Los Angeles Concert Preview: NOT ENTIRELY WICKED (Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles at the Saban Theatre)

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by Tony Frankel on June 20, 2013

in Theater-Los Angeles

GMCLA OFFERS NOT ENTIRELY WICKED, FEATURING STEPHEN SCHWARTZ AND LIZ CALLAWAY

In what is surely one of the busiest weekends for the arts in Los Angeles, let me help you make a decision. It’s one of those once-in-a-lifetime concert events that will not be replicated, nor will it have a long run. In fact, you have only two chances. 200+ singers of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles and the great Liz Calloway will deliver the best of Stephen Schwartz’ extraordinary output of show and movie tunes at the Saban Theatre. Equally thrilling is that you will get to hear the legendary Broadway composer himself perform several songs live and in person.

In this fully staged production entitled Not Entirely Wicked, you will also be treated to the L. A. premiere of Schwartz’ newest work, “Testimony,” a song developed in collaboration with “It Gets Better Project” creator, Dan Savage. This new choral work is about gay teens coming to terms with their sexuality and struggling with Tony Frankel's Stage and Cinema preview of Los Angeles Gay Men's Chorus's NOT ENTIRELY WICKED at the Saban in Beverly Hills.thoughts of suicide. Lyrics to “Testimony” were developed and taken from many of the videos found on the “It Gets Better Project” website. Sixteen soloists have been chosen to perform the song on-stage, with four of them coming from Outside Voices, GMCLA’s youth chorus. Executive Director Christopher Verdugo calls this number “Schwartz’s most revealing and emotional piece to date.”

That’s high praise for the man who wrote “Corner of the Sky,” “Day By Day,” “Defying Gravity,” “Meadowlark,” and “Lion Tamer,” all of which are on the program, too.* Thanks largely to his work as both composer and lyricist, both Godspell (1971) and Pippin (1972) are two of his most frequently produced shows (Diane Paulus just nabbed a Tony Award for Direction and Best Revival for the current Broadway version of Pippin), and you’ll hear selections from both by one our greatest choruses.

Tony Frankel's Stage and Cinema preview of Los Angeles Gay Men's Chorus's NOT ENTIRELY WICKED at the Saban in Beverly Hills.Yet even though they contain extraordinary songs, the majority of Schwartz’s shows have librettos with an identity crisis. Interestingly enough, many of the great numbers from Schwartz’ vast repertoire come from shows that most people likely don’t even know exist, except for Broadway aficionados, naturally. The entire universe knows of Wicked (2003), but how many of that musical’s rabid fans have seen or even heard of Mass (1971, collaboration with Leonard Bernstein), The Magic Show (1974), The Baker’s Wife (1976), Working (1977, for which he contributed four songs), Rags (1986, composer Charles Strouse), Children of Eden (1991), or My Fairytale (2005, reviewed here), to name a few? Even Snapshots: A Musical Scrapbook (see the review of the 2011 Chicago production here) — a curious new hybrid-musical with a strange libretto built around songs lifted from 12 of his previous shows — was saved by his gloriously accessible melodies and smart lyrics.

Tony Frankel's Stage and Cinema preview of Los Angeles Gay Men's Chorus's NOT ENTIRELY WICKED at the Saban in Beverly Hills.And who better to sing these tunes than Broadway showstopper Liz Calloway? Her famous rendition of “The Story Goes On” from Baby earned her a Tony nomination, and just the fact that she made her Broadway debut in the original cast of Merrily We Roll Along (1981) makes her a legend in my book. Her singing voice has brought to life classic animated characters, and we’ll be hearing songs from Schwartz’ oeuvre in that medium, including Enchanted, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Pocahontas (all composed by Alan Menken) and The Prince of Egypt.

San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus’ Dr. Timothy Seelig (who will be conducting the world premiere of “I am Harvey Milk” in S.F. next week), will lead the L.A. chorus in both songs and medleys. Yes, the LAGMC has got magic to do. Knowing how great they are, perhaps they’ll even defy gravity.

Not Entirely Wicked
Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles
Dr. Timothy Seelig, Guest Conductor (San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus)
Stephen Schwartz, Special Guest
Liz Callaway, Special Guest

presented by Wells Fargo

Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills
Saturday, June 22, 2013, 8 PM
Sunday, June 23, 2013, 3 PM
a VIP reception with Stephen Schwartz will follow each performance
for tickets visit GMCLA http://www.gmcla.org/gmcla-not-entirely-wicked/

*program/artists subject to change

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