PACIFIC SYMPHONY POPS OPENING CELEBRATES PRINCIPAL
POPS CONDUCTOR RICHARD KAUFMAN’S 20TH ANNIVERSARY WITH
A MASCARADE SOIREE AND THREE PHANTOMS IN CONCERT!
One-night-only celebration—reception, dinner, post-party—takes place
Saturday, Oct. 30, at Westin South Coast Plaza and concert hall
Pacific Symphony’s grand opening gala comes a little later this season, saving itself for the first Pops concert of the 2010-11 season, celebrating a very special milestone for Principal Pops Conductor Richard Kaufman—his 20th anniversary with the orchestra!
Just in time for Halloween—“Three Phantoms in Concert”—offers an evening of Broadway magic that combines the cachet of “The Phantom of the Opera” with three extraordinary performers who have played that title role: Craig Schulman, Kevin Gray and Brad Little. The Symphony, led by Maestro Kaufman, backs these singers in the soaring melodies from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s phenomenon (now the longest running musical on Broadway), plus blockbusters from “Les Misérables,” “Miss Saigon,” “Guys and Dolls,” “Jekyll and Hyde,” “Nine,” “Kiss Me Kate,” “Man of La Mancha,” “Paint Your Wagon,” “How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying,” “The Secret Garden,” “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” and more!
The concert takes place Thursday-Saturday, Oct. 28-30, at 8 p.m., in the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall. Tickets for the concert only are $25-$150; for more information or to purchase tickets, call the box office at (714) 755-5799 or visit www.pacificsymphony.org
The musical and movie “The Phantom of the Opera” has a very important scene in the storyline that takes place at a masked ball…and the Symphony plans to celebrate Kaufman in similar fashion with an Opening Night Dinner and Masquerade Soiree on Saturday, Oct. 30. Individual tickets for the Masquerade Soiree are $500 each (concert tickets are extra); tables are $7,500-$25,000
“For a conductor, it doesn’t get any better than having the opportunity to work with Pacific Symphony,” says Maestro Kaufman. “I’ve been blessed to experience the cumulative talents of this magnificent ensemble for 20 years, and that is a lifetime of dreams-come-true for any conductor. My hope is that our audiences will continue to truly enjoy their Pops experience every time they attend. That’s always been our goal, and with our extraordinary musicians, incredible staff and the world-class artists who will appear on the series, I know that this goal will be met and surpassed. And through it all has been the thrill of being part of the visionary artistic leadership of Carl St.Clair.
“From the time I was very young, I wanted to conduct a great orchestra. My dream has been fulfilled and then some. I can’t wait to see what the future holds.”
The Three Phantoms…
“What a thrill to begin our Pops season with three magnificent singers, each of whom has worn the mask of the Phantom on Broadway,” says Kaufman. “The memorable songs they’ll be singing will be a fantastic musical journey, featuring some of Broadway’s best loved songs. And to hear these sung by three wonderful performers is the perfect way to ring in the new Pops season. I have a feeling that after the show, the audience will be humming the songs all the way home!”
It’s difficult to find three more highly acclaimed or renowned Broadway stars than Brad Little, Craig Schulman or Kevin Gray—all of whom are perhaps best known for playing Broadway’s most famous role in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “The Phantom of the Opera.”
Gray received the Carbonelle Award for his performance playing the title role in “The Phantom of the Opera” on Broadway and national tour. He most recently played the role of “Scar” in Disney’s West Coast tour of “The Lion King,” and he was Broadway’s third and most recent “King” in “The King and I,” a role he recently reprised for the British national tour. As the Engineer in “Miss Saigon,” he received the Dora Mavor Moore and Dramalogue awards. Other Broadway and national tour appearances include Pontius Pilate in “Jesus Christ Superstar,” Thomas Andrews in “Titanic,” Gaylord Ravenal in Harold Prince’s production of “Show Boat,” Raoul in “The Phantom of the Opera” and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Music of the Night.” Gray has appeared on “Law and Order SVU,” “Miami Vice,” “The Equalizer,” “Guiding Light” and “Ryan’s Hope.” He is a recipient of The National Institute for Music Theatre award.
Little has played the role of the Phantom more than 2,000 times in theaters across America, on Broadway and in Asia since 1997. Before playing the Phantom, he was performing at the Majestic Theatre playing the role of Raoul in “The Phantom of the Opera” Broadway production. His other Broadway and national tour credits include: “Cyrano, the Musical,” playing the role of Captain De Castel Jaloux; “Fiddler on the Roof, with Topol”; the Lincoln Center production of “Anything Goes,” in which he understudied and played the role of Billy Crocker opposite Leslie Uggams. He won international acclaim for his portrayal of Jesus in the European tour of “Jesus Christ Superstar” and Tony in “West Side Story.”
Invited to represent the United States at the 10th Anniversary of “Les Misérables” in London, Schulman is the only actor in the nation to have portrayed three of the greatest musical theater roles: the Phantom in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “The Phantom of the Opera”; Jean Valjean in “Les Misérables”; and the title roles in “Jekyll & Hyde.” He has portrayed Jean Valjean in four different companies in three countries for a total of over 1,900 performances. Recognized from the PBS broadcast of “The 10th Anniversary: Les Misérables in Concert,” he has also played Che in “Evita,” Tevye in “Fiddler on the Roof,” and Archibald in “The Secret Garden.” Schulman moves freely between the worlds of Broadway, opera and symphonic pops programs.
Pops Opening Night Dinner and Masquerade Soiree…
“I love the idea of making our opening Pops weekend a real party,” says Kaufman. “Not only do we always strive to present great music played brilliantly by our wonderful musicians, but we also want the audience to have fun…with a capital “F”!! As for the Masquerade Soiree, I would guess that many people would like to have seen me wearing a mask LONG before now. However, I probably will disappoint them and just come looking like me. That’s funny enough!”
It promises to be a night to remember, full of color, drama, mystery and excitement! Chaired by Sally Anderson, Donna Schroeder and Jane Taylor, the Pops Opening Night Dinner and Masquerade Soiree on Saturday, Oct. 30, begins at 5 p.m. with cocktails, followed by a harvest dinner at The Westin South Coast Plaza. Following dinner, a spectacular masked procession—complete with jugglers, stilt walkers and other characters of the court—leads guests to the concert hall for the Opening Night performance of “The Three Phantoms in Concert.” The party continues during intermission on the Box Circle level and post-concert, when guests return toThe Westin for cocktails, dessert, dancing to live band music, and an appearance by a special guest artist.
Attire for the event is black-tie optional and a mask! Masks for the event are being sold now at the concert hall during Symphony concerts, as well as at a number of Symphony events. Retail partners for the Pops Opening Night include St. John and Ermenegildo Zegna.
Pre-Party Kick-Off…
In advance of the Opening, St. John and Ermenegildo Zegna are holding an evening of celebration and shopping on Tuesday, Oct. 5, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., beginning with a cocktail reception at St. John’s boutique. Ten percent of all sales from both stores are being donated to the Symphony in support of the Opening Night “Masquerade Soiree.”
Principal Pops Conductor Richard Kaufman…
“Our Pops series has grown year by year…in quality, in the varied artists who have been invited to appear, and in the excitement and fun,” says Kaufman. “This coming season, I am confident that we will continue to grow in new and exciting ways. Most of the performers who are coming this season will be making their Pacific Symphony Pops debut, so the series will have a fresh and unique feel that I know our audiences will love.”
For two decades, Kaufman has brought his charm, humor and superior musicianship to Orange County audiences, sharing the stage with some of the world’s great entertainers and showcasing the Symphony’s versatility. Kaufman has devoted much of his musical life to conducting and supervising music for film and television productions, as well as performing film and classical music in concert halls and on recordings. He is currently in his seventh season with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra concert series, “Friday Night at the Movies.” He appears as guest conductor with orchestras throughout the United States, as well as internationally.
Kaufman received the 1993 Grammy Award in the category of Best Pop Instrumental Performance. His most recent recording, entitled “The High and the Mighty” (Varese Sarabande) is with the London Symphony Orchestra recorded at Abbey Road Studios. Other recordings include film music with the Brandenburg Philharmonic, a second recording with the Nuremberg Symphony, and two critically acclaimed CDs with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (music of Alfred Newman and Victor Young). He has conducted for performers including: John Denver, Andy Williams, Mary Martin, Nanette Fabray, Chris Botti, Monica Mancini, Peter Paul and Mary, Patty Austin, The Righteous Brothers, Martin Short and Art Garfunkel.
As a violinist, Kaufman has performed on numerous film and television scores including “Jaws,” “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” “Saturday Night Fever,” and “Animal House.” He has recorded with artists including John Denver, Burt Bacharach, Barbra Streisand, The Carpenters and Ray Charles.
He joined the music department of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios in 1984 as music coordinator, and for the next 18 years supervised music for MGM film and television projects. He received two Emmy Award nominations, one in the category of Outstanding Music Direction and Composition, and another for Outstanding Original Song.
He has also coached various actors in musical roles including Jack Nicholson, Dudley Moore, Tom Hanks, Armand Assante and Susan Sarandon. Kaufman served as music director/conductor for numerous musicals at the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera and for the first national tours of “Company” (for Hal Prince) and “Two Gentlemen of Verona” (for Joseph Papp and the New York Shakespeare Festival).
Pacific Symphony’s Pops series is made possible by the Symphony’s official airline, American Airlines; official hotel, The Westin South Coast Plaza; official Pops radio station, K-Earth 101; and official television station, KOCE-TV.
Pacific Symphony
3631 S. Harbor Blvd., Suite 100
Santa Ana, CA 92704
www.pacificsymphony.org
