Reviews
Rodgers, Hart and Hammerstein
a program of performance and musical history
Wednesday, October 16, 2002
Cambridge resident Bobbi Carrey joins with Arlington resident Will McMillan and pianist Henry Schniewind (also a Cambridge resident) to present a program of songs by and stories about composer Richard Rodgers, who was one of the most eminent theatre composers of the 20th century–writing music for more than forty musicals, including Babes In Arms, Pal Joey, Oklahoma! Carousel, South Pacific, and The Sound of Music.
The following performances are planned: Thursday, October 17 at 10:30 a.m.–Rodgers & Hart/Hammerstein, a performance/lecture at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education, 56 Brattle Street, Cambridge. $2. Event code: L017. Call 617-547-6789 ext. 1, or visit www.ccae.org.
Thursday, November 7 from 7 to 8:30 pm– A Tribute to Richard Rodgers: An Evening of Performance and Musical History at the Brookline Adult & Community Education Program, Brookline High School, 115 Greenough Street, $5 | Event code: J193. Call 617-730-2700 or visit www.brooklineadulted.org.
“This is the music I grew up with,” says Schniewind, “And because his songs are so evocative of the past, working on this show has been a surprisingly emotional experience.” Adds Carrey, “I was familiar with Rodgers and Hammerstein’s music, but it was a revelation to learn more about Larry Hart and how powerful his lyrics are–like little short stories from The New Yorker. I also gained respect for Rodgers’ considerable creativity. He wrote music for almost 60 years and was able to collaborate successfully with two very different lyricists.”
“I love learning the history of certain shows and songs,” says McMillan, “and finding out what inspired a particular title or how many days it took them to write a certain score. It adds another layer to the songs when we perform them.
Both Carrey and McMillan perform regularly in New England. Carrey is releasing her first CD, Between the Wars, in October. McMillan’s show “Will & Company” was named “Best Cabaret Show 2001” by the Independent Reviewers of New England.