The Lyric Theatre Presents Nestor Torres, Strega Nona And More

Nestor Torres runs Friday, October 8th - 7pm. If a flute could sing, it would be in the voice of Nestor Torres.

A fixture on the music scene for over two decades, Torres has redefined the flute's role in contemporary music with his signature electric mix of Latin, jazz, pop and R&B. His powerful, high-energy performances are renowned for bringing audiences to their feet.

Torres, a Latin Grammy Award winner, has been a favorite on smooth jazz radio for years, yet his music defies categorization. He describes it as "rich in melody, and soaked in inspiration."

Torres began playing the flute at age 12 in his native Puerto Rico, and was classically trained at the Mannes School of Music and the New England Conservatory of Music. But he credits his sense of melody and timing from playing Cuban dance music, or charanga. "In charanga, the flutist improvises a great deal - the focus of his solos is to make people dance," he explains.

In addition to his impressive solo career, Torres has performed alongside jazz giants like Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter, and Latin music icons Tito Puente and Gloria Estefan.

His sold-out concert at the Lyric last season - the culmination of his one-week residency working with music students throughout Martin County - rocked the house. You won't want to miss what promises to be another powerful performance!

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Strega Nona
Sunday, October 10th - 2pm & 5pm

Based on the beloved children's books by Tomie dePaola, Strega Nona: The Musical is the tale of a friendly, magical witch who works to cure the everyday ills of the tiny Italian town of Calabria. When she looks for someone to help her with chores around the house, a young local resident, Big Anthony, responds to her advertisement.

One day, Big Anthony sneaks a peek at Strega Nona's magic book and uses his newfound knowledge to conjure pasta from her magic pasta pot. But Anthony doesn't know how to turn the pot off, and pasta threatens to engulf the entire town! Only Strega Nona can save the day.

This lively musical features a fresh, original score by Aron Accurso and an enchanting set design inspired by the Strega Nona pop-up book. It illustrates the importance of the saying, "Be careful what you wish for, lest it come true," and also demonstrates that you can't judge a pot by its pasta!

Strega Nona: The Musical is actually the fusion of three of Tomie dePaola's cherished books: "Strega Nona," "Strega Nona Her Story" and "Big Anthony and the Magic Ring." This delightful live theatrical performance is wonderful family fare, and is ideal for children ages four to nine.

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Up Close and Personal: A Tribute to Frank Loesser
October 11th & 12th - 7pm

He's has been called the most versatile of Broadway's composer/lyricists. But long before his Broadway successes, Frank Loesser was known for the dozens of hit songs he'd created in Hollywood, including "Baby, It's Cold Outside." He even penned lyrics to wartime tunes, such as "Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition."

On the stage, his hit shows include "Guys and Dolls," "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," "The Most Happy Fella," "Greenwillow" and "Where's Charley?"

Loesser received many honors throughout his lifetime, including the Pulitzer Prize, two Tony Awards and an Oscar. It's likely, though, that he'd be most honored to know how his music has survived and thrived throughout the decades. The timelessness of Loesser's work is evidenced by the success of scores of revivals of his shows over the years - including the 50th Anniversary Revival of "How to Succeed in Business" starring Harry Potter's Daniel Radcliffe back on Broadway this spring.

The Lyric is honored to host this tribute concert, which was originally performed at the Kennedy Center in May 2010 to celebrate the centennial of Loesser's birthday. The star-studded gala features Broadway's brightest stars, Susan Egan, Ron Raines and Loesser's daughter, Emily, as they illuminate his lifetime spent creating gems for the stage.

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Due to circumstances beyond our control - We have to cancel our November 28th Performances of Billy Dean - for questions or a refund please contact the box office at 772-286-7827

Marcos Vega Roots! If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and Other Story Books
772-286-7827 or www.lyrictheatre.com
(772) 286-7827
www.LyricTheatre.com

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