Encompass New Opera Theatre Celebrates Jerry Bock 5/18

 Encompass New Opera Theatre celebrates the 80th birthday of legendary composer Jerry Bock with a Gala Musical Salute on Sunday, May 18th 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 stars of Broadway, Television and Film, all saluting the music of Jerry Bock.

Four-time TONY Award winner Harvey Fierstein, currently starring on Broadway in "A Catered Affair", will kick off the evening with "If I Were A Rich Man" from "Fiddler on the Roof" by Mr. Bock and Sheldon Harnick.  The evening's all star line-up of performers will also  include TONY Award winner Kristin Chenoweth ("The Apple Tree" revival), Brian d'Arcy James ("The Apple Tree" revival), Sally Mayes ("She Loves Me" revival), Neva Small ("Fiddler" film), Ron Raines and KT Sullivan among others, all performing songs composed by Mr. Bock.

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.

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.

In the past, Encompass has honored Sheldon Harnick, John Kander, Charles Strouse and, last year, Jerry Herman.  

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 call (718) 398-4675 or via email at encompassopera@yahoo.com.