American Showstoppers: An Evening Of Irving Berlin

On March 6th and 7th, 2015, I presented the sixth of my "American Showstoppers" concerts – "An Evening Of Irving Berlin."  The evening featured my 14-piece Fred Barton Orchestra, and starred Karen Ziemba, Brent Barrett, Lee Roy Reams, NaTasha Yvette Williams, Karen Murphy, David Elder, and Damon Kirsche, with featured performances by Jesse Luttrell, Hannah Rose DeFlumeri, and Bruce Landry. The concert was directed & choreographed by Jason Wise.

The Fred Barton Orchestra and the "American Showstoppers" concert series are devoted to classic Broadway music, in my own arrangements reflecting the personality of each composer under discussion, and performed by the best old-school performers who are keeping alive the old art of stopping shows.  Previous evenings were devoted to the showstoppers of Harold Arlen, Jule Styne, Richard Rodgers, Jerry Herman, and Cy Coleman.

The Irving Berlin concert played to sell-out crowds at the Michael Schimmel Center in Manhattan, and the Leon Goldstein Performing Arts Center in Brooklyn.  Next season's concerts will feature the music of Frank Loesser and Cole Porter.

Top left, Karen Ziemba – "Let Me Sing And I'm Happy"
Top right, Brent Barrett – "Let's Face The Music And Dance"
2nd left, NaTasha Yvette Williams, "Slumming On Park Avenue"
2nd right, Karen Murphy – "Falling Out Of Love Can Be Fun"
3rd left, Fred Barton – "I'd Rather Lead A Band"
3rd right, Brent Barrett, Karen Ziemba, Lee Roy Reams – "Play A Simple Melody"
Bottom, Lee Roy Reams & Dancers – "There's No Business Like Show Business"
(Photos Kevin Yatarola for the Michael Schimmel Center)