BWW Interviews: Luke Frazier of DON'T RAIN ON MY PARADE: 75 YEARS OF BARBRA STREISAND with The American Pops Orchestra

By: Jamie McGonnigal Jan. 11, 2017

We've all got our divas. And Luke Frazier is no different. He's going to be spending this Friday night celebrating that Funny Girl, Barbra Streisand for her 75th birthday.

A few years back, seeing an opportunity to create something new in the DC region, with a commitment to re-envisioning pops programming, he launched the American Pops Orchestra.

Having already founded the National Broadway Chorus, which toured nationally, he passed the baton and started his new venture.

Currently in it's second season, the American Pops Orchestra has already made it's mark in the DC area with performances at the Kennedy Center, the Helen Hayes Awards, and the National Museum of American History.

Joined by Broadway and concert stars Laura Osnes (Two time Tony Award nominee; Cinderella, Bandstand), Amber Iman (Shuffle Along, Soul Doctor), Will & Anthony Nunziata (Carnegie Hall, New York Pops), Lindsay Mendez (Wicked, Significant Other), and hosted by the silver-throated Fran Drescher, the tribute will feature exciting arrangements of some of the songs made famous by Ms. Streisand.

I asked Luke to pick some of his favorite Barbra moments from YouTube and here are his top picks:

Beyoncé - The Way We Were (in honor of Barbra Streisand)

I love this link because it's a classic song sung by the imitable Beyonce to Barbra, such a great tribute to an amazing woman. This song is also particularly special because of my opportunity to work with the composer-Marvin Hamlisch-while I was in college. What really speaks to me is this is kind of what we're doing in our show - other people doing interesting new takes on iconic pieces. It's what our orchestra is all about. Also, it's Beyoncé and it's just so memorable. It's so similar to what we do - we don't have a Beyoncé budget, but this is the heart of what we do.

Barbra Streisand with Melissa McCarthy - Anything You Can Do

This is a pairing of two of my favorite artists, they are both so incredibly talented. I also love in this clip the opportunity to see Barbra a little more behind the scenes. Melissa has always cracked me up and I love that she also has such a great voice. I love how each of them focus on having so much fun with this iconic piece. She's truly one of my favorite comedians. She's obviously not a singer, but she does a great job on this song. I love it, it's two iconic women singing a great song.

Judy Garland AND Barbra Streisand - Happy Days Are Here Again

What's better than Barbra and Judy? This is one of the first pieces that made me fall in love with Barbra. Truly a pairing of two of the greatest voices. This is one of the first recordings I remember hearing and connecting it with Streisand. My parents were of a later generation and didn't listen to Streisand around the house. It wasn't until I got into college that I started really appreciating her. For our concert we have the Nunziata brothers doing it, so it will be male voices instead of female on it - I think it's going to be really beautiful.

My Man - FUNNY GIRL - Barbra Streisand

I love this piece because of the evolution of the character and vocal style, the shift from plaintive and small to so grand and dramatic is so thrilling. A typical Streisand piece, it starts out so small, and ending in this huge climax. I just conducted for Jazz at Lincoln Center and we did this piece and it was just incredible. Laura Osnes is singing this in our concert.

Fifty Percent - BALLROOM - Barbra Streisand

This song shreds me every time. The lyrics by the incomparable Marilyn and Alan Bergman are truly heart wrenching. I can listen to this song over and over and find more and more to get out of it. In my opinion, Barbra's performances of this piece are truly the definitive recordings. One of my favorite tearjerking rip-your-heart-out pieces. I was introduced to it by Bea Arthur's one woman show on Broadway. This just comes together so beautifully. This song is unfortunately not in our concert, but Laura Osnes will be singing "What Matters Most" - it's really warm and tender - our "We Are The World" moment at the end of the show.

Luke Frazier and THE AMERICAN POPS ORCHESTRA present Don't Rain on My Parade: 75 Years of Barbra Streisand on Friday, January 13, 2017 at 8:00 PM The George Washington University's Lisner Auditorium, 730 21st Street, NW, Washington, DC; For tickets, call the box office at (202) 994-6800 or visit: http://theamericanpops.org/tickets/dont-rain-on-my-parade/

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