCenterPresents.org, in person at the Palladium box office or call the Center’s box office at 317.843.3800. All seats are general admission.

The series will include:* »» Thursday, Nov. 15 (7:30 pm): “White Christmas” (1954) Starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye and Rosemary Clooney. »» Friday, Nov. 16 (2 pm): “The Sound of Music” (1965) Starring Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer and Eleanor Parker. »» Friday, Nov. 16 (7:30 pm): “An American in Paris” (1951) Starring Gene Kelly and Leslie Caron. Directed by Vincente Minnelli. »» Saturday, Nov. 17 (10:30 am): “The Wizard of Oz” (1939) Starring Judy Garland, Billie Burke, Frank Morgan, Margaret Hamilton and Ray Bolger. »» Friday, Nov. 30 (7:30 pm): “The Music Man” (1962) Starring Buddy Hackett, Ron Howard, Robert Preston and Shirley Jones. »» Friday, December 14 (7:30 pm): “Mary Poppins” (1964) Starring Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews. »» Friday, January 11 (7:30 pm): “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” (1938) Songs by Irving Berlin. »» Friday, February 1 (7:30 pm): “Kiss Me Kate” (1953) Starring Ann Miller, Howard Keel and Kathryn Grayson. »» Friday, March 29 (7:30 pm): “Singin’ in the Rain” (1952) Starring Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds, Donald O’Connor and Cyd Charisse. *Film titles are subject to change based on availability through the movie distributor

applause

HOLIDAY 2012

For more information visit TrulyMovingPictures.org and FeinsteinInitiative.org.

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy joins Holiday Series lineup Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, often dubbed “the coolest swing band on the planet,” will perform their “Wild and Swingin’ Holiday Party” at the Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts. The holiday show is Friday, December 7 at 8 p.m. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy is frequently described as one of the most popular bands on the road today. The Palladium concert will feature big band swing music with a special holiday show that incorporates non-holiday hit songs. The Holiday Series includes: Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s “Wild and Swingin’ Holiday Party” Sponsored by Marquis Commercial Solutions Friday, December 7, 2012 at 8 pm “The Sounds of Christmas” with Empire Brass & Elisabeth von Trapp Sponsored by Printing Partners Sunday, December 9, 2012 at 3 pm A Brenda Lee Christmas Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012 at 3 pm Purchase tickets online at TheCenterPresents.org or call the box office at 317.843.3800.

THE POWER OF GIVING

10 people giving the Center its soul

By Tania Castroverde Moskalenko, President/CEO “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead Since I started in August, I’ve had the honor of meeting some of the most generous and giving people I’ve ever known. They remind me that it’s the generous spirits in our midst that provide the soul of our organization. Our concert hall and theaters are only beautiful buildings without them. I want you to meet a few of these powerhouses, gently humming under the radar.

applause

HOLIDAY 2012

The Educator Jennifer Paul (pictured bottom left), Music Specialist at Westfield’s Oak Trace Elementary, provided her students a field trip to the Center for the Performing Arts. The entire school – 530 students – toured the Palladium, Tarkington and Studio Theaters in October. “As students go to theatres and attend plays they develop habits of self-control, active listening, and respect for others. They also get a taste of something that may be different than any other experience they have had. This was an amazing opportunity to provide our students a very new and different experience. For some it could be life changing!” — Jennifer Paul The Interns Twins AJ & Sam DiCarlo (pictured bottom right) are the Center’s first high school interns. The Carmel High School seniors work behind-the-scenes with the production team. “Not only do I get to learn new technologies and techniques, but also I get to apply that knowledge to real life productions. I continue to learn all aspects of production from sound to lights to rigging to carpentry.” — Sam DiCarlo “I am gaining real life knowledge from professionals with a wide variety of experience. Not only am I learning to run equipment, but I am also learning why things are done the way they are done. I plan on going to college for Technical Theatre, and the experience I am getting will provide a good foundation for my studies.” — AJ DiCarlo The Connectors It started as a luncheon with a small group of women chatting about Palladium concerts. Now, it’s grown into a monthly gathering of friendly faces. “The Women’s Group offers the opportunity to meet other women attending the performances. The more people know about the Center, the more they appreciate all of the fine programming that is being planned for the community. Arriving at the Center for the performances we are always greeted by friendly ushers and other staff members and I always look around to see if there are people I know. I am so pleased with the success of the Women’s Group and so happy with the wonderful group of women attending the meetings.” — Susan Anderson (continued on next page)

(continued from pg. 7) “I try to bring a guest that I know shares my passion for performance, and would enjoy an ‘insiders look.’ Every time I tour ‘behind the scenes’ at the Palladium, something new and exciting is discovered. I don’t think I will ever take this complex for granted and it will certainly never become common place. Can you think of a better place to have a monthly luncheon?! No matter how busy my week is, I look forward to my lunch at the Basile Café and the varied conversations we have from our group. You always meet a new face and hear a fresh story.” — Kimberly Sorrell (pictured on right) “This group has given me the opportunity to get acquainted with ladies who share a love of music and theater. It is fun to see a new friend at a Center performance or in the Founders Room during intermission. You have a bond with that person because you have already formed a friendship. I think our husbands enjoy meeting each other too!” — Ila Badger The Volunteers Two couples have served as ushers for hundreds of performances. Meet Bill and Marge Dorsch and Bill and Nancy Heath, the Center’s volunteers of the year for 2011 and 2012 (pictured on right). The Center thanked all its volunteers at a Donor & Volunteer appreciation night in August 2012 (pictured on bottom left). “The Center offered us an opportunity to commit time, talent, and treasure to a non-profit organization that was very appreciative of our service; along with permitting us to work in such marvelously beautiful surroundings. In a very small way, we are giving back to our Carmel community for all we have received by living in such a vibrant and changing city.” — Bill and Marge Dorsch “We feel it is important to give back to a community that has been so great to us. This is our way to donate. We cannot be large financial donors but hopefully our ushering and time spent at various events in the Arts & Design District can reflect our support of the Center for the Performing Arts. We believe it is important to be good will ambassadors for the City of Carmel. For many of our patrons this may be their only exposure to the city. If they enjoy the experience they may return to the Center and also support our retailers by dining or shopping in our city.” — Bill & Nancy Heath

applause

HOLIDAY 2012

ARTIST PROFILE:

ARMAND DIANGIENDA Founder of the Orchestre Symphonique Kimbanguiste in 1994, Armand Diangienda (affectionately known by the Congolese as Papa Armand) leads the orchestra with the same passion he employed as a pilot with the Congolese Aviation Society (Scibe Airlift). Originally a commercial pilot by trade, Armand has never been to music school. Entirely self-taught, he has studied music theory and composition, embarking on this adventure with only luggage and good knowledge of the piano. His love for music stems from his childhood. At age five he was playing the piano; today his knowledge encompasses almost all the instruments of classical and modern music. His dream began at a young age, and today, the dream has become reality. In July 2002, Maestro Diangienda was named unanimously to the rank of Director of Music. His compositions, the symphony “Breath of Truth” and “Symphony in A Minor,” have had great success with the Congolese public. In his compositions, each retains influences of African culture, particularly evident in his church hymns, such as “Kwa Yeno,” “Ebombelo,” “Vo Yisu,” “O Muana Nzambi” and others in French, including “The Beloved Son.” In 15 years, by virtually unaided means, Armand has managed the formidable challenge of creating the first allblack symphony orchestra in the world and the only symphony orchestra in Central Africa. As the grandson of Simon Kimbangu, founder of Kimbanguism, the third religion of Congo, he enjoys a high reputation based on his grandfather’s teachings of hard work, dignity, and responsibility. Armand has ambition: “I would like to introduce our musicians to the outside world. It will not be an amateur orchestra, but a professional orchestra.” For this reason, the orchestra travels regularly to Europe to train and to forge strong relationships with other major ensembles. In a country ravaged by civil war, in which unemployment and corruption are commonplace, the Africans in the orchestra can inspire hope throughout their nation. Reprinted with permission from FreeForAllConcertFund.org *Photos were taken of Armand Diangienda during his tour of the Palladium on September 24, 2012. 9

HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS

from the Basile Gift Shop By Sharon Holyoak, Basile Gift Shop Manager

1. Our customers are immediately drawn to the delicate nature of Deb Brilla’s jewelry. She has always been influenced by her grandfather who had a love of weaving unusual elements together to make something beautiful. Deb incorporates replicas of vintage watch pieces, semiprecious stones, crystals, sterling silver, brass and bronze. 2. There is something very special about our “Healing Touch Pottery.” Every mug is hand crafted by potters in New Hampshire, then paired with a healing stone and Reiki charged. The potter shares with you the healing energy in both beauty and touch. 3. Cynthia Gale created a niche for herself in the art world as a museum piece designer. We are proud to carry her signature collection that conveys to the wearer a sense of the cultural, historical or spiritual inspiration that went into creating it. Be sure to try on one of Cynthia’s spinning rings.

4. Our Christmas ornaments reflect two things the Basile Gift Shop is passionate about… music and fair trade. Be sure to check out our beautiful ornaments, which include many hand crafted musical instruments. One of our featured companies has been enriching the lives of hundreds of families in Thailand by passing down the art and skills of metalsmithing throughout their community. These unique and personal gifts are made from copper, brass and silver. 5. Get your Hot Hits Pot Holders, Flipper Guitar Spatulas and other music inspired kitchen items just in time for Christmas. These whimsical, fun and practical kitchen utensils are perfect for a music lover, chef or anyone who likes to have fun in the kitchen.

applause

HOLIDAY 2012

THE GERSHWINS AND ME

An excerpt from new book by Michael Feinstein Chapter One: George and Ira—The Music and the Words / From Strike Up the Band, 1927 Among the many treasures Ira Gershwin preserved in his house on Roxbury Drive in Beverly Hills was a cache of his brother George’s unpublished music. When I worked for Ira as a young man, I knew it was an extraordinary privilege and honor to be able to see and hear melodies by my favorite composer that had been unavailable for decades. Some of the music had lyric ideas provided by Ira while others had no lyrics. Some of the tunes had been assigned numbers: “unpublished melody number 27,” and so on. Ira kept a floral binder that contained other scraps of George’s music— some were notes jotted on a half-page of lined paper, others were just fragments. Over the forty years since George’s death, Ira had allowed a select few to examine these unheard gems. He considered these tunes as precious as the rarest of vintage wines, or blue-chip stocks that increase in value with each succeeding year. The burden of protecting that legacy was at times overwhelming for him, but he knew that it must be done, and no one else would or could do it. I particularly loved prospecting through that floral binder which contained the most fragmentary of fragments. It was here that I would find a melody, a small nugget, sometimes just a single line of music, scratched out on a piece of scrap paper. One day, when Kay Swift was visiting, I played her a fragmentary tune from that binder that had touched my curiosity. Kay had been a longtime lover of George’s and was a talented composer herself—she had a hit on Broadway with the musical “Fine and Dandy” in 1930, the first woman to achieve this feat. The whole story of Kay’s relationship with George has finally, and beautifully, been written by her granddaughter Katharine Weber “The Memory of All That.” It’s a doozy of a story too.

Kay was married to a famous banking scion, James Warburg, and had three children with him, but that did not stop her from falling hard for George and divorcing her husband in the hope that George would marry her. He didn’t. Upon seeing them at a party one night, the legendary wit Oscar Levant is purported to have said, “There goes George Gershwin with the future Miss Kay Swift.” (There are other attributions of this story, to Kitty Carlisle and Paula Lawrence, but it works well for our purposes here, don’t you think?) Still, she remained an intimate friend until the day George died. I simply adored her for her everpositive attitude and simple ability to survive in a time that had outgrown her formidable talents. Kay had an encyclopedic knowledge of the Gershwins’ music and an almost perfect recall of it. Ira had no recollection of this particular tune but she recognized it at once: “Oh yes,” she said. “That was an early version of “Strike Up the Band.” “Strike Up the Band” appeared in the musical of the same name in 1927, but it seems there were multiple early attempts at the title song and this was one of them. It was only a melody line, just enough to jog George’s memory when he went back to it. George must have played it for Kay, or perhaps she was around when he was working on this earlier version, and typical of her prodigious memory she could recall it even when Ira couldn’t. Since there were no harmonies to accompany the melody in Ira’s floral binder, I wish that I had asked Kay to harmonize it, for if George had come up with some harmonies to go with the tune, Kay would have remembered them. Alas, she took any such knowledge with her when she died in 1993 at the age of ninety-five. In retrospect there are always questions we wish that we had asked, or words that should have been expressed. Copyright © 2012 by Michael Feinstein. Reprinted by permission of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

Meet Michael Feinstein on Friday, November 16. Michael will be signing copies of “The Gershwins and Me” from 5:30–7pm prior to the showing of “An American in Paris.” Proceeds from books purchased at this event benefit the Michael Feinstein Great American Songbook Initiative. Copies of “The Gershwins and Me” by Michael Feinstein are available now at the Basile Gift Shop, located in the East lobby of the Palladium. 11

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID THE CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

355 City Center Drive Carmel, IN 46032

applause Official Newsletter HOLIDAY 2012 TheCenterPresents.org Administration: 317.660.3373 Box Office: 317.843.3800