Music Theatre of Connecticut MainStage Presents I LEFT MY HEART..., 4/20-5/6

By: Apr. 04, 2012
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Music Theatre of Connecticut MainStage, Fairfield County's award-winning professional theatre company, continues the 25th Anniversary Season with "I Left My Heart... A Salute to the Music of Tony Bennett." This jazzy new tribute to the man Frank Sinatra called the greatest singer in the world is from David Grapes and Todd Olson, creators of MTC's sold-out hit "My Way," and runs April 20- May 6 at MTC Studio Theatre in Westport.

"I Left My Heart... A Salute to the Music of Tony Bennett" features over forty songs recorded by the legendary crooner, including "Steppin’ Out With My Baby," "It Don’t Mean a Thing," "The Days of Wine and Roses," "Fly Me to the Moon," "I Wanna Be Around," "Come Rain or Come Shine," "That Old Black Magic," "Make Someone Happy," "The Shadow of Your Smile," "The Good Life," "Night and Day," "The Best is Yet to Come," "Lullaby of Broadway," "As Time Goes By," "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" and many more.

"There are musical legends who have made an indelible mark on our culture, and Tony Bennett is one of them," says Kevin Connors, director of "I Left My Heart... A Salute to the Music of Tony Bennett" at MTC MainStage. "This tribute show doesn't attempt to impersoNate Bennett, but celebrates his music and style, transporting the audience to the era of supper clubs, vintage Las Vegas and the perfect martini." 

Tony Bennett was born Anthony Dominick Benedetto on August 3, 1926 and was raised in New York City where he began singing at an early age. He fought in the final stages of World War II as an infantryman with the U.S. Army in the European Theatre. Afterwards, he developed his singing technique, signed with Columbia Records, and had his first number one popular song with "Because of You" in 1951. Several top hits such as "Rags to Riches" followed in the early 1950s. Bennett then further refined his approach to encompass jazz singing. He reached an artistic peak in the late 1950s with albums such as The Beat of My Heart and Basie Swings, Bennett Sings. In 1962, Bennett recorded his signature song, "I Left My Heart in San Francisco". His career and his personal life then suffered an extended downturn during the height of the rock music era. Bennett staged a remarkable comeback in the late 1980s and 1990s, putting out gold record albums again and expanding his audience to the MTV Generation while keeping his musical style intact. Today, he remains a popular and critically praised recording artist and concert performer. Bennett has won 17 Grammy Awards (including a Lifetime Achievement Award, presented in 2001) and two Emmy Awards, and has been named an NEA Jazz Master and a Kennedy Center Honoree. He has sold over 50 million records worldwide. 

The cast of "I Left My Heart... A Salute to the Music of Tony Bennett" is Christopher DeRosa, Johnny Orenberg and Jordan Wolfe. Christopher DeRosa of Trumbull appeared as John Deacon in the NYC workshop of the Freddy Mercury musical "The Great Pretender," as well as Fabrizio in "The Light in the Piazza," Tony in "Master Class" and Lumiere in "Beauty and the Beast." Johnny Orenberg has appeared in "Cabaret" and "My Way" at MTC, as well as the NYC workshop of "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" opposite Sutton Foster and directed by Katheleen Marshall, as Algernon in "Ernest in Love" and as Link Larkin in "Hairspray." Jordan Wolfe is a Connecticut native and has appeared in NYC in "Richard III" and "Love's Labors Lost" at New York Classical Theatre, "Daddy's Boy" at Here Theatre, the first workshop for Jason Robert Brown's "13," and locally at Downtown Cabaret Theatre. 

"I Left My Heart... A Salute to the Music of Tony Bennett" is directed by Kevin Connors, who serves as Executive Artistic Director and is a co-founder of MTC. Musical direction by Max Haymer, sets by Scott Holdredge, lighting by John Anselmo, costumes by Diane Vanderkroef and stage managed by Jim Schilling.

MTC is proud to partner with Rizzuto's Wood-Fired Kitchen and Bar of Westport offering a special dinner offer to "I Left My Heart... A Salute to the Music of Tony Bennett" ticket holders. See ticket for details. 
 
"I Left My Heart... A Salute to the Music of Tony Bennett" will be performed Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm, with matinees Saturdays at 4pm and Sundays at 3pm at MTC MainStage Studio Theatre, 246 Post Road East (ColoniAl Green/Lower Level) in downtown Westport, CT. Tickets are available by calling 203.454.3883 or visiting www.musictheatreofct.com Each performance is followed by a wine and cheese reception where the audience is invited to meet the actors and production team. 

Tickets to "I Left My Heart... A Salute to the Music of Tony Bennett" are $25-$45 ($5 off for seniors and students.) Call 203.454.3883 or visit www.musictheatreofct.com

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