'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