Join us for our season closer, featuring Maplewood's own Jim Buchanan and his incredible 20-piece big band, SWING TOWN, along with a group of guest vocalists, performing hits from the great American standards songbook and our favorite swing classics!
Performances:
Saturday, May 17th at 8pm; Sunday, May 18th at 3pm.
Venue:
The Robert V. Van Fossan Theatre
Westminster Arts Center @
Bloomfield College
Click here for directions
Tickets:
$25 General Admission, $18 Seniors/Students
To purchase your tickets online, click here.
Reservations:
Jim Buchanan (Musical Director/Conductor)
A retired music educator, Jim taught Instrumental Music in the Bloomfield Public Schools (1964-1969) and the Caldwell-West Caldwell Public Schools (1969-1997), as well as conducting the Youth Orchestras of Essex County for 21 years. As a professional musician, he performs throughout the tri-state area on the Double Bass, Electric Bass, Trombone and Tuba for symphony orchestras, jazz bands, blues bands and regional theatrical events. In 2003, he established (along with business manager Susan Dillon ) both the Maplewood Community Music Concert Band and Maplewood ’s own SwingTown, a 20-piece swing big band.
GUEST VOCALISTS INCLUDE:*
Susan Speidel
Most recently appearing with SMTW in our fall revue, Broadway Broads, she brought down the house with her renditions of "I Can Cook, Too" and "Everything's Coming Up Roses." She appeared off-Broadway in Olio, The Student Prince and King Island Christmas at Paper Mill Playhouse; in Snoopy, Dames At Sea and Cinderella at George Street Playhouse; and in Company, Nine and Merrily We Roll Along at The Forum Theatre. Regional credits include Gypsy, Nunsense, Brigadoon, Into the Woods, Hello Dolly, Annie, and Mame. She has appeared with both the Seattle and Portland Symphonies and is a frequent guest soloist with the Key West Symphonic Pops. Prior to performing her cabaret show in venues in both Florida and New York , she toured the New York/metropolitan area as the lead singer for the band, Threshold.
Blair Brown
A graduate of Montclair State University, Blair most recently performed the role of Countess Charlotte Malcolm in SMTW's critically-acclaimed production of A Little Night Music. Regional highlights include The King and I (Anna Leonowens), Master Class (Sophie, Sharon U/S) with Leslie Uggams, High Spirits (Edith, Mrs. Bradman) with Kim Zimmer, An Empty Plate in the Café du Grand Boeuf (Mimi), Fiddler on the Roof (Hodel), The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Rosa Bud), The Bourgeois Gentleman (Dorimene), The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (Helena), The Secret Garden (Rose Lennox), Titanic, The Musical (Caroline Neville), Anything Goes (Hope Harcourt), The Sound of Music (Leisl), and 42nd Street (Dorothy Brock). She also participated in the Industry reading of the Baron-Jackson-Cohen production of Frankenstein the Musical.
Sarah Partridge
Singing along to a karaoke machine on a dare is not the way most aspiring singers begin their career; however, this is how jazz singer Sarah Partridge got her start. While enjoying a successful and busy career as an actress, Partridge went to the Improv in Los Angeles with friends, to enjoy a night out. A karaoke contest began and her chums urged her to participate, just for fun. Partridge, a jazz enthusiast, reluctantly agreed and eventually found an “elevators only” version of “Summertime.” Her beautiful, rich voice captivated an L.A. booker, who assumed that she was a professional jazz singer. Before she could say “help” she found herself billed as the featured vocalist in a live jazz salute. This was not an easy accomplishment considering that she knew only ten songs all the way through. Yet, she was a smashing success and hasn’t taken a backward step from that evening on. Currently leading a bicoastal life, Sarah has been spotted entertaining audiences at many notable east-coast haunts such as, New York’s Firebird Cafe, The Hideaway, Delmonico’s, The Jazz Standard and many others. L.A. jazz spots include, Catalina’s Bar & Grill, Spazio, and the Hollywood landmark, the Cinegrill. www.SarahPartridge.com.
Ken Magos
Earlier this season for SMTW, Ken directed both A Little Night Music and L'Amour: Opera's Love Songs, and served as musical director for last fall's Broadway Broads. His onstage credits (US and Italy) include professional productions of Boris Godunov, Samson et Dalilah, Rigoletto, La Traviata, La Fanciulla del West, Rodelinda, Il Turco in Italia, Le Nozze di Figaro, The Rake's Progress, Werther, Carmen, Maskarade, The Taming of the Shrew, and Aida, as well as the US premieres of Matthus’ Song of Love and Death of the Cornet Christoph Rilke and Rihm’s Oedipus. Equally at home in musical theater, his regional credits on both coasts include leading roles in The Boys from Syracuse, My Fair Lady, Oliver!, Evita, You're Gonna Love Tomorrow, Rapunzel's Song (premiere), Sunday in the Park with George, Follies, A Christmas Carol, The Mikado, Footloose, A Midsummer Night's Dream, among others. As the founder of South Mountain TheaterWorks, he currently serves as the company's President and General Director.
Bob Mackasek
A member of SMTW's Board of Trustees, Bob most recently worked behind the scenes of SMTW's A Little Night Music, serving as both Producer and Sound Technician for the production. His performance experience includes Off-Broadway, cruise ships and regional theater. He has had principal roles in Anything Goes, My Fair Lady, Guys and Dolls, and Urinetown, and has performed in numerous musicals as a member of the ensemble. He has been performing in piano bars, singing and playing piano, for over 40 years.
* All guests artists subject to change.