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EASTERN HILLS JOURNAL — WeHnt*»d»y, July IS, 193 — 5Music Hall exudes a ‘carousel’ of melodiesLast week, we inadvertently transposed ECCOl soprano's name. Its Denise Coffey, so wonderful in the English student matinees of Rigoletto who sings “perky, pesky” Despina in CO’s “Cost fan Tutti this week. Be sure to catch Cincinnati Opera’s “Coal fan Tutti at Music Hall July 14 and 16, with a live WGUC broadcast on the 16th at 8 p.m. It’s a delightful Mozartean romp with an engergetic, talented young cast. Ruth de Blasts previews it engagingly each night at 7:16.After four hits in the opera's Summer Festival, it’s fun to anticipate the musical theater portion of the season: “Carousel July 21-23 and “The Music Man July 27-31. The bracketing of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s poignant, bittersweet “Carousel with Meredith Willson’s exuberant tale of the 76 trombones is another James de Blasis magic stroke. Union Central Life Insurance Co.sponsors the musicals, which licHshould pack Music Hall.“Carousel is based on Ferenc Molnar’s popular play “Liliom,”which broke audience hearts with Joseph Schildkraut and Eva Le Gallienne on Broadway in 1921 and 1932, then repeated its success starring Burgess Meredith, and Ingrid Bergman in 1946. Rodgers and Hammerstein reset the Hungarian carnival locale in a late-19th century coastal New England town and embellished it with Virginia creepers, fishing smacks, lobsters and clambakes. When it opened in New York in 1946, John Raitt and Jan Clayton headed the fine.cast, and. the 1966 Hollywood flicker with Gordon. McRae and Shirley Jones packed movie houses.IT’S THE love story of a rough carnival barker, Billy Bigelow, played in CO’s production by Ryan Edwards (remember his Scarpia and Iago?) who marries innocent, lovely Julie Jordan, Carolann Page in our production. She was marvelous in last season’s “The Merry Widow.Billy is killed in an attempt at robbery to provide for his wife and expected child, but can’t get into heaven unless he performs a good deed. What happens 15 years laterTreble and bass*»yCharlotte Shockleywhen he returns to earth and meets his shy, lonely daughter is the tender, surprise climax of the show.Lili Chookasian, outstanding in three roles in “II. Trittico and chilling in “The Medium, plays the understanding Netti. Fowler. Harlan Ross is Bill's shiftless sailor friend Jigger, while ECCO’s Pamela Kalt and Randy Locke appear as Carrie and Mr. Snow. Subbing Robert C. McSpadden doubles as Dr. Seldon and The Heavenly Carousel keeper Pat VanOver is Mrs. Mullin, Kimberly Hunt portrays Louise and Richard Cohen cavorts as Enoch Snow Jr.It’s really an enchanting story, first realistic, then it turns tragic and finally becomes a fantasy, ending with the inspirational You’ll Never Walk Alone. Other hum-mables are “If I Loved You, What’s the Use of Wond’rin'? “When the Children Are Asleep, the rollicking June is Bustin' Out All Over, the tender-teasing Mr. Snow, the robust “This Was a Real Nice Clambake and Billy's “Soliloquy, a dramatic high point in the score. Ever since we sang this music with Burt Farber on the old WLW Evening at Crosley Square show, we’ve cherished every note.Jam.es de Blasis directs, Byron Dean Ryan conducts and famed choreographer Dennis Cole puts the dancers through their Agnes de Mille paces in the July 21-23 “Carousel production, with imaginative sets by Jay Depenbrock. Call 721-8222 for tickets.MAY FESTIVAL Chorus auditions are set for July 16, 16, 22. 23 and 24 in Room B-36 of CCM. Call Sally Martin. 475-2696. to schedule your time. Vocal Arts Ensemble is also auditioning at CCM in Room A-9 July 16 and 18. Call 851-0643 for details. Oil those vocal chords and tune up your scales.Periscoping: CCM presentsthree performances of Ensembles of the Summer Music .Institute July 16. Call 476-2683. Don’t forget Morton Gould’s on the podium July 14 at 6 p.m. at Corbett Auditorium, conducting the Congress of Strings Orchestra. WGUC and WCET simulcast the first Boston Pops July 17, 8 p.m.Veteran band leader Earl Snapp paces his 50-piece symphonic band in free family outing concerts in. Cincinnati parks July 13*17 with soprano Harriet Beebe as soloist in Cole Porter and Victor Herbert tunes. Concerts are at 7:30 p.m. July 13 at Stanberry Park, July 14 at Rapid Run Park and July 17 at Burnet Woods.A special guest carillonneur, Janet S. Dundore of St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church. Whitemarsh, Pa., plays the tintinnabulating Mariemont Carillon July 17, 7 p.m.WHILE LISTENING to Leontyne Price singing The Star-Spangled Banner via WCET on July 4. we were reminded of another fine soprano. Nadine Waters of Wyoming, Ohio, who performed our national anthem forRyan Edwardsmany Reds games and, until this year, at the Wyoming July 4 parade and ceremonies. She’s asked us to tell her friends she was ready and able, but the calLdidn’t cotoe for her services.n/i •11WVVf riski.
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