We are in our second week of having opened Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street at Portland Center Stage, and it seems we've gotten quite a bit of attention! We've gotten reviews in The Oregonian, Portland Monthly, BePortland, and Willamette Week. Have I missed any?
Often when reading these reviews, you will find a synopsis of the story in addition to information about the actors and their singing, the costumes, make-up, stage and scenery, etc. Essentially, you will read about everything that is readily apparent to the audience. The irony is, seldom… very seldom do the reviewers discuss, or even acknowledge the pit orchestra; the very thing that makes a musical a "music"al! Seems odd, doesn't it? However, Bob Hicks from Oregon Arts Watch knows what's up. "So let's talk about the music." he offers in his review that compares our 10 piece orchestra to the Portland Opera. It's well worth the read!
Most importantly though, come see Sweeney Todd, 'cause we're working our little hearts out to make it one hell of a performance that you won't want to miss!
So my friends, here's a list of the wonderful musicians (straight out of our program) that make up our 10-piece wonder orchestra conducted by the fabulous Rick Lewis:
Jeffrey Childs, Keyboards
Sean Vinson, Bass
Ben Wasson, Percussion
Mary Rowell, Violin
Dale Tolliver, Cello
Clark Rust, Trumpet
Amy Vaillancourt-Sals, French Horn
Al Torres, Trombone
Eryn Vercammen, Reed I
Ward Baxter, Reed II
Lee Elderton, Reed II
(Added Oct. 1st, 2012) Oregon Music News just released an article today based on an interview with our music director Rick Lewis. In the interview, Rick tells it how it is; "If I could’ve had 16 musicians, I would’ve used that many" and "It would’ve been great to have had the score a year ago and then work on reducing it. But we are flying by the seat of our pants... It’s not the way that I’d like to do things, but that’s what we have to do." Click here to read the whole article!
Portland Center Stage is located at Gerding Theater, 128 NW 11th Ave. Performances are at 7:30 pm Tuesdays-Saturdays, 2pm Sundays, with alternating Saturday matinee and Sunday evening performances. Noon select Thursdays. Through Oct. 21. $30-$70, $20 rush tickets available an hour before the performances!
Hope to see you soon!
Often when reading these reviews, you will find a synopsis of the story in addition to information about the actors and their singing, the costumes, make-up, stage and scenery, etc. Essentially, you will read about everything that is readily apparent to the audience. The irony is, seldom… very seldom do the reviewers discuss, or even acknowledge the pit orchestra; the very thing that makes a musical a "music"al! Seems odd, doesn't it? However, Bob Hicks from Oregon Arts Watch knows what's up. "So let's talk about the music." he offers in his review that compares our 10 piece orchestra to the Portland Opera. It's well worth the read!
Most importantly though, come see Sweeney Todd, 'cause we're working our little hearts out to make it one hell of a performance that you won't want to miss!
So my friends, here's a list of the wonderful musicians (straight out of our program) that make up our 10-piece wonder orchestra conducted by the fabulous Rick Lewis:
Jeffrey Childs, Keyboards
Sean Vinson, Bass
Ben Wasson, Percussion
Mary Rowell, Violin
Dale Tolliver, Cello
Clark Rust, Trumpet
Amy Vaillancourt-Sals, French Horn
Al Torres, Trombone
Eryn Vercammen, Reed I
Ward Baxter, Reed II
Lee Elderton, Reed II
(Added Oct. 1st, 2012) Oregon Music News just released an article today based on an interview with our music director Rick Lewis. In the interview, Rick tells it how it is; "If I could’ve had 16 musicians, I would’ve used that many" and "It would’ve been great to have had the score a year ago and then work on reducing it. But we are flying by the seat of our pants... It’s not the way that I’d like to do things, but that’s what we have to do." Click here to read the whole article!
Portland Center Stage is located at Gerding Theater, 128 NW 11th Ave. Performances are at 7:30 pm Tuesdays-Saturdays, 2pm Sundays, with alternating Saturday matinee and Sunday evening performances. Noon select Thursdays. Through Oct. 21. $30-$70, $20 rush tickets available an hour before the performances!
Hope to see you soon!