en

charm imitation van white necklace price? from loersertydass's blog

'Memphis' at Oaklyn's Ritz Theatre

Almost two hundred years ago, German composer Ludwig van Beethoven wrote, "Music should strike fire from the heart of man and bring tears from the eyes of woman," but the thrillingly energetic musical "Memphis," directed by Bruce A. Curless now playing at Oaklyn's Ritz Theatre through February 5, shows that music may bring both fire and tears to people of either sex.

The show by David Bryan and Joe DiPietro, which won four Tony Awards including best musical and had a Broadway run of over 1100 performances, tells the love story of Felicia Farrell (played alternately by Vedra Chandler and Tiara Greene) and Huey Calhoun (played by both Matt Reher and Abia Johnson), a character based loosely on the career of a real life DJ named Dewey Phillips, but the progress of their love story is complicated by society's segregationist rules and racial prejudices as well as who they are and how they face the changes that time brings.

Huey, an illiterate stock boy at a department store in Memphis in the 1950's, is driven by his love of music and a need to share his music with others. What he loves best is rock and roll that he's heard at Delray's black bar on Beale Street where he meets and flirts with Felicia, an aspiring singer and the owner's younger sister. To impress her, Huey promises to get Felicia on the radio. His first objective then is to find a DJ job.

Most station managers aren't interested in breaking barriers or hiring newcomers who advocate black music, however enthusiastic they may be, but Mr. Simmons (Glen Funkhouser) agrees to give Huey a trial. When teenagers call in demanding more of Huey's music and an advertiser realizes Huey's overwhelming success at selling his beer, Huey sees his chance to keep his promise to Felicia.

Meanwhile, Delray (Darryl Thompson, Jr.) has saved enough money to cover recording Felicia's first single, but Huey's racially prejudiced mother Gladys (Tasha Waters) breaks the record, and Huey risks all by having Felicia perform live on his station. She becomes an instant hit. Her acceptance could be the first stirrings of musical and racial change, but that won't be easy since both Huey and Felicia face opposition at home, and society never accepts change without struggle.

In Act Two, Huey and Felicia are both enjoying popularity but have given up on their plans to marry. Huey's the host of a teen TV music show featuring all black dancers and a new singer named Bobby (Devon Sinclair) who ignites the crowd with his song called "Big Love," but Huey resists Felicia's suggestion that they go to New Yok where their chances of success are greater. From there, the story continues to illustrate the tradition of true love never running smooth.

This bright, brash musical, which replica Van Cleef & Arpels Clover Necklace white diamond actually began its national tour in Memphis, demanded performers who had both musical and dramatic skills, so casting wasn't easy. Benita Famer who acted as the production's vocal music director participated in the auditions which had a hefty turnout. Musical styles required by Bryan's varied score, which has a best selling original Broadway cast recording on the Rhino label and a London cast version on First Night Records, range from blues, rock, gospel and ballads to girl group pop, and it was Famer's job to be sure that every performer in the cast of over twenty was comfortable whatever musical styles their roles demanded. Creating a solid ensemble sound was her greatest responsibility. As Famer put it, "The sound must be solid because, in this show, the music comes from the heart, and the songs are part of the plot. The show goes forward rather than stops because of each song.

"I teach music and voice, and I'm always on the lookout for opportunities like auditions for my own pupils since many of them are so talented, but the characters in this show are all older than my students who are in grades six to twelve," said Famer, "although some of my kids have actually sung a few of the songs from the score in class or as audition pieces. Numbers like 'Someday,' or 'Colored Woman' are good, solid songs that can show off a singer's ability and deserve a life outside the show."

Famer and most of the cast members in this production, like Vedra Chandler who plays Felicia, are new to the Ritz. Camden born Chandler, who has a degree in government from Harvard University, is no stranger to vibrant musicals and her resume lists shows like "Hairspray," "Aida," "All Shook Up," "High School Musical" and "Cirque du Soleil."

"I saw the show in London's West End when I was with one of the shows I toured with, and although the dancing was amazing and the set gorgeous, there was something missing. This is a very American show, and I can certainly understand why people get excited about beautiful van cleef necklace clover replica it and why it won so many awards like the Tony. Yes, it has its negative aspects like segregation and prejudice, but it's also very much a celebration of possibilities and those even greater possibilities when changes happen," said Chandler who is really enjoying playing Felicia.

"Felicia is a sincere, talented woman who feels safe in her brother's nightclub where her work is appreciated, but, because of her time and place, she realizes that her choices are few. Her brother Delray is really trying his best to get her more career options, but, in the beginning, there's not a lot of polish to her singing although there's a Clover flower van cleef necklace replica great amount of heart," said Chandler who explained that Felicia has difficult career choices to make in the second act that her previous experiences may not have prepared her for.

"I've been listening to songs that tell stories my whole life," said Chandler, "and that's why my favorite song in the score is 'Love Will Stand When All Else Fails" in act two. My dad was always a fan of the blues and didn't like disco or many of the other musical forms that came along over the years, so I'm right at home with Felicia's music."

The Wall

No comments
You need to sign in to comment