A Cure for "Snowpression"

February 17, 2010 - So the past week or so has been pretty hellish here in Baltimore with record breaking snowfalls that resulted in events having to be postponed, rehearsal schedules being rearranged and then rearranged again, artists being unable to get here on their originally scheduled date and so forth. I then added the personally joy of getting terribly ill just at the point that the marathon rehearsal days were beginning. Let's just say that by this past Monday, I was beginning to feel pretty defeated. Then last night I sat in the final rehearsal for our cabaret that's coming up this Friday and once again realized why I do what I do. Listening to these wonderful singers (Joy Greene, Jessica Renfro, Ken Gayle, and Chris Austin) perform the work of great American song writers such as Gershwin, Porter, Sondheim, and Weill, I was transported away from the stress of the schedules, the traffic, the illness, and all the rest. In short, the show just made me "feel good". My colleagues and I had been remarking about the general feeling of malaise that seems to have settled over Baltimore since the snow, which I dubbed "snowpression". Well from last night's experience it seems that My Foolish Heart my be just what the doctor ordered. So here are the details:

When: Friday, February 19th - doors open at 7pm for eating and drinking, music starts at 8pm

Where: the Great Hall of Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 811 Cathedral Street, Baltimore, MD 21201 (sidewalks are shoveled and salted, parking lot out back has been cleared)

How much: Tickets are $30 which includes light fare and there's a cash bar in case you need a little something extra in the heartwarming department. You can get tickets by clicking here or you can just pay at the door.

So come shake off the "snowpression" with a big dose of LOVE!

Focus on February, part 1

January 23, 2010 - So OV has very full month coming up in February, so I'm going to do a short series of posts giving more details. First up, Club OV's cabaret in honor of Valentine's Day entitled My Foolish Heart.

Club OV is the cabaret arm of Opera Vivente. Cabaret gives people a chance to enjoy great music sung by fantastic singers in a truly relaxed atmosphere: table seating, candlelight, food and drink throughout the performance, laughter and comment encouraged. For My Foolish Heart, we have OV favorites Joy Greene (most recently Lady Anna in Lord Giovanni), Jessica Renfro (our hysterically funny Tisbe in Cinderella), Ken Gayle (Pelléas in our upcoming production of Impressions of Pelléas) and Chris Austin (most recently Lord Magnifico in Cinderella) accompanied by Dana Scott at the piano, singing love songs by composers as diverse as Gershwin, Sondheim, and John Lennon. The program starts with a set extolling the praises of love, followed by a "new love" set which includes the cabaret cult classic "Taylor the Latte Boy", a "trouble with love" set, a "love lost" set, a "love the second time around" set, and closes with a "true love" set.

With tickets priced at $30 including food, this is a great way to celebrate the season of love with your special someone. Or take advantage of the informal "talking encouraged" atmosphere (and the cash bar) to make a connection with a "stranger across a crowded room". Seating is limited so don't wait. Fall in love with love by clicking here.

All I Want for Christmas Is. . .

October 24, 2009 - So rather than wallow in regret over the cancellation of Devils, Demons, and Divas, I've decided to throw myself full-force into planning our upcoming cabaret entitled All I Want for Christmas Is. . . This program has really developed quite a following over the past two years and is as much fun to put together and perform as it is to attend. This year will feature OV favorites Joy Greene, Jennifer Blades, Frédéric Rey, and Christopher Austin singing songs about all sorts of holiday wish lists, running the gamut from silly to sublime. As I'm planning the program, I'd love to hear from our fans what they'd like most for Christmas (or Hanukah or Kwanzaa or Ramadan). So go ahead and post a comment and see you at the cabaret.

Holly Jolly Cabaret

December 16, 2008 - So our 2nd annual Holiday Cabaret was an even bigger hit than the first one. An enthusiastic audience ate, drank, laughed, "got misty", and sang along as our "Fab Four" accompanied by Dana Scott performed songs about snow, Christmas trees, holiday shopping, and everyone's favorite fat guy. Below are some shots from the event. Mark you calendars for
December 11, 2009 when we bring you "All I Want for Christmas Is. . ."

Happy Holidays!

All Those Christmas Clichés

November 20, 2008 - Getting ready to go hear the first day of auditions for our 2009-2010 season, but thought I'd grab a quick moment to say that the repertoire for OV's 2nd Annual Holiday Cabaret (Friday, December 12th at 8pm in the Great Hall of Emmanuel Episcopal Church) has been finalized and it's gonna be fab! Here's what Joy Greene, Jennifer Blades, Frederic Rey, Will Heim, Dana Scott, and moiself have planned for all you holiday revelers!

Opening number is a little re-write of "We Need a Little Christmas" called "We Need a Christmas Cabaret". This leads seamlessly into a sparkly set of Snow and Winter themed songs including "White Christmas", "Here Comes Suzy Snowflake", "Jingle Bells", "Sleigh Ride" and "Winter Wonderland". Some witty patter will then lead to

The Christmas Tree Set!!!! - Those of you who enjoyed "The Better Tree" last year can breathe easy. It's in this set along with some other great songs about that ancient pagan symbol which Christians appropriated for their own purposes during the Christianization of Great Britain.

We then have a festive tribute to everyone's favorite fat guy in a red suit: SATAN! I mean SANTA! The usual suspects ("Santa Claus is coming to town", "Jolly Old St. Nicholas", etc.) rub elbows in this set with some songs showing some of the lesser known sides of the "jolly old elf" and even Mrs. Claus gets a word in.

After a libation break (holiday treats and a cash bar will once again be in evidence), we turn our attention to the holiday "hustle and bustle" with "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas", "Silver Bells" and a medley of great shopping mall Christmas tunes of the ages. Just when you're on sensory overload, we bring on the warm fuzzies with a medley of songs about spending the holidays with loved ones.

But we don't want you to go home all weepy so we're gonna put you to work in an upbeat carol sing-a-long to close the evening. Have no fear, all you lyrically challenged audience members! Word sheets will be provided on your table.

Fun, huh? Seating is exremely limited, so get your tickets today! Call 410.547.7997 to make a reservation.

So what good is sitting alone in your room? Come to the cabaret! - John Bowen

Fa la la la Fabulous

December 17, 2007 - Well friends, the holiday cabaret was a fantastic success. The singers were fantastic, the food and drink was delicious and festive, and the audience was large and enthusiastic. Looks like it will be an annual thing. And here are a few photos of the party as fond memories for those who did attend and to entice those who didn't so that you'll be sure not to miss it next year.



On other fronts, I'm working on finalizing the rehearsal schedule for Orpheus in the Underworld, coordinating some small logistical details for Tobias and the Angel, working on blocking for my production of Pirates of Penzance at Opera AACC, as well as trying to get to all the holiday parties, open houses, etc and to finish my shopping. Ah, 'tis the season indeed. -

Life is a Cabaret, Old Chum

December 11, 2007 - Just a quick post to say that the cabaret folks and I had another rehearsal last night, and the show is fantastic! Funny, poignant, nostalgic, and inspiring by turns, I really feel that the show reflects this complex season in all its wonder. Throw in some tasty holiday treats and it's a great bargain at only $20 per person. So, "what good is sitting alone in your room, come hear the music play" on Friday, December 14th at 8pm. Call 410.547.7997 to get your tickets now! See you at the cabaret - John Bowen

'Tis the Season

November 25, 2007 - So I've been getting a lot of questions about our upcoming Holiday Cabaret ("It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year?" on December 14th at 8pm) so I thought I'd tell you a little more about what you can expect at this festive event. The evening is going to informal with plenty of opportunity to chat with the other guests as well as the artists and to enjoy delicious holiday nibbles and both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. The musical element will consist of five themed sets of songs and will conclude with a carol sing-along. Don't worry, I'm not nearly as critical of audience participation as I am of auditioners so in the words of Mama Rose "Sing out, Louise!"

Here's a brief summary of the sets:

Set 1 ("Signs of the Season") will include such classics as "It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas" and "Silver Bells" as well as a rewrite of "My Favorite Things" entitle "These are a few of my Holiday gigs" and the nostalgic "Christmastime is Here" from A Charlie Brown Christmas.

Set 2 ("Holiday Blues") ranges from the timeless "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" to rarities such as "I remember" noteworthy as being the only Christmas lyric to have yet emerged from the brilliant pen of Stephen Sondheim.

Set 3 ("Christmas Traditions") sails through a broad swath of holiday repertoire from musical theatre ("We need a little Christmas") to holiday pop ("Santa Claus is coming to town") to cutting edge ("The Better Tree" a duet between a traditional live tree and a shiny aluminum one which gets a wee bit argumentative).

Set 4 ("Holiday Wishes and Dreams") is sure to elicit a big "awwwww" from the audience ("I'll be home for Christmas", "White Christmas") but might also elicit some naughty giggles with "My Simple Christmas Wish". Believe me, the wish is not for world peace.

Set 5 ("Holiday Romance") keeps the temperature rising with perennial snuggling favorites such as "Sleigh Ride" and "Baby, It's Cold Outside" as well as every Material Girl's favorite holiday song, "Santa Baby".

So, hope that all is not only informative but enticing. To purchase tickets give the box office a call at 410.547.7997. Life is a cabaret, old chum, so come to the cabaret. - John Bowen

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year?

November 11, 2007 - So now that Alcina is behind me, I've turned my attention to our upcoming holiday cabaret show, It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year?, which is happening on December 14th at 8pm. Working on this show, I'm reminded of 1) how crazy and hectic this season can be, particularly for performing artists (BTW There's actually a number in the show called "These are a few of my holiday gigs") and 2) how much I love this time of year. Yes, I admit it, I'm a sucker for holiday music (every year I buy at least one new CD of seasonal numbers), and I enjoy all the hustle and bustle of preparing the various and sundry performances that I'm in charge of during the holidays. I'm also aware that the holidays can also be a time of intense emotions, both positive and negative, and that music can often serve to give voice to the sadness or to lift the soul to a child-like sense of wonderment and joy. Therefore, our holiday cabaret is going to try to run the gamut from poignant tunes like "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" to uplifting carols like "The Christmas Waltz" to just plain fun romps like "Santa Baby". So I invite you to make Opera Vivente part of your holiday hustle and bustle. Come have some delicious holiday goodies, sip a warming beverage, and bask in wonderful music performed by fantastic artists. See you at the cabaret. - John Bowen

Twin Tyrants and Frail Beauty: Life after Alcina

November 6, 2007 - Well friends, it's over. Alcina closed to a packed house of enthusiastic patrons on Saturday, and now many of us are experiencing the inevitable post-production blues. Towards the end of Act II, Ruggiero sings a reflective aria on the ephemeral nature of Alcina's beautiful island. "Verdant meadows, charming forests, your frail beauty shall soon die." As I listened to that aria for the last time on Saturday night, it struck me that people who work in theatre really experience the elegiac emotion of this aria at the end of every show. After all the hard work preparing for opening night and the joy of performing the show (a joy that is often very brief in the opera world with its average runs of 4 or 6 performances), suddenly one is presented with a sea-change that is truly astounding. In a matter of hours, chairs are stacked and concessions tables broken down; where a curvilinear psychodelic set once stood there is now a pile of lumber, torn paper, and discarded gels. The singers who so recently stood on this stage singing some of the most brilliant and powerful music ever written for the stage are on to other projects, often in very distant parts of the world. Theatre is indeed a frail beauty.

On the other hand, we have the charge to keep creating this ephemeral beauty because the legacy of the performing arts demands it. Handel's notes and his unknown librettist's words are merely an inanimate, historical document until someone performs them. We feel the great artists of history calling us from the page to make them live again eventhough we know that we can only animate their creation for a brief and irreproduceable period of time. And that's why I include the words "twin tyrants" from Bradamante's Act I aria in the title of this post. Performing artists are constantly being pulled between the tangible, permanent legacy of the past and the inherent transience of making that legacy live and communicate to our audiences.

Alright, that's enough philosophy for one post. Luckily, the tension between the abovementioned "tyrants" is also the cure for the malady. It's what drives most of us on to the next project. And I'm fortunate that I have another project looming on the horizon, namely "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year?", our holiday cabaret on December 14th at 8pm. Featuring some favorite OV artists, Joy Greene, Jennifer Blades, Frederic Rey, and Will Heim, singing holiday selections from classic to cutting-edge the show will also have holiday goodies to eat and festive beverages for purchase. To reserve seats call the box office at 410.547.7997. Hope to see you there.

John Bowen