(DEAL PARK, NJ) -- The Axelrod Performing Arts Center (APAC) kicks off its new Words and Music Series on August 27-28 with “Miracle of Miracles: The Words of Sheldon Harnick,” a tribute to the lyricist who won the 2016 Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theater as well as three other Tony Awards. Harnick has been writing Broadway musicals since the 1950s, including the international sensation “Fiddler on the Roof,” the Pulitzer Prize-winning “Fiorello,” “She Loves Me,” “The Rothschilds,” “The Apple Tree” and more. Through his five-decade career, Harnick has written lyrics with composers Jerry Bock, Richard Rodgers, Marvin Hamlisch, Michel Legrand, Cy Coleman and others.
Hosting the APAC concerts is New York jazz violin sensation Aaron Weinstein, who Tony Bennett calls “the Groucho of the violin,” a master musician, standup comedian, a leading advocate of jazz violin and mandolin, and an unapologetic bowtie-rights activist. Rex Reed, a frequent collaborator of Weinstein, says “(Aaron) somehow miraculously makes music exciting and keeps the audience in stitches at the same time.” Author of “Miracle of Miracles” and Artistic Director of APAC, Andrew De Prisco is “thrilled to have landed Weinstein” for the initial installation of APAC’s Words and Music Series. “Aaron is the perfect mouthpiece to tell the story of Sheldon Harnick, a theater pro who started as a violinist. Aaron is naturally witty and extremely musical and he’s an engaging and hilarious presence.”
Leading the cast of “Miracle of Miracles” are singers Deborah Murad Nesser (Deal) and Ken Wasser (West Long Branch) along with Caitlin Alongi (Springfield), Jessica Berger Vitalo (Belmar), Ian Laudano (Aberdeen) and Jeff Price (Monmouth Junction). All six singers have been nominated for Perry Awards by the New Jersey Association of Community Theaters.
In addition to popular show-stoppers such as “If I Were a Rich Man” (from “Fiddler”) sung by Ken Wasser, “Gorgeous” (from “The Apple Tree”) sung by Deborah Murad Nesser and “When Did I Fall in Love” (from “Fiorello”) sung by Caitlin Alongi, “Miracle of Miracles” will present some little-known songs from the Harnick songbook. Director Bob Angelini explains, “The audience will be surprised when they hear a song from ‘Fiddler’ or ‘Fiorello’ that’s completely new to them. Andrew has found a few songs that were cut from ‘on the road,’ as they used to say. The songs are just terrific, and we know our audience will love the performances of these lost gems.”
Host Aaron Weinstein will perform on both violin and mandolin as he joins musical director Kara Leigh, reed player Damian Cremisio, bass player Eva Svakal and percussionist Jay Mack.
APAC’s new Words and Music Series is being helmed by Artistic Director Andrew DePrisco who, for the past two decades, has been a major advocate of the American Songbook through his work with Cabaret for Life. “Taking the ‘torch’ from Manhattan’s 92nd Street Y’s long-standing Lyrics and Lyricists Series, we are proud to expand our programming to introduce our new Words and Music Series.” The plan is to feature a cast of top-notch singers accompanied by live musicians in concerts that will focus on a particular songwriter. “I’ve been a prodigious student of musical theater and American standards for a long time and I’m really excited about sharing my insights and insider tidbits with our audiences at APAC.”
“Miracle of Miracles: The Words of Sheldon Harnick” will be presented twice: Saturday, August 27, 2016 at 9:00pm and Sunday, August 28 at 3:00pm.
Tickets prices are $32 and $38. Inquire about group pricing as well. Call box office at 732-531-9106, ext 14 or go online to www.axelrodartscenter.com. Located at 100 Grant Avenue, Deal Park (Ocean Township), APAC provides ample, free parking and is completely handicap accessible. Hearing assistive devices available.
