Hackney Empire Theatre, BBC Concert Orchestra, Richard Allen Centre for Culture & Arts, Roger Mazzeo and Chapman Roberts present THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO BROADWAY
Tue 16th Oct 2007 - Performance with the BBC Concert Orchestra
Thurs 18th – Sat 20th Oct 2007 - Performances with full Gospel Band
London Community Gospel Choir, Michael Terry Singers, Harlem Gospel Ensemble and Hackney Empire Gospel Ensemble
The world premier of this exciting new anthology of the
Greatest Hits of African American Sacred Music as conceived and directed by Broadway Choral director / arranger Chapman Roberts with tributes to Paul Robeson, Marian Anderson, Mahalia Jackson and other world acclaimed gospel / spiritual composers, and arrangers.
"I have attempted to condense this huge Musical Legacy into what we expect to be a 90 minute celebration of 300 years of African American Sacred Music, and its composers and singers, known and unknown. In juxtaposition to some of the finest examples of Italian religious art as a scenic background, the piece deliberately illuminates the spiritual power, religious influence, and social relevance of both art forms and the artists who employed their God Given Gifts in immortalizing the events of the Passion, thereby transmuting immeasurable pain and suffering into an elusively tangible beauty.
At first glance this particular fusion of music and art might appear unlikely. It should be reiterated, however, that the most successful Gospel musical in the history of the world was financed by the people of Italy, and in doing so they paved the way for this event of artistic parallelism which will serve to amplify the cultural prestige of the disparate societies which provided environments in which these cherished art forms where allowed to flourish." Chapman Roberts
TGATB is brought to you by Chapman Roberts – singer, actor, composer, choral conductor, and arranger. In a multi faceted 40 year career, Roberts' formidable credits include his Broadway debut in 1968 as a member of the original cast of the first rock musical hit HAIR (with Diane Keaton), and Broadways longest running musical revue SMOKEY JOE’S CAFE, (which starred R&B greats Gladys Knight and Lou Rawls and won the 2000 Grammy's for Best Broadway Cast Album), and Broadway's most successful Gospel Musical, YOUR ARMS TOO SHORT TO BOX WITH GOD (which premiered at the Spoleto Festival in 1975, was revived on Broadway 4 times and stared Patti Labelle, Al Green, Be Be Winans, Teddy Prendergast, Stephanie Mills and introduced Jennifer Holiday).
He is also the only African American actor to have played the lead role of El Gallo in The New York Production of the World’s longest running Musical, THE FANTASTICKS. His vocal arrangements for the Tony Nominated BLUES IN THE NIGHT (original production) were sung by Leslie Uggams, Ruth Brown, Freda Payne, Eartha Kit, Della Reese, Carrie Smith, and Linda Hopkins.
As one of the original creators of the Broadway and West End productions of Cameron Macintosh’s FIVE GUYS NAMED MOE, Chapman Roberts' vocal arrangements of Louis Jordan's greatest hits were pivotal in its success and winning of the highly coveted 1992 Laurence Olivier Award for best musical revue in London.
The
BBC Concert Orchestra is the UK's most versatile orchestra. Their action-packed, eclectic schedule boasts concert programmes with music from Haydn to Tchaikovsky, musicals with West End and Broadway stars to gigs alongside the Guillemots, Kasabian, Annie Lennox and Will Young. The 56 players happily switch between recording shimmering scores for TV like Planet Earth, Coast, Walking with Dinosaurs, Kombat Opera and Sports Personality of the Year to building talent and audiences of the future in schools workshops in London and the South East. The Orchestra’s Composer-in-Residence is Jonny Greenwood (otherwise best-known for his work with Radiohead).
16th October 2007 –Performance with the BBC Concert Orchestra
Tickets: £20, £17.50, £12.50
18th – 20th October – Performances with full Gospel Band
Tickets: £17.50, £14.50, £10.50
All shows start 7.30pm
