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Bios on individual artists available upon request
PASADENA, Calif., March 13, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The stars are coming out to play this summer with Principal Pops Conductor Michael Feinstein and the Pasadena POPS and their one of a kind, simply cannot miss popular outdoor summer concert series at the Los Angeles Arboretum. Coming off the heels of last summer's critically acclaimed concerts to record breaking crowds, Feinstein and the Pasadena POPS are taking the popular series to new heights. Artists include Laura Osnes ("Cinderella" and "Bonnie and Clyde"), Norm Lewis ("Les Misérables" and "Porgy and Bess"), Julia Goodwin (2013 Great American Songbook Youth Ambassador), composer/host Tena Clark, Dionne Warwick (five-time Grammy Award winning music legend), Michael Feinstein (to sing Gershwin for one night only), powerhouse singers Maureen McGovern, Patti Austin, stars of stage and screen Kevin Earley, Liz Callaway ("Anastasia and "Aladdin"), Jeremy Jordan ("Smash"), plus special appearances by Debby Boone, Alan Bergman and pianist Armen Guzelimian.
"The Pasadena POPS has quickly become the premier presenter of the Great American Songbook in the orchestral arena with virtuoso musicians delivering definitive performances of great songs in classic arrangements, sparklingly orchestrated to carry a freshness and excitement that always galvanizes the audience," says Feinstein adding "the shows are a combination of Broadway and Hollywood, glitz and dazzle, with tremendous musicianship and talent. It's a rare chance to hear the music performed this way, at one of the most beautiful outdoor concert venues anywhere."
"Feinstein's gracious enthusiasm, like the giant projection screens framing the band shell, indicated that this summer series is ready for the big time. Certainly, the orchestra, in its detailed precision and technical aplomb, is a first-rate entity, and its endearing maestro is a perfect fit." - Los Angeles Times
"What Michael brings to the Pasadena POPS, through his personal music collection and decades of curating the hidden jewels of the Great American Songbook, cannot be heard anywhere else in the world, much less the United States, and we don't make that claim lightly," states Paul Jan Zdunek, Chief Executive Officer of the Pasadena Symphony Association.
The Pasadena POPS Sierra Acura Summer Concert Series begins on Saturday, June 7 with Feinstein's Favorites; a showcase of music by Harry Warren, Richard Rodgers, Nelson Riddle, Henry Mancini, Alfred Newman and a world premiere of Andre and George Previn's most expensive demo ever made. As Feinstein explains, "the opening concert of the summer is my way of introducing the audience into my musical world with a grab bag of more than a few of my favorite things." Broadway sensations Laura Osnes and Norm Lewis join in the fun with original charts from the Peggy Lee and Judy Garland archives that can't be heard anywhere else.
Tena Clark's Leading Ladies of Song on June 28 brings acclaimed composer/producer/songwriter Tena Clark ("My Best Friend's Wedding," "Hope Floats," "Where The Heart Is," and "Desperate Housewives") with Dionne Warwick, Sheléa Frazier, Sara Niemietz, resident conductor Larry Blank and a few more of her favorite celebrity guests to the Arboretum stage to perform Tena's slice of the Great American Songbook including "I Believe," "Way Up There," "Walk the Line," "What Makes You Stay," "Break the Chain," "Reservations for Two," plus "What the World Needs Now," and more.
Michael Feinstein SINGS Gershwin on July 19 - Five-time Grammy nominee, two-time Emmy nominee and multi-platinum-selling recording artist Michael Feinstein puts the baton down for one night only to sing a full concert celebrating the Gershwin Songbook with "'S Wonderful,' "Shall We Dance," "I've got a Crush On You," "Nice Work If You Can Get It,' "Fascinating Rhythm," "Rialto Ripples," "An American in Paris Overture," a tribute to Fred Astaire and a cross-section of the finest cross section of the finest Gershwin songs with a few surprises thrown in…because, after all, he is Michael Feinstein.
Hooray For Hollywood on August 16, comes to life from the archives of Warner Bros., 20th Century Fox, Columbia Pictures and Disney with "42nd Street," "The Sound of Music," "Funny Girl," "Mary Poppins" and gems from composers Erich Korngold, David Raksin, Elmer Bernstein and more. Special guests Debby Boone ("You Light Up My Life") and Alan Bergman join powerhouse singers Maureen McGovern and Kevin Earley to relive classic Hollywood with Michael Feinstein and the Pasadena POPS.
On September 6, New York! New York! is the perfect way to end the summer with the snap swagger and energy that captured Gershwin, Bernstein, Porter, Sondheim and thousands of other songwriters through the years. Grammy Award winner Patti Austin, Liz Callaway, and Jeremy Jordan deliver hit songs from New York musicals such as "West Side Story" and "On the Town," along with music from "Street Scene," "Harlem Nocturne," " Lullaby of Broadway," "Here's to Life" and so much more.
The family-friendly concerts will be held at the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden. Grounds open for picnicking and dining at 5:30 p.m. and performances begin at 7:30 p.m. Among many venue amenities, audiences can enjoy pre-ordered gourmet dining packages for on-site pickup just steps from your table from Julienne, Marston's, and Claud & Co.; the food court will host mouth-watering food trucks plus specialty ice creams by Choctal. The experience is now even more convenient with two full beverage centers serving fine wines, beer, coffee and soft drinks plus exclusive hotel packages for POPS patrons at Pasadena's landmark Langham Huntington Hotel. Patrons may also visit the Pasadena Humane Society's Mobile Adoption Unit, which will be on-site prior to each concert with deserving animals in need of a forever home as part of the Pups for POPS program.
Audiences get the ultimate outdoor concert experience: large LED video screens, superior sound quality and the high-quality production value that is a signature of the Pasadena POPS. The best outdoor dinner party in town comes with spacious circular table seating with fine linens, or lawn seating for those who want to bring a blanket – each option carries on the tradition of picnic-dining with your family and friends. The Arboretum is located at 301 North Baldwin Ave., Arcadia, CA. Single tickets starting at $20 and season subscriptions starting at $100 are now on sale and are available by calling the box office at (626)-793-7172, online at PasadenaSymphony-Pops.org or at the Arboretum on the day of the concerts.