The American Pops Orchestra Family!

Home , Ariana DeBose, Chain of Fools, Elaine Paige, Heart to Yours, Yolanda Adams

LOOKING TO GET INVOLVED WITH THE APO?

The APO’s Don’t Rain On My Parade (Photo by Daniel Schwartz)

Become Part of The American Pops Orchestra Family!

Your donation will support: • more than 80 musicians every year • producing our mainstage concerts • our monthly community concert series • providing free or reduced tickets to veterans, seniors, students and others • fulfi lling the APO’s mission “to inspire new audiences to discover the wealth of material in the Great American Songbook in dynamic ways”

For more information about donating to the APO, please visit theamericanpops.org/donate Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater LOOKING TO GET Fichandler Stage - September 16, 2017, 8:00 pm INVOLVED WITH THE APO? The American Pops Orchestra Presents RESPECT: The Music of Aretha Franklin

Starring Michelle Williams Featuring The APO’s Don’t Rain On My Parade (Photo by Daniel Schwartz) Moya Angela Ariana DeBose Become Part of The American Pops Nova Payton Orchestra Family! Bria Skonberg

Your donation will support: Luke S. Frazier, Music Director • more than 80 musicians every year Directed by • producing our mainstage concerts Kelly Crandall d'Amboise • our monthly community concert series • providing free or reduced tickets to veterans, seniors, students and others • fulfi lling the APO’s mission “to inspire new audiences Media Sponsor: to discover the wealth of material in the Great American Songbook in dynamic ways” Community Partners: For more information about donating to the APO, please visit theamericanpops.org/donate Victory Heights - 1 - SONG LIST

Selections to include: A Change is Gonna Come

A Natural Woman (You Make Me Feel Like)

Ain't No Way

Angel

Baby I Love You

Bridge Over Troubled Water

Chain of Fools

Day Dreaming

I Say A Little Prayer

I’m in Love

Night Time is the Right Time

Respect

Rock Steady

See Saw

Spanish Harlem

(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone

The House That Jack Built

Think

Until You Come Back To Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)

You’re All I Need to Get By

Young, Gifted and Black

- 2 - WELCOME

I’m so delighted that you’re able to join us for Respect: A Tribute to Aretha Franklin. In thinking about programming for the American Pops Orchestra’s third season, I wanted to craft programs that would help our community come together around music and artists that have been a part of all of our lives, making a difference in our hearts and minds. There is no more fitting start to a season with that mission than a tribute to Aretha Franklin. Aretha Franklin embodies so many of the characteristics that make artists great: nuance, finesse, honesty, humor, empathy and perhaps above all creating incredible art that serves as a call to action to make our world a better place. Great art inspires great cultures. I hope you can leave everything at the door as you lose yourself in this incredible lineup of artists celebrating the incomparable Aretha Franklin. So tap your feet, sing along, laugh, dance in your seat – join our APO family and join our fun!

Luke S. Frazier Founder and Conductor

@theamericanpops @TheAmericanPops theamericanpops - 3 - THE AMERICAN POPS ORCHESTRA Luke S. Frazier, Music Director Jim Kelly, Personnel Manager

Violin 1 Cello Horn Jose Cueto * Sean Neidlinger + Amy Horn + Danielle Cho Patti Hurd Trombone Simon Rundlett Bass Colin Scogi Greg Watkins + James Martin + Violin 2 Flute Percussion Chaerim Smith + Brittany Foster + Jeremy Yaddaw + Laura Frazelle Clarinet Guitar Viola Daniel Frazelle + Michael Kramer + Jim Kelly + Trumpet Elizabeth Stahr Amy McCabe + Acting Concertmaster * Principal +

- THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS - $5,000+ Luke Frazier and Robert Pullen Virginia Friend Anonymous

$2,500-4,999 Dottie Mergner

$1,000-2,499 Jim And Kathy French | Jim Kelly Peter Jarjisian and Judy Piercy Carol Melton | Charles Richardson

$500-999 Marcia and Adrian Lund | Kelley and Christopher Lund The Buffy & William Cafritz Family Foundation Inc. Arvind Manocha | Natalie Wexler & Jim Feldman The Ella Fitzgerald Charitable Foundation

$250-499 Melissa and Nicholas Apostolides | Victor Shargai Paige and Bain Ennis | Joff Masukawa | Maya Weil

- 4 - ABOUT THE ARTISTS

MICHELLE WILLIAMS MOYA ANGELA is an is a Grammy Award- international singer and winning singer/song- actress who got her writer, Broadway actress, Broadway start in The entrepreneur, designer, Lion King. Other Broad- television host, and way credits include Ghost the Musical and In Transit inspirational speaker. the Musical, in addition Since her days of making to Effie White in the hit after hit as a member Dreamgirls National Broadway Tour and of Destiny’s Child, one of the best-selling the Apollo. TV credits include “America’s female groups of all time, and then as a Got Talent” and Portia on “30 Rock.” She solo artist with four critically acclaimed is the recipient of the NAACP Theater Award albums (Heart to Yours, Do You Know, and, for her role of Effie in Dreamgirls, Unexpected and Journey to Freedom), the LA Ovation Award. Moya is a proud Williams has grown professionally and ambassador for Broadway in the H.O.O.D. personally. “Believe at Home by Michelle NPO Williams” is a collection of home products, consisting of exquisite and vibrant comforters, ARIANA DEBOSE is duvets, coverlets, sheets, and shams. currently starring on Another role that Williams has recently Broadway as Jane in taken on is that of a motivational speaker. Chazz Palminteri’s A Last spring, she was a special guest Bronx Tale, directed by speaker at a reception for Hillary Clinton, Robert DeNiro and Jerry as well as the keynote speaker at the Zaks. An original company University of Notre Dame’s “Lunch and member of Hamilton, Learn.” Williams also moderated Grammy she’s known throughout Pro’s “Up Close & Personal” panel and the Broadway community as #theBullet. was a featured speaker at the Kennedy Other Broadway credits include: Bring It On the Musical, Motown, and Pippin. Off Forum in Chicago. Broadway, she appeared in Hamilton at In addition, Williams has signed on to be The Public Theatre. TV credits include an ambassador for the Office on Women’s “Blue Bloods,” “The Breaks” for VH1, Health, a division of the U.S. Department “So You Think You Can Dance,” “Company of Health and Human Services. In 2003, On-Screen” and “Hamilton's America” Williams fell in love with the Broadway (documentary). stage after making her debut in the title role of the hit musical Aida. Next, she NOVA PAYTON has appeared in a production of The Color shared the stage with Purple, playing blues singer Shug Avery, well-known artists followed by Chicago on Broadway and including Stevie Wonder, London’s West End as Roxie Hart, and then Ashford and Simpson, Stephanie Mills, Melba the stage play What My Husband Doesn’t Moore, Yolanda Adams, Know in 2011, and national tour of the Anthony Hamilton, musical Fela! as Sandra Isadore. After Freddie Jackson, The starring in Oxygen TV’s “Fix My Choir” in Chi- Lites, The Dramatics, and Will 2014, as a mentor guiding choirs on their Downing. Nova has been on national tours musical careers, she served as a guest in 3 Mo’ Divas, Smokey Joe’s Café, and If host on “The View” and “Meredith.” This Hat Could Talk. DC theatre credits - 5 - include The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, LUKE FRAZIER, a rapidly rising star in Hairspray, Xanadu, Ain’t Misbehavin’, Black the Pops world, has proven himself as Nativity, Malik Yoba’s Acoustic Chocolate, both an innately musical conductor and 8-Track-The Sounds of the ‘70s, and J’s Jook a sensitive pianist. His commitment to Joint. Nova’s soul-stirring portrayal of Effie re-envisioning pops programming has White in Dreamgirls earned her the 2006 Barrymore nomination for “Outstanding quickly established him as a dynamic Leading Actress in a Musical.” The DVD/ force across the music community. Frazier CD for 3 Mo’ Divas received a 2010 NAACP has demonstrated his versatility and nomination. In 2012, Nova was honored range by conducting in venues both grand as the Helen Hayes Award recipient for and intimate, from Lincoln Center to her portrayal of MotorMouth Mabelle in Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center to the Hairspray at the Signature Theatre. Nova Rainbow Room. Pulitzer Prize-winning has also appeared on the Jimmy Fallon composer Marvin Hamlisch put it best, late-night talk show accompanying artist calling Frazier “so talented, and sensitive Glen Hansard. She leads and directs her to every nuance.” own choir, Favour, at St. Martin’s Catholic Church. As a testament to his mission to reimagine pops programming, Frazier founded BRIA SKONBERG is the American Pops Orchestra in 2015, a Canadian singer, presenting all original programming. His trumpeter, and song- commitment to the American Songbook writer described by The is also evident through his involvement on Wall Street Journal as the Board of the Great American Songbook one of the “most Foundation. In demand as a clinician, versatile and imposing adjudicator, and speaker, Luke recently musicians of her generation.” addressed the National Symphony Recognized as one of Orchestra’s “Summer Music Institute” “25 for the Future” by DownBeat, Skonberg is signed to Sony Masterworks’ OKeh students. He appeared as the Keynote Records, and released her debut LP, BRIA, Speaker for the National Society of Arts in 2016. It won the 2017 Canadian Juno and Letters (NSAL) Award for Excellence Award from “Vocal Jazz Album” of the year. in the Arts at the Kennedy Center and She released her latest album With A Twist also addressed the VSA, an international in May. In 2012 Bria released So Is The Day organization for the arts and disability. (Random Act Records), her first album In addition to founding the National on a US-based label, which showcased Broadway Chorus in Washington DC, he a developing flair for original songs, and presented an original program honoring also featured a duet with John Pizzarelli. the 100th anniversary of Ella Fitzgerald’s So Is The Day received rave reviews from critics, drawing comparisons to Norah birth with the DC Youth Orchestra in Jones in the New York Daily News. In 2015, Spring 2017. a year after her second album, Into Your Mr. Frazier has worked with artists such Own, was released, Skonberg received as Kevin Spacey, Darren Criss, Vanessa the Jazz At Lincoln Center Swing! Award. Williams, Liz Callaway, Brian Stokes To date, Bria has performed at some 100 Mitchell, Mo Rocca, Lea Salonga, Laura festivals worldwide. She is the co-founder of the New York Hot Jazz Camp and New Osnes, Eric Owens, Liza Minnelli, Chita York Hot Jazz Festival. Further accolades Rivera, Rita Moreno, Lindsay Mendez, include Best Vocal and Best Trumpet Renée Fleming, Michael Feinstein, awards from Hot House Jazz Magazine Christine Ebersole, Elaine Paige, Arturo (2014-15), Outstanding Jazz Artist at the Sandoval, and Norm Lewis, among many New York Bistro Awards (2014), a DownBeat others. Rising Star (2013-15), and a nominee for Jazz Journalists’ Association Up and Twitter: @LSFConductor Coming Artist (2013). www.LukeFrazierMusic.com - 6 - THE AMERICAN POPS ORCHESTRA KELLY CRANDALL D’AMBOISE (Director) founded by LUKE FRAZIER presents is thrilled to be the Resident Director of innovative orchestral programming, The American Pops Orchestra this season. featuring groundbreaking concepts to Recent work includes choreography for the develop and inspire a new audience for APO, Newsies! at Connecticut Repertory the 21st century. This professional Theatre, Urinetown at Next Stop Theatre orchestra boasts outstanding musicians and Tick,Tick... Boom! at Convergence. from New York and Washington DC. The Upcoming: You're a Good Man, Charlie American Pops presented six original Brown at Imagination Stage and Jesus orchestral programs in its opening 2015- Christ Superstar at CRT. As an Associate 2016 season, featuring leading Broadway Director and/or Choreographer, Kelly singers, dancers, and actors. Highlights has worked on numerous productions of the first season included “Stairway to including Cabaret, La Cage aux Folles, Paradise: A Gershwin Spectacular” starring The Studio, and the upcoming Crazy for two-time Tony Award winner Christine Ebersole — which was hailed by DC Metro You at Signature Theatre, The Lincoln Theater Arts for “inspired arrangements Center Hall of Fame 2017 and Babes in of beloved Gershwin songs that re- Toyland at Lincoln Center, the Broadway invigorate the material and highlight the workshop of Cheer, and productions at skill of his musicians” – and “A Broadway South Coast Rep., North Shore Music Christmas” featuring Elaine Paige, the Theatre, Westport County Playhouse, first Lady of the British Musical Stage. Trinity Rep, and Busch Gardens Entertain- APO’s second season included a 75th ment. Broadway performance credits birthday concert for Barbra Streisand, include the original company of The Boy hosted by Fran Drescher; a celebration from Oz with Hugh Jackman, Chicago, of the 80s, hosted by Olympic champion Susan Stroman's A Christmas Carol at Greg Louganis; and a special World War MSG, and the national tour of The II-era evening, commemorating Veterans Producers. Film and TV credits include A Day. Christmas Carol starring Jim Carrey and Other high-profile performances include directed by Robert Zemeckis, What Women a special event at The Kennedy Center Want, Penn & Teller's Sin City Spectacular, hosted by Tommy Tune; the Hispanic The Tony Awards, and The Academy Awards Heritage Awards, with Presidential with Robin Williams. Kelly is an Artistic Medal of Freedom winner Arturo Sandoval, Associate and Resident Casting Director which was nationally broadcast on PBS; at Signature Theatre. theatreWashington’s Helen Hayes Awards; The Giving Pledge at the Smithsonian RICKY DRUMMOND (Assistant Director): Institute’s National Museum of American DIRECTING - Signature Theatre (Assistant History; the Beacon Prize, given by Human Rights First to honor commitment to the Director- Crazy for You, La Cage Aux Folles), American ideals of freedom and human Kennedy Center (Assistant Director- Flowers dignity; and the DC Standing Ovation Stink), Hub Theatre (Assistant Director- Awards, celebrating excellence in the DC Redder Blood), Keegan Theatre (Director- Public Schools. Hamlette), Silver Spring Stage (Director- The APO made its New York debut in Stupid F***ing Bird); ACTING- Signature December 2015 at the all-star Edith Piaf Theatre (Crazy for You), Kennedy Center Centennial Celebration at The Town Hall. (Flowers Stink, Elephant and Piggie's We According to The New York Times, “As much as any individual singer, what Are In A Play), Keegan Theatre (Big Fish, warmed the evening was the sumptuous Parade, American Idiot, Dogfight), lilt of the American Pops Orchestra, Imagination Stage (Looking for Roberto conducted by Luke Frazier.” Clemente). Proud JMU alumni. Love to www.TheAmericanPops.org Emily, family, and friends. - 7 - THE AMERICAN POPS ORCHESTRA STAFF

LUKE FRAZIER JESSICA PEREZ Music Director Associate Producer

XIYI WANG JONATHAN BLALOCK Programming Associate Marketing Consultant

DAVE CROOK KELLY CRANDALL D'AMBOISE Production Supervisor Resident Director

DAN FORTUNE STEPHEN WHISNANT Media Relations Fundraising Consultant

THE AMERICAN POPS ORCHESTRA extends a special THANK YOU to

- 8 - UPCOMING PERFORMANCES

Tranquility: Yoga with The American Pops Orchestra November 10, 2017 at 6:30 PM Yoga Teacher: Michael Peterson *In partnership with the IMF and held at the IMF headquarters at 1900 Pennsylvania Ave

Around the World in 80 Days January 6, 2018 at 2 PM & 5 PM featuring: Benjamin Lurye, Nurney Mason, Hilary Morrow, Tiara Whaley

Let’s Misbehave: Cole Porter After Dark May 19, 2018 at 8 PM featuring: Liz Callaway, Kevin McAllister, Mary Michael Patterson, Mo Rocca, and many more!

Join the conversation about the APO's 3rd Season using the hashtag #A3PO on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for a chance to win free tickets to the APO's upcoming shows!

The American Pops Orchestra (APO) was founded in 2015 by Maestro Luke Frazier with the aim of breathing new life into orchestral pops programming and in- spiring new audiences to discover the wealth of material in the Great American Songbook in dynamic ways. APO is a 501(c)3 charitable organization. For more information, please visit theamericanpops.org.

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