Encompass Celebrates Bock with Chenoweth and Fierstein

Encompass New Opera Theatre, which celebrates the 80th birthday of legendary Broadway composer Jerry Bock with a Gala Musical Salute on Sunday, May 18th, has announced some of the performances expected at the National Arts Club, 15 Gramercy Park South.

Nancy Rhodes, Artistic director of Encompass New Opera Theatre announced that the evening, which begins with cocktails at 6 pm, the performance at 7 pm, followed by Birthday Cake and Champagne at 8 PM, will feature four-time TONY Award winner Harvey Fierstein, TONY Award winner Kristin Chenoweth, Sally Mayes, Neva Small, Ron Raines, Brad Oscar and KT Sullivan among others, all performing songs composed by Mr. Bock.

 
The performances will include:

Harvey Feirstein singing 'If I Were A Rich Man' from Fiddler;

Kristen Chenowith singing 'What Makes Me Love Him' from the Apple Tree;

KT Sullivan singing 'Dear Friend' from She Loves Me;

Ron Raines singing 'In My Own Lifetime' from The Rothchilds;

Sally Mayes singing 'A Trip To The Library' from She Loves Me;

Neva Small singling a medley from Fiddler on the Roof;

Sheldon Harnick singing 'The Butchers Solo' which was cut from Fiddler on the Roof;

Brad Oscar singing 'Blonde Blues' from The Body Beautiful,

And The Encompass Singers: Justin Vickers, Christopher Vettel, Jody Sheinbaum, Douglas Jabara, Nita Baxani, Nadine Carey, Maeve Hoglund, Matthew Pena, Darcy Dunn, with Norman Carey at the piano will sing 'Til Tomorrow' from Fiorello!

 
Phyllis Newman Green, who understudied Barbara Harris in the original Broadway production of "The Apple Tree," and Mr. Bock's collaborator Sheldon Harnick, will offer recollections of working with Mr. Bock as well as perform.

 
Encompass New Opera Theatre is dedicated to the creation, development and production of contemporary opera and new music theatre, as well as the revival of important musical works from the 20th Century by American and international composers.  In the vanguard of companies devoted to forging a wider recognition of America's outstanding composers, dramatists and singers, Encompass has, since its inception in 1975, presented over 50 fully mounted productions with orchestra and staged readings of over 150 new works from jazz and cabaret to musicals and opera.  In 2000, OPERA America honored Encompass and its founding Artistic director, Nancy Rhodes, for 25 years of Dynamic Leadership.

 
On June 19-22, 2008, Encompass will present five performances of "Shaw Sings" at the Leonard Nimoy Thalia at Symphony Space.  The two one-act comic operas by Philip Hagemann (which are making their NYC debuts) are based on George Bernard Shaw's plays "The Dark Lady of the Sonnets" and "Passion, Poison and Petrifaction."  

 
Tickets for the Jerry Bock's 80th Birthday Celebration on May 18th are $275 for cocktails, the performance and the after-show Birthday Cake and Champagne celebration.

For reservations to the Jerry Bock Tribute on May 18th call (718) 398-4675 or via email at encompassopera@yahoo.com.