NEWS FROM
BAY MUSICAL ARTS AND THE BIJOU ORCHESTRA
Leo Najar, artistic director

PO Box 336, Bay City Michigan, 48707
BOX OFFICE: (989) 892-4200  www.bijouorchestra.org

February 15, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For information, contact KATHLEEN SCOTT (989) 892-4211

"BEEHIVE"
A Showcase of Songs From the Hottest Girl Groups of the 60’s

If you remember the female soloists and groups of the 1960’s, then you have to see this show. If you’re too young to remember Connie, Brenda, Tina and Aretha, then you really have to see this show. And if you never cared much for the music of the era, this show might just change your mind if you give it one more chance. Bay Musical Arts is proud to continue its 2005-06 off-Broadway series with Beehive, the 60’s musical review. The show recreates 40 of the best songs sung by the decade’s most popular artists, all accompanied by a six-piece rock band. The performances take place at on March 10 and 11 at 8PM and March 12 at 2PM in Bay City’s historic State Theatre. Performances are sponsored by SC Johnson and Dow Corning Company.

“As the old saying goes, the hits just keep on coming,” says artistic director Leo Najar. “Beehive is a non-stop collection of some of the greatest hits sung by women of the 1960’s. Just about everybody is represented by something here. The show proceeds in a mostly chronological way through several themes. The opening numbers reflect the innocence of the beginning of the decade. Some of these early songs include My Boyfriend’s Back, Remember (Walking in the Sand and Academy Award.  This “Girl Groups” section covers songs by The Supremes, The Chiffons, Patti Labelle and the Bluebelles, the Shirelles and the Shangri-las.  Leslie Gore’s Christmas Party is next, and includes Rockin’Round The Christmas Tree, Where The Boys Are, and many others.”

The British Invasion follows with Downtown, Don’t Sleep in the Subway, and several more. The act ends with Sonny and Cher’s Beat Goes On, as an introduction to the changing environment of the later part of the decade.

Act II brings us the strong voices of the divas of the later 60’s. As songs made popular by Tina Turner, Janis Ian, Aretha Franklin and Janis Joplin follow one upon another, we begin to see women in a new light as leaders of society and symbols of the power of women black and white alike. Favorites from this set include Proud Mary, Respect, A Natural Woman, Me and Bobby McGee and Piece of My Heart among many others.

“I love this show,” says Kathy Wagner, the show’s director. “The rich variety of music allows the cast of five women to explore many levels of expression and emotion during the show. This is fun for us as actors and as singers. The pops musical scene was an era of highly choreographed dancing of many different kinds. Television gave us Hullabaloo and American Bandstand and who can forget the suave movements of the Motown artists of the era?” Wagner has previously directed The World Goes ‘Round and I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change” for Bay Musical Arts. “Better Than Vegas” productions, a professional theater company based in Grand Rapids. She is a frequent performer on orchestral pops concerts, and her recordings include Taking a Chance on Love, I Love a Piano, and Not Since Prom.

Audience participation is also a part of this show, and the music is driven by a six piece band that plays from the center of the stage. “We’re looking forward to that,” says Leo Najar. “Up until now, our musicals have been played by a conventional theatre orchestra. This one is different. We get to be a full-out rock and roll band. I used to play in rock and blues bands when I was in high school, and it will be fun to get back into that kind of playing again after all these years.”

Bay Musical Arts is the only professional theatre company dedicated exclusively to the production of off-Broadway musical theatre in Michigan. Actors are drawn from throughout the Midwest and New York. Musicians are also members of The Bijou Orchestra, a unique professional theater orchestra operated by Bay Musical Arts, which presents a concert series in Bay City along with additional performances around the state.

Reserved Seats are available for $22 ($15 for students with ID). Seating in unreserved area may be purchased for $15, with student tickets available for $11. Group rates are available. Tickets may be purchased online at www.BijouOrchestra.org , by phone at (989) 892-4200 or in person at the Bay Musical Arts Box Office: 917 Washington Avenue, Bay City, Michigan, 48708. Box-office hours are 1PM—5: 00PM Thursday through Friday.

BMA is supported in part by grants from the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs, the Kantzler Foundation, the Russell H. & Maxine E. Smith Foundation, and the Bay Area Community Foundation. Major corporate contributors include the SC Johnson Corporation, Labadie Auto Company, Dow Chemical, Dow Corning, Bay Regional Medical Center, OmniSource and Thelen Auto Group.

NEWS FROM THE BIJOU ORCHESTRA
Leo Najar, artistic director
PO Box 336, Bay City Michigan, 48707
BOX OFFICE: (989) 892-4200
www.bijouorchestra.org

January 9, 2006
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For information, contact KATHLEEN SCOTT (989) 892-4211

CANDY IS DANDY…
The Bijou Orchestra Presents the Sounds of Romance

Everyone’s doing it and always have. They’ve always sung love songs and written romantic music and The Bijou Orchestra will sample that rich variety in their next concert entitled Candy is Dandy. It will be performed on February 11 at 8PM and February 12 at 2PM in the historic State Theatre in downtown Bay City. The concert is the second of three in the “Labadie Bijou Pops Series at the State” sponsored by Labadie Auto Company of Bay City.

“Trying to select a few good love songs is like picking your favorite snowflakes,” says Leo Najar, artistic director for the orchestra. “There are millions of choices. I’m sure the very first songs ever created were ‘written’ by men trying to attract women and women trying to attract men.
The supply of great romantic music covers every style imaginable, from Cole Porter to Patsy Cline and La Boheme to the Beatles. We can’t do it all, of course, but we are going to present a boutquet of choices that are certain to be a treat for orchestra, singers and audience.”

Covering this variety of music requires a cast with a broad range of specialtys. Tenor Scott Sowinski returns to the Bijou after his smash performance in Flivvers and Flappers in October 2005. A Metropolitan Opera competition finalist, he has been heard in Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and the Kennedy Center in Washington. Opera is not his only strength, however, for he has also been a recipient of the Spirit of Broadway Award. Soprano Jennifer Stellema comes to the Bijou from the Grand Rapids area. She was last heard in the tri-county region in the Michigan premiere of Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Oratorio given under the direction of Leo Najar in 1996. Molly McFadden was a noted New York cabaret singer before she moved to the tri-county area and is now heard regularly in performance at Molly’s Bistro a restaurant and cabaret which she co-owns with her husband in Midland. Baritone Rob Clark is a favorite with Bijou audiences. Well-known in the region as both singer and a director, his February appearance will be his fourth with The Bijou.

The Bijou will also be heard in orchestral numbers, “From many eras,” says Leo Najar. “We live in an era when most people think of music as being almost exclusively vocal. But music history is filled with pieces that make their romantic intent clear without ever using a word.”

Remaining programs in the season include a performance with the internationally renowned accordion and bayan virtuoso Peter Soave on April 1 and 2. The Off-Broadway Series presents Beehive, The Musical March 10—12.

Reserved Seats are available for $22 ($15 for students with ID). Unreserved seating may be purchased for $15, with student tickets available for $11.
Group rates are available. Tickets may be purchased online at www.BijouOrchestra.org, by phone at (989) 892-4200 or in person at the Bay Musical Arts Box Office: 917 Washington Avenue, Bay City, Michigan, 48708.
Box office hours are 1-5PM Tuesday through Friday.

The Bijou Orchestra takes its name from the Bijou Theater, one of the earliest Bay City theaters, which later became known as the Bay and eventually the State. The ensemble is composed of thirteen outstanding musicians drawn from Michigan and beyond to perform in this challenging medium in which every player is a soloist.

The orchestra is supported in part by grants from the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs, the Kantzler Foundation, the Russell H. & Maxine E. Smith Foundation, and the Bay Area Community Foundation. Major corporate contributors include the SC Johnson Corporation, Labadie Auto Company, Dow Chemical, Dow Corning, Bay Regional Medical Center, OmniSource and Thelen Auto Group.

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NEWS FROM THE BIJOU ORCHESTRA
Leo Najar, artistic director
PO Box 336, Bay City Michigan, 48707
BOX OFFICE: (989) 892-4200
www.bijouorchestra.org

October 28, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For information, contact REGINA TURNER (989) 892-4211

THE WORLD GOES ‘ROUND AND ‘ROUND IN BAY CITY

Musical Review to Feature One of Broadway’s Greatest Writing Teams Bay Musical Arts begins its 2005-06 off-Broadway series with The World Goes ‘Round, The Music of Kander and Ebb. The show features more than 25 songs by the composers of Cabaret, Chicago, New York, New York and a host of other great shows. The performances take place at 8PM on November 11, 12, 18 and 19 at 8PM and November 20 at 2PM in Bay City’s historic State Theatre. The performances are sponsored by SC Johnson and Dow Chemical Company.

“Kander and Ebb may not be familiar names, but everyone recognizes New York, New York, All That Jazz, and Cabaret,” says TBO founder and artistic director Leo Najar. “The World Goes ‘Round draws on their greatest shows, most of which also became successful movies: Chicago, Cabaret, Kiss of the Spiderwoman and Zorba, among others. Their other film credits include Funny Lady, New York, New York. Billy Bathgate and more, and they have written television specials for Liza Minnelli, Shirley MacLaine, Goldie Hawn, and Frank Sinatra. Kander and Ebb are truly among the giants of American popular song.”

“The State Theatre is the perfect place for this kind of musical,” says Kathy Wagner who will direct the show as well as perform in it. “Sight lines are good from every seat and the space is small enough to make everybody feel like they are part of the show.” The outstanding singer, dancer and choreographer has directed I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change and the
2003 production of The World Goes ‘Round for Bay Musical Arts as well as many productions in Grand Rapids. “Our earlier production of this show was an artistic and audience success, but our run was very limited and not many people got to see it. We thought it would be good to bring the cast back to remount that production now that the State Theatre has been restored and Bay Musical Arts is expanding its musical theatre offerings.”
Wagner also appears in the cast of World Goes ‘Round. Her long list of credits includes the title role of Evita (regional and New York
productions) So You Wanna Be on Broadway (New York), Love Handles (Los Angeles). Wagner is producer and director of “Better Than Vegas”
productions, a professional theater company based in Grand Rapids. She is a frequent performer on orchestral pops concerts, and her recordings include Taking a Chance on Love, I Love a Piano, and Not Since Prom.

Four other outstanding singers comprise the rest of the cast. The three returning cast members from the earlier production include Brendan J. Van Steed who has appeared in more than fifty roles including appearances in Fiddler on the Roof with Theodore Bikel, and the National Tour of Free to Serve. Kelly Carey is a three-time Grand Award winner in Grand Rapids with over twenty musical theatre credits. She has headlined shows at The B.O.B., The Mason St. Warehouse, and The Dunes Resort. Larry Young has worked professionally with Hope Summer Repertory Theatre Company, Pacific Theatre in Vancouver British Columbia and Actors’ Theatre in Grand Rapids and appeared in last year’s Bay Musical Arts production of I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change. Beth Guest is a new member of the cast, but familiar to BMA patrons who saw her in I Love You… Beth teaches theatre at Aquinas College and has appeared at the Utah Shakespeare Festival and the Kennedy Center in Washington.

Bay Musical Arts is the only professional theatre company dedicated exclusively to the production of off-Broadway musical theatre in Michigan.
Actors are drawn from throughout the Midwest and New York. Musicians are also members of The Bijou Orchestra, a unique professional theater orchestra operated by Bay Musical Arts, which presents a concert series in Bay City along with additional performances around the state.

Reserved Seats are available for $22 ($15 for students with ID). Unreserved seating may be purchased for $15, with student tickets available for $11.
Group rates are available. Tickets may be purchased online at www.BijouOrchestra.org, by phone at (989) 892-4200 or in person at the Bay Musical Arts Box Office: 917 Washington Avenue, Bay City, Michigan, 48708.

Box-office hours are Noon-5: 30PM Thursday through Friday.

BMA is supported in part by grants from the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs, the Kantzler Foundation, the Russell H. & Maxine E.
Smith Foundation, and the Bay Area Community Foundation. Major corporate contributors include the SC Johnson Corporation, Labadie Auto Company, Dow Chemical, Dow Corning, Bay Regional Medical Center, OmniSource and Thelen Auto Group.

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October 17, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For information, contact REGINA TURNER (989) 892-4211

A CONCERT FOR KIDS AND BRAVE ADULTS;
Halloween SPOOKtacular Features Classical and Popular Music, Costume Prizes

Halloween music old and new and a costume contest are all a part of Halloween SPOOKtacular, a family concert presented by The Bijou Orchestra.
The performances will be held at 1PM and 3PM on Sunday, October 30 at the historic State Theatre in downtown Bay City. The shows are sponsored by OmniSource Bay City and Thelen Auto Group.

“Halloween has inspired composers to create some of our most colorful music,” explains Leo Najar, Artistic Director. “Camille Saint Säens wrote Danse Macabre, probably the single most famous classical Halloween piece, and we will play that along with In the Hall of The Mountain King by Grieg, The Funeral March of a Marionette by Gounod, and one of the most difficult and exciting pieces in our repertoire, The Ride of the Valkyries by Wagner.
It isn’t all classical music, though. We will also play Monster Mash, The Addams Family Theme, Ghostbusters and a twist on an old favorite called The Twelve Days of Halloween.”

“Halloween SPOOKtacular was equally popular with kids and adults last year, “ Najar says, “which is why we are doing it again this year with some new twists. This is an ideal time to introduce young people to concert going, and an inexpensive way to enjoy the completely refurbished interior of the State Theatre. It’s a “sugar-coated” introduction to classical music, presented by thirteen of the state’s finest musicians who all dress in costume for the show. The audience is encouraged to come in costume as well, and there will be a costume contest with prizes in three categories: under 13, 13-21, and over 21.

Rob Clark returns as “Monster of Ceremonies.” Clark is a well-known member of the musical theater community in the tri-city area. A graduate of Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, he has performed in several shows with the Midland Music Society and has also directed How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying for them.

All seats for the show are $6. Tickets may be purchased online at www.BijouOrchestra.org, by phone at (989) 892-4200 or in person at the Bay Musical Arts Box Office: 917 Washington Avenue, Bay City, Michigan, 48708.
Box office hours are Noon-5: 30PM Thursday through Friday.

The Bijou Orchestra takes its name from the Bijou Theater, one of the earliest Bay City theaters, which later became known as the Bay and eventually the State. The ensemble is composed of thirteen outstanding musicians drawn from Michigan and beyond to perform in this challenging medium in which every player is a soloist.

The orchestra is supported in part by grants from the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs, the Kantzler Foundation, the Russell H. & Maxine E. Smith Foundation, and the Bay Area Community Foundation. Major corporate contributors include the SC Johnson Corporation, Labadie Auto Company, Dow Chemical, Dow Corning, Bay Regional Medical Center, OmniSource and Thelen Auto Group.
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October 3, 2005 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For information, contact REGINA TURNER (989) 892-4211

The Bijou Orchestra to open new season -
Flivvers and Flappers Planned to Celebrate Historic Theater

The Bijou Orchestra's Bay City home has just had a $3 million makeover to be celebrated with a grand concert. Flivvers and Flappers, A Madcap Dash Through The Twenties , features music from the final decade of the old Bijou Theatre before its transformation into a Mayan movie temple in 1930. Performances are October 22 at 8PM and October 23 at 2PM in the historic State Theatre in downtown Bay City. The concert is the first of three in the “Labadie Bijou Pops Series at the State” sponsored by Labadie Auto Company of Bay City.

“Our show is a celebration of the last decade before talking films changed American live theater forever,” says Leo Najar, artistic director for the orchestra. “Our show visits more than 25 authentic arrangements of the hits of the era including familiar tunes like Whispering, My Blue Heaven, Ain't Misbehavin' and I'll See You In My Dreams, as well as unusual novelties such as Bubbleland and There Ain't No Flies on Auntie. We will also do excerpts from popular musicals of the era including Showboat. When C. Howard Crane, the noted Detroit architect who designed Detroit's Fox Theatre was commissioned to remodel the Bijou Theatre, he obliterated all traces of the old house in 1930. Now that the State has been restored to its Mayan splendor, we thought it would be fun to celebrate the new house by resurrecting a few ghosts from the old one.”

Singing and dancing their way into your hearts (as they used to say in vaudeville) are Brenda McEldowney, Scott Sowinski and Bob Bloenk. McEldowney has performed leading roles with professional theater companies in New York and Pennsylvania and has appeared in several independent films. Chicagoan Scott Sowinski has appeared around the country in an immense range of works that includes West Side Story, Candide and Batman, the Musical, with additional concert credits at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. Bay City resident Bob Bloenk makes his first appearance with The Bijou Orchestra, performing the unique mixture of music, humor and magic he has shared with audiences in New Orleans, St. Louis, Nashville and Atlantic City.

“The 20's were a wild time, “ says Najar, “and we want to encourage audiences to ‘let their hair down.' Anybody who attends in a 20's costume enters the theater on our special red carpet where they will also have their pictures taken as a memento. If you have an old car, we encourage you to drive up to the carpet to drop off your guests and we will take a picture of you with your car.”

The concert is the first of seven productions in the Bijou season. The Labadie Bijou Pops Series at the State includes two more programs: Candy is Dandy on February 11 and 12, and the internationally respected accordion and bayan virtuoso Peter Soave on April 1 and 2. The Off-Broadway Series presents And the World Goes ‘Round November 11—20, and Beehive March 2—12. Family events include the Halloween SPOOKtacular on October 30 and the third annual Holiday Pops on December 7 and 9.

Reserved Seats are available for $22 ($15 for students with ID). Unreserved seating may be purchased for $15, with student tickets available for $11. Group rates are available. Tickets may be purchased online at www.BijouOrchestra.org , by phone at (989) 892-4200 or in person at the Bay Musical Arts Box Office: 917 Washington Avenue, Bay City, Michigan, 48708. Box office hours are Noon-5: 30PM Thursday through Friday.

The Bijou Orchestra takes its name from the Bijou Theater, one of the earliest Bay City theaters, which later became known as the Bay and eventually the State. The ensemble is composed of thirteen outstanding musicians drawn from Michigan and beyond to perform in this challenging medium in which every player is a soloist.

The orchestra is supported in part by grants from the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs, the Kantzler Foundation, the Russell H. & Maxine E. Smith Foundation, and the Bay Area Community Foundation. Major corporate contributors include the SC Johnson Corporation, Labadie Auto Company, Dow Chemical, Dow Corning, Bay Regional Medical Center, OmniSource and Thelen Auto Group.

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NEWS from
THE BIJOU ORCHESTRA
Leo Najar, artistic director
917 Washington Ave., Bay City Michigan, 48708
(989) 225-3423
www.bijouorchestra.org

June 20, 2005 - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Bijou Orchestra to perform on CBC national broadcast -
Orchestra Invited to Appear on “ DiscDrive” with Jurgen Gothe

The Bijou Orchestra has been invited to give a live performance on the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s nationally aired afternoon drive time program “ DiscDrive.” The broadcast will take place July 5 from the front lawn of CBC Windsor located at 825 Riverside Drive West and airs locally on CBE-FM found at 89.9 on the FM dial.

“What a band! The Bijou Orchestra plays with panache, aplomb . . . and a few other fruits. We couldn't be more excited about having them join us in Windsor” says Grant Rowledge, producer for DiscDrive. DiscDrive is broadcast five afternoons a week over CBC Radio 2. Host Jurgen Gothe has been entertaining his listeners with a mélange of music, off-the-cuff commentary and frequent flights of fancy since 1985. With a focus on music that is tuneful, familiar and entertaining, Disc Drive's mix contains everything from Bach and Bartoli to Brubeck. In addition to the classics and jazz, there is folk music, world-beat music and the odd bit of recorded comedy. In addition to a distinguished broadcast career, he is an internationally recognized writer on music, food, wine and pop culture, and is a frequent adjudicator of international wine competitions.

“This is a spectacular opportunity for us,” says Leo Najar, artistic director for the orchestra. “ DiscDrive is one of the most popular drive time music programs in Canada. The show normally originates in Vancouver, but they are traveling to Windsor to broadcast during the Freedom Festival, and they have invited us to appear as their guests during the final hour of the broadcast. The program is also very popular in American border cities including Seattle, Detroit and Buffalo among others.”

The Bijou Orchestra takes its name from the Bijou Theater, one of the earliest Bay City theaters, which later became known as the Bay and eventually the State. The ensemble is composed of thirteen outstanding musicians drawn from Michigan and beyond to perform in this challenging medium in which every player is a soloist.

Both orchestra and theatre are part of a growing arts scene that is at the center of a rejuvenated downtown filled with boutique shops, restaurants, hotels, luxury condominiums and a beautiful waterfront. “We are excited about being an integral part of the Bay City Renaissance,” says David Skinner, board chair, “and we are grateful to the Downtown Development Board, the Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce for underwriting the costs associated with traveling to Canada to perform.”

The orchestra is supported in part by grants from the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs, the Russell H. & Maxine E. Smith Foundation, and the Kantzler Foundation of Bay City. Major corporate contributors include the SC Johnson Corporation, Bay Regional Medical Center, Independent Bank, Dow Corning and OmniSource.

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