If you’re a 20^th Century person (as I am) you might find the 21^st Century musical production “The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”, by William Finn (he did the music and lyrics) and Rachel Sheinkin (she did the libretto) somewhat over energized.

     The performers, although universally outstanding in their roles, send messages that one might expect to receive from a group of kids with Tourettes Syndrome with a dash of attention disorder disease (ADD) thrown in for good measure.  Yes, I know all of the characters in the musical are supposed be off-the-wall and quirky, but with no subtly there is a limit to believability and acceptance of the premise. 

     The production directed by Bob Reinhagen is produced by California Ballet Opera Company, for presentation at IPAC, the East Valley’s premiere performing venue.  The musical, choreographed by Rob Reinhagen, features an excellent ensemble cast of singer/actors, that includes:  Erik Bradley, Marissa Escobar, Dan Graff, Cynthia Leigh-Karp, Anthony Martinez, Gerardo Mota, Cydney Rothblatt, Kristin Towers-Rowles, and Shafik Wahhab.

     However, when adults play children on stage their believability meters run out of coins in a hurry.  The more childlike and petulant the behavior that is called for, the wider the gap of acceptance becomes on the part of the audience.  It’s almost a no win situation for the actors.  They work their tails off, but the payoff for all that onstage talent and energy is somehow dissipated.  And that’s a shame.

    There are truly some very talented people up there on that stage.  Erik Bradley is a mesmerizing whirling dervish of comic timing and controlled onstage movement as William Morris Barfee, the singing spelling phenom.  Kristin Towers-Rowles as Olive Ostrovsky, Bradley’s closest rival for the championship crown, is an Equity performer who knows her way around a stage.  Her Olive is well thought out and solidly performed and sung.  Dan Graff as Vice Principal Panch, is properly quirky, and full of tics, and odd behavior, just like his students, but I wouldn’t want him to be my principal.  Gerardo Mota as Mitchell Mahoney and Dan Dad (he plays two parts) has a nice voice and brings a nice quality to his two different roles.  Marissa Escobar as a speech challenged student is cleverly and appealingly performed.

     The gimmick in the show, as far as the “spelling bee” is concerned, is the use of audience members becoming part of the production, in so far as they must spell words on stage just like the real cast members.  Opening night produced four members from the audience that acquitted themselves quite nicely in the spelling department, and quickly got into the spirit of the acting thing, as well. (There’s no business, like show business, eh?)

     The scenic, and lighting design and operation by Doug Ridgeway, although a little shaky on opening night, and the sound tracks by John Salerno and Nathan Luoto, provide director Reinhagen with a cadre of technical credits and a team which will provide solid support on future IPAC productions.

     “The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” performs Fridays, Saturdays at 7 pm, and Saturday and Sundays at 2:30 pm through March 11, 2012.  For reservations and ticket information call the box office at 760-775-5200.

The Coachella Valley is Frank Sinatra country.  Both he and Dean Martin were part-time residents with many ties to the area.  Barbara Sinatra (Lady Blue Eyes) still remains a force in desert charities as Founder and Chairwoman of the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center at Eisenhower Hospital.  Both Frank and Barbara were deeply committed to helping and assisting abused children.

      Entertainer and producer Sandy Hackett, son of legendary comedian Buddy Hackett, brings his popular Las Vegas tribute show, “Sandy Hackett’s Rat Pack” to the stage of the McCallum Theatre for three performances:  Friday March 2, at 8 pm, and Saturday, March 3, at 2 pm and again at 8 pm.

     Hackett, a high-energy writer/producer/performer, is in the middle of prepping and expanding his highly successful Las Vegas Hilton Hotel show for audiences of the 1100 seat McCallum where, thanks to the invention of the cell phone, I catch him.

JL/DLN :  Is there any trepidation on your part in bringing the show to Frank’s backyard, so to speak?

SH:   “Absolutely not.  I can’t speak for the other performers, but for me, no trepidation, whatsoever.  Remember, I spent many years off and on here with my dad.  He was a very good friend of Frank, Dean, Sammy, and Joey.  I have a personal history with the Rat Pack.  The show is an homage to the talent and showmanship of these great performers”.

JL:   How does the show at the McCallum differ from the La Vegas Hilton production?

SH:   “First, we’ve expanded the show into a two act theatrical venture from the shorter casino-oriented Las Vegas format used for entertainment shows. Then, we add a swinging twelve-piece orchestra for accompaniment, which allows for a free rein, wide open, performance from the six-person cast”.

JL:   Who are your cast members for this McCallum stop on your 2012 Broadway and National Tour?

SH:   “Naturally, they’re all fabulous”…

JL:    Naturally…

SH:  “Frank is played by David DeCosta, Dean is played by Tom Wallek, Sammy is played by Dezmond Meeks, and I play Joey Bishop”.

JL:   My notes indicate there are two more important cast members.  Who are they?

SH:   “I’m glad you asked that.  Yes, there are two more key members of the cast.  They are Lisa Dawn Miller, my talented wife, who plays a character called ‘Frank’s One Love’ who gets to sing “Wasn’t I A Good Time?” and our eleven-year old son Oliver Richman, who portrays young Frank”.

JL:   Your son Oliver, as I understand it, is amazing singer who has already made an impression on the pop music world.  Tell us about him.

SH:   “He recorded a song called “Defying Gravity” from the show “Wicked”, which then went viral on the internet becoming an instant hit.  His grandfather Don Miller (Lisa’s father), the Motown songwriting legend, penned a song for him called “One Little Christmas Tree”, resulting in an invitation by Stevie Wonder for Oliver to sing the song on Wonder’s show in front of 7500 people”.

JL:   Sounds like you now have three stars in your family show business ventures.  How often, if ever, do you change the elements of the show, in order to keep it fresh?

SH: “I ad lib a lot.  No, seriously I update the show’s songs, and elements always asking myself what do I need to do to make the show more contemporary.  An idea like what if we had the Rat Pack performers come back to life in the 21^st Century? That might be interesting. That might work.  After all, they performed their acts more than sixty years ago, yet people still love to watch and hear their unique kind of humor.  I think it would be fun to hear Sammy sing, “Will I still Be Me”.

JL:   In checking video clips of past shows, I find the musical selections and the orchestrations to be just first rate.  Who is responsible for that?

SH:  “That would be Chris Hardin.  He’s a wonderfully talented music arranger out of Los Angeles”.

JL:   I believe that the audiences of the McCallum Theatre are in for a real treat on March 2 and 3.  Sandy, I want to thank you for sharing your thoughts and time with us.

SH:   “You’re most welcome and thank you.  One last thought.  I can tell you this.  ‘The Rat Pack’ show is a very funny show and the audience will leave the theatre with giant smiles on their faces”.

      No producer could ask for anything more than a happy smiling audience as they leave the theatre.  Talent and showmanship will always trump pyrotechnics and special effects.

     The Broadway and National Tour of “Sandy Hackett’s Rat Pack” show moves on to more than 40 cities on its 2012 performance schedule.  As a side bar note:  There is a Christmas and Holiday version of the show in the works for 2012.  Stay tuned … 

     For reservations and ticket information for the “Rat Pack” show call the McCallum box office at 760-340-2787.

Did you know that the Chamber provides access to local, state and regional government leaders?  Our quarterly Legislative Breakfast Updates keep our business community well-informed on legislative issues that directly affect business.

This morning Chamber Members had the opportunity to enjoy an intimate breakfast with Senator Emmerson at Heritage Palms in Indio.  Timely and relevant information was graciously served.

Famed photographer Dave McChesney was at Cabot’s Museum in Desert Hot Springs on Saturday, February 25, 2012 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. signing copies of his book Miles of Wonder. This breathtaking book has been called the best guide to the Mojave Desert – covering its natural features, wildlife, flora and fauna. McChesney lives in Joshua Tree, and some of his work is available for sale at the gift shop at Cabot’s Museum, located on Desert View in Desert Hot Springs.

“America’s Mayor” to Deliver Keynote Address at Fundraising Event

Bermuda Dunes, CA– Desert Christian Academy (DCA) will host former New York City Mayor and presidential candidate Rudolph W. “Rudy” Giuliani as keynote speaker at the Academy’s 22nd Annual Auction Gala. The event, which will take place March 3 at the Renaissance Esmeralda Resort in Indian Wells, serves as a critical support of DCA’s tuition assistance efforts.

Prior to the auction, Desert Christian Academy will host a private reception for the Coachella Valley’s elected officials. Mayors from each valley city have been invited to attend a VIP Mayors’ Reception at 4:45 p.m., with the auction following.  In recognition of Giuliani’s attendance, this year’s event is dedicated to honoring the “heroes among us”.

“Honoring valley heroes must include recognizing our local elected officials, who give of their time and talents to make this community a better place,” says Dave Fulton, Desert Christian Academy’s founder and head of school. “We’re blessed to be able to connect our local mayors with ‘America’s Mayor’ prior to the event so they can share stories and fellowship together”.

Desert Christian Academy’s Annual Auction Gala provides much needed funding for the school’s Tuition Assistance Program, which gives students from all economic backgrounds the opportunity to attend DCA. Last year’s event, which featured former First Lady Laura Bush, drew more than 600 attendees and raised more than $375,000 to help provide children all over the valley a faith-based, Christ-centered education that builds good students of great character. Desert Christian Academy is confident that Mayor Giuliani’s presence will create the same excitement, attendance and results as last year.

Located in Bermuda Dunes, California, Desert Christian Academy is home to nearly 500 students from toddlers to 12^th graders. For information on the Annual Auction Gala, or to make reservations to attend, please contact Desert Christian Academy at 760-345-2848.