Rarities Coming to the NY Stage - 'White House Cantata' and 3 by Grossman

Late yesterday, there were announcements about how you can catch a handful of musical rarities here in New York over the next few months. First off, the Collegiate Chorale, led by Music Director Robert Bass, will present the New York premiere of Leonard Bernstein’s and Alan Jay Lerner’s A White House Cantata, March 31st at 8 p.m. at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Rose Theater. The performance will be conducted by The Collegiate Chorale’s Music Director Robert Bass, with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s.

Now then, for clarity's sake, here's some of the information from the press release about "Cantata":

Leonard Bernstein’s A White House Cantata is fashioned from the historically controversial and short-lived Broadway musical 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, which he wrote in collaboration with lyricist Alan Jay Lerner. The latter premiered at the Mark Hellinger Theater in New York in 1976 and closed after its first week. The Estate of Leonard Bernstein later decided to adapt the musical into a concert piece. Kent Nagano conducted the Cantata’s 1997 premiere in London with the London Symphony Orchestra and the London Voices, and it was the same group that recorded the work for the Deutsche Gramophone label. Ninety minutes of the original two hours of music have been incorporated into the work.

The Cantata depicts the absurdity of period social hierarchies within the first 100 years of the United States’ executive mansion using 11 presidents, selected first ladies, and three generations of black servants while illustrating the exclusivity of the American dream amongst the white privileged class. Scenes explore issues such as Thomas Jefferson’s then-alleged affair with a black maid, James Monroe’s refusal to halt slavery in Washington, and Andrew Johnson’s impeachment, in an engaging and often witty way. Jamie Bernstein recalled, “My dad and Lerner both agreed…, that the issue of race is at the core of the American historical experience…It’s the heartache and unresolved trouble that we carry with us to this day.” She continued, “the piece was ahead of its time. They [Lerner and Bernstein] were hoping to challenge people... They were definitely pushing the envelope.”

Roger Rees returns to The Chorale as Stage Director for this semi-staged performance, which features the sopranos Anita Johnson and Emily Pulley, in the roles of Seena and the First Lady, respectively, tenor Robert Mack as Lud, and baritone Dwayne Croft as the President, as well as the Orchestra of St. Luke’s. 2008 marks the 90th birthdays of Alan Jay Lerner and Leonard Bernstein. The Collegiate Chorale is presenting the evening in honor of Bernstein’s 90th birthday.

Subscriptions and single tickets may be purchased by calling The Collegiate Chorale at (646) 792-2373 or by visiting www.collegiatechorale.org.

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Also, the York Theatre Company announced the shows that they'll be presenting as part of their next Musicals in Mufti series. The company, in June and July, will be presenting three musicals with books by Larry Grossman: Minnie's Boys (May 30-June 1), which tells the story of the Marx Brothers; Grind (June 13-15), about a Chicago burlesque house, and Goodtime Charley (June 27-29), focusing on Joan of Arc and King Charles VII.

QUICK LINKS:

Collegiate Chorale: www.collegiatechorale.org
York Theatre Company: www.yorktheatre.org