Monthly Archives: July 2009

Now Playing!

By billalpert | Events , Studio News

Darrah Carattini-Garcia and Brandon Alpert featured as Rosie and Albert in Bye Bye Birdie (photo: Deborah Tracey Photography)

Bye Bye Birdie opens July 24 – Design: Carlos Musquez

Bye Bye Birdie is a favorite of the Broadway musical theater stage with book by Michael Stewart, lyrics by Lee Adams, and music by Charles Strouse.

Originally titled Let’s Go Steady, this satire on American society is set in 1958. The story was inspired by the phenomenon of popular singer Elvis Presley and his draft notice into the army in 1957. The rock star character’s name, “Conrad Birdie,” is word play on the name of Conway Twitty, who is remembered today mainly as a country music star but was one of Presley’s rock ‘n’ roll rivals in the late 1950s. The original Broadway production was a Tony Award-winning success. The show also became a popular choice for high school and college productions. (courtesy Wikipedia)

Come support your Alpert Studio students and alums, many of whom are participating in this family friendly production of a true Broadway classic!

Performances are Friday, July 24th, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, July 25th, 7:30 p.m., Sunday, July 26th 2:30 p.m., Friday, July 31st, 7:30 p.m., Saturday, August 1st, 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, August 2nd at 2:30 p.m. at Los Osos High School, 6001 Milliken Avenue, Rancho Cucamonga, California.

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A Month of Many Performances

By Melanie Alpert | Student News , Studio News

A hearty congratulations to all studio students who are performing at a variety of venues during this month. Leanna Arredondo made a debut performance in the title character and Evan Weinmeister was a featured perfomer in the Karousel Kids production of Annie.

Kaitlin Orr, MacKenzie Orr, Angie Harold, Zach Jacobsen and Scotty Jacobsen are featured in the Citrus College Conservatory performance of Footloose.

Appearing in the Broadway Experience production of Bye Bye Birdie (a project dear to my heart, as I am the music director), are Ariel Fazekas, Laura Musquez, Miranda Ford. Elysee Carenno, Ian Hewitt, Zeke Gonzalez, Michael Vandie, Gabi Ensil, Sabrina Bertic, David Nicholson, Marissa Henkel, Hanna Meisser, Sarah Hinrichesen, Maggie Anderson, Sarah Jackson, Michael Sturgis, Cesar Quintero, Darrah Carattini-Garcia, Chris Small and Brandon Alpert. The production opens on July 24. Additional information can be found here.

A Truly “Wicked” Master Class

By billalpert | Events

Be it an opera of Mozart or a scene from any current Broadway hit, a great score, polished singing and thoughtful acting are all integral to a convincing performance. So found a contingent of young Alpert studio students and alumni who participated in a recent master class presented by Eden Espinosa in conjunction with Broadway Experience.

Kudos to all of our students who attended and/or performed at the event. It was a great opportunity to learn from a well known performer at the top of her game. Ms. Espinosa’s insights received rave reviews from all in attendance. We’re all indebted to her as well as Sergio Mejia who led a dance workshop.

Thanks to Broadway Experience for hosting the event and to Debbie Jackson for providing the photos in this slide show.