For Immediate Release
Feb. 20, 2014
CELEBRATE KANDER AND EBB AND “ALL THAT JAZZ” WITH THE PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
PITTSBURGH – Some may not know their names, but everyone knows their music. Together John Kander and Fred Ebb were one of the most fruitful and creative teams in musical theater history, and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra puts their talents on display at PNC Pops with “All That Jazz” on March 6-9 at Heinz Hall.
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| Kander And Ebb |
Kander and Ebb have introduced music that became Broadway standards and contemporary classics. Their first produced musical, Flora, The Red Menace, introduced the world to a young Liza Minnelli, winning her first Tony Award, followed by “Cabaret”; “The Happy Time”; “Zorba”; “70, Girls, 70”; “Chicago” (the current revival is the fourth longest running show on Broadway and the longest running American musical on Broadway); “The Act”; “Woman of the Year” (Tony Award); “The Rink”; “Kiss of the Spider Woman” (Tony Award); “Steel Pier”; “Curtains” and “The Scottsboro Boys.” Their collaboration also transferred itself to movies and television as they wrote original material for the Academy Awards; “Liza With a Z” (Emmy Award) and HBO’s “Liza Minnelli’s Stepping Out” (Emmy Award); “Funny Lady,” including the Oscar-nominated song “How Lucky Can You Get”; “Lucky Lady”; “New York, New York” and “Chicago,” the movie, with the Oscar-nominated song, “Move On.” Mayor Ed Koch made a declaration, making the song “New York, New York” to become the official anthem of New York City.
Guest conductor Jack Everly and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra give Kander and Ebb a symphonic salute in this rousing PNC Pops weekend, featuring selections from “Cabaret,” “Steel Pier,” “The Act,” “New York, New York” and more!
Performances are 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 2:30 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets, ranging in price from $21-99, can be purchased by calling the Heinz Hall box office at 412-392-4900 or visiting pittsburghsymphony.org.
The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra would like to recognize and thank PNC for its 2013-2014 title sponsorship of PNC Pops. Fairmont Pittsburgh is the official hotel of the Pittsburgh Symphony.
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| Jack Everly (Photo Credit: Michael Tammaro |
Jack Everly is the principal pops conductor of the Indianapolis and Baltimore Symphony Orchestras, Naples Philharmonic Orchestra and the National Arts Centre Orchestra (Ottawa). He has conducted the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, The New York Pops at Carnegie Hall and appears regularly with The Cleveland Orchestra at Blossom Music Center. In the 2013-14 season, he will debut with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and the Philadelphia Orchestra at The Mann Center. This year, Everly will conduct more than 90 performances in more than 20 North American cities. As music director of the National Memorial Day Concert and “A Capitol Fourth” on PBS, Everly proudly leads the National Symphony Orchestra in these patriotic celebrations on the National Mall. These concerts attract hundreds of thousands attendees on the lawn and the broadcasts reach millions of viewers and are some of the very highest rated programming on PBS television. Originally appointed by Mikhail Baryshnikov, Everly was conductor of the American Ballet Theatre for 14 years, where he served as music director. In addition to his ABT tenure, he teamed with Marvin Hamlisch on Broadway shows that Hamlisch scored. He conducted Carol Channing hundreds of times in “Hello, Dolly!” in two separate Broadway productions. Everly, a graduate of the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, holds an Honorary Doctorate of Arts from Franklin College in his home state of Indiana. He is a proud resident of the Indianapolis community for more than 12 years and when not on the podium you can find Everly at home with his family, which includes Max the wonder dog.
Nikki Renée Daniels was most recently seen on Broadway singing "Summertime" as Clara in the 2012 Tony Award-winning revival of the Gershwins' “Porgy and Bess.” Other Broadway credits include “Les Misérables” (Fantine), “Nine” (Renata), “Aida” (Nehebka), “Little Shop of Horrors,” “The Look of Love,” “Promises, Promises,” “Anything Goes” and “Lestat.” She made her New York City Opera debut as Clara in “Porgy and Bess.” Recently, Daniels played the featured role of Tracy in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall, and was featured as a nun in the live NBC presentation of “The Sound of Music.” Regional theater credits include “Ray Charles Live!” (Della B.) at Pasadena Playhouse; “Anything Goes” (Hope) at Williamstown Theatre Festival; “Beauty and the Beast” (Belle) at Sacramento Music Circus, American Musical Theater of San Jose and North Shore Music Theater; “Ragtime” (Sarah) at North Shore Music Theatre; “Aida” (Aida) and “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” (Narrator) at ArtPark; and “Dorian” (Celia) at the Denver Center. Film and television credits include “The Other Woman” and “Chappelle's Show.” Daniels has performed as a soloist with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Pops, Ottawa Symphony Orchestra, New York Pops, Naples Symphony Orchestra and at Carnegie Hall. Her debut CD, “Home,” is available on iTunes and CDBaby.com. Please visit nikkireneedaniels.com for more.
Janine DiVita appeared on the Broadway and first national tour of “Grease” (Rizzo, 2007 revival), “Anything Goes” (Reno, 2011 revival), “The Mystery of Edwin Drood” (Isabel Yearsley, Drood/Alice and Rosa Bud/Deirdre, 2012 revival) and “Young Frankenstein” (Elizabeth, first national tour). Other New York City credits include “Odyssey” (Penelope), “Happy Hunting” (Mary Mills), “Houdini” (Bess Houdini) and Frank Wildhorn's “Excalibur” (Morgan Le Fay). Regional credits include Lady of the Lake in “Spamalot” (Broadwayworld Nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical), Nancy in “Oliver!” (Barrymore Nomination Outstanding Leading Actress in a Musical), Dot in “Sunday in the Park with George,” Fania Fenelon in Arthur Miller's “Playing For Time,” Little Edie in “Grey Gardens,” Terri in “Sophisticated Ladies,” and Woman #1 and #3 in “The World Goes Round,” among others. Concerts include headliner of China Concert Tour of “Broadway Rox” and a solo cabaret show, “Blonde Ammunition,” at 54 Below. DiVita’s recordings include Bobby Cronin's “Reach the Sky: Live at the Beechman” plus a slew of demo recordings for new composers. She has appeared as a special guest on Irish Tenor Paul Byrom’s “This is the Moment” PBS Special, plus many other commercials and print advertisements. DiVita is the winner of the inaugural Alan Eisenberg/Actors' Equity Association award. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan. More at janinedivita.com.
Ted Keegan has been seen as the Phantom in “The Phantom of the Opera” on Broadway, national tour, and Phantom, The Las Vegas Spectacular. He has performed the role in more than 24 states and has had the great pleasure of appearing as The Phantom on the “Today Show” on NBC. He has also sung the role in front of the largest audience ever during the halftime show of the NBA All-Star Game. He performed unpublished Gershwin at the opening of the George and Ira Gershwin Room at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. and has sung Gershwin with Audra McDonald and with Marin Mazzie. He appeared as a soloist at Avery Fisher Hall, singing Unheard Bernstein. Keegan hosted Duke Energy Yuletide Celebration with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and has performed with many symphonies across North America, including the National Symphony at the Kennedy Center. He made his Broadway debut in “Sweeney Todd,” where he was seen as Anthony. Other Broadway and National tour credits include “Cyrano: The Musical,” “Camelot” with Robert Goulet, Herman in “The Most Happy Fella” and Kander and Ebb’s “The World Goes Round.”
Beth Leavel received Tony, Drama Desk, New York Outer Critics Circle and L.A. Drama Critics Awards for her performance as the title character in “The Drowsy Chaperone.” She also received Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations for her role as Florence Greenberg in “Baby It’s You.” She recently performed the roles of Sally Adams in “Call Me Madame” at Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, M’Lynn in “Steel Magnolias” at the North Carolina Theatre and the much put-upon maid Berthe in “Boeing-Boeing” at Paper Mill Playhouse. Other Broadway roles include Emily in “Elf,” Donna in “Mamma Mia!,” Frau Blucher in “Young Frankenstein,” Dorothy Brock in the revival of “42nd Street,” Tess in the original company of “Crazy For You,” Mrs. Bixby in “The Civil War,” Ellie in Hal Prince’s “Showboat” and Anytime Annie (her Broadway debut) in “42nd Street.” Leavel was also seen in New York City Center Encores! production of “No, No, Nanette” as Lucille. She has appeared in numerous Off-Broadway shows, regional theater, commercials and TV, including the final episode of “ER.”
Ron Remke was a featured soloist with the renowned 12 Irish Tenors and is a guest artist with symphonies throughout the United States. He is also a sought-after performer on the high seas and has had the privilege of visiting more than 70 countries while performing on board the Silver Spirit and the Regent Voyager as their production singer. Select credits include, Lead Tenor in “The Producers” (Westchester Broadway Theater, Pioneer Theater), Hugo in “Aspects of Love,” Captain Tarnitz in “The Student Prince” (Media Theater), Dance Captain of “Kiss Me, Kate” (U.S. National Tour) and appearances at The Fulton Opera House, Marriott Lincolnshire, The Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, Struther’s Library Theater and Cortland Repertory among others. He also has worked with Sesame Street and Nickelodeon as a voice-over character artist and is the voice of Juan in Sonia Monzano's “No Dog Allowed!” Most recently, Remke was with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and their annual Christmas spectacular, “Yuletide!” His full symphonic CD, entitled “Broadway Classics,” is available on iTunes and on his website, ronremke.com.
Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts is owned and operated by Pittsburgh Symphony, Inc., a non-profit organization, and is the year-round home of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. The cornerstone of Pittsburgh’s Cultural District, Heinz Hall hosts many events that do not feature its world-renowned Orchestra including Broadway shows, comedians, speakers and much more. For a full calendar of upcoming non-symphony events at the hall, visit heinzhall.org.
Editors Please Note:
March 6, 7:30 p.m.
March 7, 8:00 p.m.
March 8, 8:00 p.m.
March 9, 2:30 p.m.
Heinz Hall
PITTSBURGH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
PNC POPS
JACK EVERLY, conductor
NIKKI RENEE DANIELS, vocalist
JANINE DIVITA, vocalist
TED KEEGAN, vocalist
BETH LEAVEL, vocalist
RON REMKE, vocalist
John Kander (arr. Jack Everly) Overture
John Kander (arr. James Stephenson) “Willkomen” from Cabaret
John Kander (arr. Bob Krogstad) Cabaret Movie Medley
John Kander "First You Dream" from Steel Pier
John Kander “Two Ladies” from Cabaret
(orch. Michael Gibson/adapt. Michael K. Runyan)
John Kander “Everybody’s Girl” from Cabaret
John Kander (arr. Fred Barton) “Songs You Might Have Missed”
John Kander (arr. Fred Barton) “Cabaret” from Cabaret
John Kander (arr. Jack Everly) “Ring Them Bells”
John Kander “City Lights” from The Act
John Kander (arr. Michael K. Runyan) “Go Back Home” from The Scottsboro Boys
John Kander (arr. Paul McKibbins) “But the World Goes ‘Round” from New York, New York
John Kander (arr. Fred Barton) Chicago Medley
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Contact: Louise Sciannameo, Vice President of Public Affairs
Phone: 412.392.4866 | email: lsciannameo@pittsburghsymphony.org
Contact: Joyce DeFrancesco, Director of Media Relations
Phone: 412.392.4827 | email: jdefrancesco@pittsburghsymphony.org
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