promusicdb.com launching soon! stay tuned!

May 2, 2012

My new venture, promusicdb.com, is on the Agenda at NARM's Music Biz 2012 conference here in Los Angeles next week. Excited to bring it to life, and to bring all of professional music under one roof on the web!

Song for Peace video released!

April 27, 2012

Song for Peace's video has been completed and is now on YouTube! It will be performed in China by the West Angeles Children's Choir along with some VERY special guests and I am so honored!

April 1 with Lainie Kazan

April 1, 2012

Excited for the show today! Rumor is we're sold out - but here's the link and some info from the write-up on broadwayworld.com...

Kritzerland at Sterling's will host TAKE ME ALONG, a tribute to the great songs of Bob Merrill, both as composer/lyricist and lyricist, on April 1st at 7pm.


The show will feature: Julie Garnyé (National tour, Cats; Hair in Concert, Children of Eden in Concert), Juliana Hansen (Millie, Thoroughly Modern Millie, first national tour), Melody Hollis (Broadway: Susan in Irving Berlin’s White Christmas), Kristofer McNeeley (National/Broadway: Jersey Boys; Reprise’s Sunday in the Park), Jeffrey Todd (Bat Boy; South Coast Rep’s Lucky Duck, Emperor’s New Clothes) with Special Guest Lainie Kazan and Music Director Christy Crowl.


From his beginnings as a pop songwriter (“How Much is That Doggy in the Window?” “Mambo Italiano,” “Honeycomb,” and many others), to his debut as a Broadway songwriter with New Girl in Town, which was followed by Take Me Along and then his huge hit, Carnival, to the assignment that would bring him the most fame, writing lyrics to Jule Styne’s music for Funny Girl, to his succession of less successful shows such as Henry, Sweet Henry, Prettybelle, and Sugar (the latter two also with Styne). Merrill wrote incredibly tuneful, fun songs, and as usual, we’ve got the hits and the obscure with a great cast and our very special guest, Lainie Kazan, who appeared in the original Broadway company of Funny Girl.


Read more: http://cabaret.broadwayworld.com/article/Kritzerland-at-Sterlings-Announces-TAKE-ME-ALONG-Bob-Merrill-Tribute-for-41-North-Hollywood-20120312#ixzz1qoYeqMZM

CABARET wins Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award! Song for Peace recorded and going to China!

March 27, 2012

I'm excited that the work of the entire cast and crew at Reprise Theatre Company's CABARET, directed by Marcia Milgram Dodge, (which I served as Music Director) was recognized last week at the LA Drama Critics Circle Awards, and took home recognition as BEST REVIVAL. Also, actress Lisa O'Hare (who played Sally) was recognized as best lead performance. CONGRATULATIONS everyone, it was such an honor to be part of!

In other news, Song for Peace was recorded this week at Entourage Studios in Los Angeles and I am looking forward to its world premiere performance June 1 in Beijing, China!

2012 Garland Award for Music Direction for Cabaret!

March 5, 2012

Excited to announce I've been given a prestigious Garland Award for my Music Direction of Cabaret at Reprise! Very grateful to share this with the incredible cast and crew, and congratulations to all my fellow colleagues who worked on the project who also received Garland Awards! Here's the article if you want to see the full list of winners!

http://www.backstage.com/bso/news-and-features-features/back-stage-2012-garland-award-winners-1006327152.story

Exciting News!!

February 13, 2012

So excited for this week's premiere of "The Legend of Kaguya" as part of LA Master Chorale's Voices Within program! The 50 minute oratorio will be performed on Thursday, February 16 by the students and LA Master Chorale Singers - so proud of the students at Cortines School for the Visual and Performing Arts, and to be part of the artistic team!

Song for Peace (co-written with Shie Rozow) will be premiered LIVE in Beijing, China on June 1, 2012 at "The Bird's Nest (Olympic Stadium!!! More details on who will be performing it (VERY EXCITED!!) to come!!

CABARET was nominated for BEST REVIVAL by LA Critics Circle - congratulations to all fellow nominees, so proud to have been the Music Director of this production at Reprise!

And finally - my "likeness" is being turned into a piece of art!! More details to come, a prominent LA artist has been commissioned by a luxury hotel chain to provide art in their lobbies, and word is a photograph of yours truly performing is one on the pieces that will be on display! What fun!

More to come, Happy Valentine's Week!

Excited to play Jan 22 at the McCallum opening for Jonathan Winters!

January 19, 2012

So EXCITED to be back as MD for Scott Record, musical impressionist extraordinaire, who is opening for comic legend Jonathan Winters at the McCallum Theater in Palm Desert this Sunday, Jan. 22. We'll have a big band, too, of So Cal's best and brightest! Can't wait!!

ANNOUNCEMENT: eMusia, a full service music and media company

January 12, 2012

Hi everyone! I'm taking a wise friend's advice and launching my new company eMusia, a full service music and media company. It's time to put all my many musical hats - from Music Director, Conductor, Musician Contractor, Vocal Contractor, Music Supervisor, Composer, Producer, Music Consultant, Singer, Orchestrator/Arranger, etc., all under one "roof". I've worked with many of you, have referred even more, and in the hope of creating more opportunities to see you this year am making it official that "I do all this stuff, really." SO CALL ME, EMAIL ME, OR FACEBOOK ME for your next music project. Tell a friend. I love working with great people to make great music, whether I'm finding your musicians or conducting them. Thank you for your support and spreading the word, and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Current projects are with the LA Master Chorale (Composer/Arranger), Cirque du Soleil (Musician Casting Partner), and an upcoming indie feature (Music Supervisor).
www.ChristyCrowl.com

Contact: 818-980-7710
Christy@komrecords.com

T-Mobile Commercial on YouTube Homepage!

December 7, 2011

Excited to see the commercial I sang on for T-Mobile's "Home for the Holidays Surprise" now on YouTube's homepage! Shout out to all the other talented LA singers who made the track sound so amazing!

Check it out! And Happy Holidays!

Announcing my new venture eMusia

November 27, 2011

I'm excited to announce my new venture eMusia, a music and media company. Details of our upcoming projects to come soon!

The LA Times loves 'Cabaret'!!

September 21, 2011

So proud to be the Music Director/Conductor of this production and to share this great review in the LA Times! Come see Cabaret!


Culture Monster
ALL THE ARTS, ALL THE TIME
Theater review: 'Cabaret' at UCLA's Freud Playhouse
September 15, 2011 | 3:21 pm


Really, why are you sitting idly in your room when Reprise Theatre Company is presenting such a satisfying revival of “Cabaret,” the eternally captivating musical set in manic, hard-partying Berlin just prior to one of history's most sinister turns?

The production, robustly directed and choreographed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge at UCLA's Freud Playhouse, is at its best in portraying the gradual dawning of the Nazi nightmare on characters who have been far too engrossed in their own personal travails to notice that the skies above them are rapidly darkening. But before the light is completely extinguished, we are invited to enjoy the riotous gaiety of the Kit Kat Klub, the seductively seedy emblem of a vanishing Weimar era.

Photos: 'Cabaret' at UCLA's Freud Playhouse

The show, made famous by John Kander and Fred Ebb's ingeniously jazzy score, the landmark performance of Joel Grey as the slithering, creepy-cool emcee and the legendary Bob Fosse film that made Liza Minnelli a household name, captures the tremors of awareness of people dancing and romancing on the edge of a cliff. Time is visibly passing, a chapter concluding, and this musical, as daring now as it was when it premiered on Broadway in 1966 under the intrepid direction of Harold Prince, captures the mind-set of those who refuse to believe that the worst is yet to come.

Cabaret 2Bryce Ryness, the pungent musical theater presence who stood out in Pasadena Playhouse's “Dangerous Beauty” and La Jolla Playhouse's “Sleeping Beauty Wakes,” finally has a role worthy of his idiosyncratic gifts. He plays the cane-twirling Master of Ceremonies with the rouged cheeks who welcomes us to this giddily licentious world with “Willkommen,” the astringent opening number that sets the defiantly upbeat tone of a show that owes a greater debt perhaps to Bertolt Brecht than to mainstream Broadway.

Ryness' song-and-dance prowess allows him to create his own version of a character indelibly originated by Grey. Rather than offering a faded Xerox, Ryness' emcee takes vigorous ownership of his surroundings. This nightclub is his kingdom, and the pleasures of sex, alcohol and cold, hard cash are ones that he has no interest in experiencing secondhand, as raucously spelled out in such musical interludes as “Two Ladies” and “The Money Song.”

The setting, naturally, is a stage, and the bright red curtain of John Iacovelli's super-vivid scenic design never lets you lose sight of your theatrical bearings, even when the action moves to the rooming house owned by Fräulein Schneider (Mary Gordon Murray), a German woman with a soft heart who has just taken in Clifford Bradshaw (Jeff McLean), a young American writer determined to make his mark, if only he can resist the siren call of the omnisexual Kit Kat Klub.

This is where the bisexual Clifford encounters a fellow expatriate, the British chanteuse Sally Bowles (Lisa O'Hare), who becomes instantly smitten with this shy fellow from Pennsylvania who cobbles together his rent through hourly English lessons. One day, without any notice, she arrives at Fräulein Schneider's door with her bags in tow, and decides it's time for Clifford to become better acquainted with his heterosexual side.

Joe Masteroff's book, based on John Van Druten's play and Christopher Isherwood's brilliant stories, is sketchy in its handling of this romance. The attraction between Clifford and Sally is too capricious to take seriously. The other ill-starred love story, between Fräulein Schneider and Herr Schultz (Robert Picardo), a German Jewish fruit merchant, is more carefully prepared and thus more moving in its outcome. (Gordon Murray and Picardo give touching life to this late-middle-age romance, marred by murderous historical events.)

McLean, who possesses an agreeably straightforward singing voice, plays his part to type, walking around, as his character says of himself, with a Yankee Doodle sign on him. But it's an affectionate cartoon that fulfills the role's broad outline while allowing us to become invested in Clifford's fate.

O'Hare, seen last season in Reprise's “Gigi” and who won favorable attention for her performance as Eliza Doolittle in the Ahmanson Theatre's presentation of “My Fair Lady,” has to rein in her considerable vocal talent for a character who may make her living onstage but clearly isn't heading to Broadway any time soon. There's a pixie quality to O'Hare's Sally, who prances nervously about in costume designer Kate Bergh's flapperish get-ups. It's not the most subtle characterization, but it has charm and, like McLean's, it endearingly does the trick.

A strong supporting cast, featuring Katrina Lenk as German prostitute Fräulein Kost, and Zach Bandler as the amiable German Ernst Ludwig who turns out to be the opposite of what he initially seems, lifts this production every bit as much as the crackerjack female orchestra led by musical director Christy Crowl.

This “Cabaret” is a delight on musical terms alone. But it was the unexpected resonance of the story, set in tumultuous times more extreme than our own but by no means unrelatable, that made this revival seem so fresh and urgent.

Happy to be home and starting rehearsals for Cabaret!

August 28, 2011

Article from broadwayworld.com

Bryce Ryness, Lisa O'Hare to Lead Reprise Theatre Company's CABARET; Opens 9/13

by BWW News Desk

Reprise Theatre Company's production of the classic American musical "Cabaret," which opens the 2011-2012 Reprise season and plays September 13 to 25 (press opening September 14, 2011) at UCLA's Freud Playhouse, includes a cast of new talents as well as Broadway and West End veterans - Zach Bandler as Ernst Ludwig, Lisa O'Hare as Sally Bowles, Jeff McLean as Cliff Bradshaw, Katrina Lenk as Fräulein Kost, Mary GorDon Murray as Fräulein Schneider, Robert Picardo as Herr Schultz and Bryce Ryness as the Master of Ceremonies.

Marcia Milgrom Dodge, whose critically acclaimed Broadway production of "Ragtime" was nominated for seven 2010 Tony Awards including Best Revival of a Musical and Best Direction of a Musical, directs and choreographs "Cabaret." Dodge recently directed "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" for Reprise. Christy Crowl will serve as musical director; Crowl has the distinction of being the first female conductor for "Wicked" on its national tour. The musical is based on the play by John Van Druten and stories by Christopher Isherwood, with music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb. The original Broadway production won eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical and the 1972 film version of "Cabaret" won eight Oscars. "Cabaret" has also been twice revived on Broadway.

On directing "Cabaret" for Reprise, Marcia Milgrom Dodge says, "It's incredibly timely and insightful for Reprise Theatre Company to produce this show now in 2011. Not only a classic American musical, Cabaret is a cautionary tale. It reminds us to pay close attention to what's going on in our country right now; a show that warns us to keep our eyes open to a very volatile political climate.

I want to explore the storytelling of the Isherwood tales; the German-Jewish-Nazi story. I can tell you this-what Hal Prince says the show is about is what the show is about: "What would you do? This is a show about survival and about how most people unheroically look the other way in order to survive."
(from the book Harold Prince and the American Musical Theatre by Foster Hirsch.) All of this will be evident in the physical production and the relationships of the characters living and breathing life into this marvelous story."

The Reprise Theatre Company production of "Cabaret" will also feature audience onstage seating at café style tables along with an eight piece all-girl band led by Musical Director Christy Crowl to fully bring the atmosphere of the Kit Kat Club to life.

Lisa O'Hare (Sally Bowles) starred as Mary Poppins in the West End production of the Disney musical, and returns to Reprise Theatre Company after starring in "Gigi." Los Angeles audiences also saw Lisa as Eliza Doolittle in the national tour of the Trevor Nunn production of "My Fair Lady" at the Ahmanson Theatre.

Jeff McLean (Cliff Bradshaw) comes to Reprise from the world premiere of Armistead Maupin's "Tales of the City: A New Musical" at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, following the first national tour of "Legally Blonde: the Musical" and the original Las Vegas company of "Spamalot."

Mary GorDon Murray (Fräulein Schneider) has appeared on Broadway in "Into the Woods," "Little Me" for which she received a best actress Tony Nomination, "Footloose," "Coastal Disturbances," "The Robber Bridegroom," "Grease," and "Play Me a Country Song."Mary is best known to daytime audiences for her many years as Becky on ABC's "One Life to Live."

Robert Picardo (Herr Schultz), most known for his role on "Star Trek: Voyager," as Coach Cutlip on "The Wonder Years," and as Dr. Dick Richards on "China Beach," was in the Reprise production of "On the Twentieth Century" for which he received an Ovation nomination. Other musicals include: "A Class Act"at the Pasadena Playhouse and"Mame"at the Hollywood Bowl. His Broadway credits include "Gemini" with Danny Aiello and "Tribute" with Jack Lemmon.

Bryce Ryness (Master of Ceremonies) appeared on Broadway in the Tony Award-winning revival of "Hair" (Woof, Drama Desk nom) and "Legally Blonde"(Aaron, Emmett u/s). Other credits include the NY premiere of Drama Desk-award winning "See Rock City..." (Jess/Cutter), "Crossing Brooklyn"(AJ, Transport Group) and the national tour of "Rent" (Roger).Los Angeles musical theatre credits include the world premieres of "Dangerous Beauty" at the Pasadena Playhouse and "Leap of Faith" at the Ahmanson Theatre, as well as the Los Angeles premiere of "Floyd Collins." Bryce fronts a rock band called Ryness and has sung backup for Roger Daltrey, Sarah Brightman, Frankie Valli, Marin Mazzie, and Josh Groban.

Katrina Lenk (Fräulein Kost) appeared on Broadway in the 2010 revival of "The Miracle Worker." Locally, she was the recipient of an LA Weekly Award for her portrayal of Linda Lovelace in "Lovelace: A Rock Opera." Other Los Angeles credits include " The Caucasian Chalk Circle" at South Coast Repertory, and "iWitness" at the Mark Taper Forum.

Zach Bandler (Ernst Ludwig) appeared Off-Broadway in "With Glee" as well as in "Romeo and Juliet" adapted at Lincoln Center with the NY Philharmonic and recently shot for PBS. Regional credits include "Les Misérables" (Theater of the Stars and tour) and "The Most Happy Fella" with George Hearn (Ravinia Festival).

Marcia Milgrom Dodge, whose critically acclaimed Broadway production of "Ragtime" was nominated for seven 2010 Tony Awards including Best Revival of a Musical and Best Direction of a Musical, and who directed and choreographed the Reprise production of "How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying" will direct "Cabaret."Dodge directed and choreographed "Ragtime" at the Kennedy Center, where it won the Helen Hayes Awards for Outstanding Resident Musical and for Direction.

The rest of the "Cabaret" cast includes: Bradley Benjamin, Jenna Coker-Jones, Rachel Crissman, Aurore Joly, Janelle Junio, Brett Leigh, Katharine Malak, Jonathan Mercer, Mark Reis, Josh Walden, Justin Michael Wilcox and Christopher Zenner.

Jason Alexander is the artistic director of Reprise Theatre Company. Christine Bernardi Weil is Managing Director and Gilles Chiasson is Producing Director of Reprise Theatre Company.

Musical theatre historians often note that ‘Cabaret' was groundbreaking in its subject matter: it was one of the first musicals to tackle a very dark period of history - the eve of Hitler's rise to power in Weimar Germany - and also groundbreaking in using the songs in the Kit Kat Klub as commentary on the story. "Above all else however, ‘Cabaret' is engrossing and entertaining. A fascinating set of characters - Sally Bowles, the cabaret singer, Cliff Bradshaw, the American writer, and the very singular Emcee, a type never seen before on the Broadway stage, are thrown into a time of history - 1930 Berlin - that rivets our attention," says Gilles Chiasson, Producing Director of Reprise Theatre Company.

"Cabaret" is based on John Van Druten's 1951 play "I Am a Camera," which in turn was adapted from the novel "Goodbye to Berlin" by Christopher Isherwood. Set in 1930 Berlin as the Nazis are rising to power, it is, as Fred Ebb said, "about people dancing on The Edge of a cliff and not quite falling over." "Cabaret" revolves around Sally Bowles, a cabaret performer in the seedy Kit Kat Club, Cliff Bradshaw, the young American writer she becomes involved with, and the characters of the edgy, threatening world they inhabit, including landlady Fräulein Schneider, caught in a doomed romance with Herr Schultz, a Jewish fruit vendor. Overseeing the action is the Master of Ceremonies at the Kit Kat Klub, a decadent and ominous symbol of the era.

The collaborators integrated the cabaret numbers to comment on the action of the story and this, along with the raw edge of the material, made "Cabaret" the most provocative and challenging musical of its day, a challenge that has been taken on by stage and film audiences since. The original production, directed by Harold Prince, played for 1,165 performances on Broadway, and won eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, launching the career of Joel Grey, who played the Master of Ceremonies, and fully establishing the team of composer John Kander and lyricist Fred Ebb, who wrote sixteen musicals including "Flora, The Red Menace," "The Happy Time," "Zorba," "70, Girls, 70," "Chicago," "The Act," "Woman of the Year," "The Rink," "Kiss of the Spider Woman," and "Steel Pier." Two of them have been produced on Broadway following Fred Ebb's death in 2004 - "Curtains" and this season's "The Scottsboro Boys."

The 1972 film version of "Cabaret" won eight Oscars, and brought Liza Minnelli to stardom, as well as bringing director Bob Fosse an Oscar for Best Director. In 1996, John Kander and Fred Ebb's "Chicago" was revived on Broadway and is still running. Two years later, it was joined by Sam Mendes' production of "Cabaret," in a version that was as startlingly original, as the first production of the show had been. Audiences again took up the challenge - the Sam Mendes production of ‘Cabaret" ran for 2,377 performances on Broadway and brought Alan Cumming to stardom.

Single tickets are available for "Cabaret" at www.reprise.org or through the UCLA Central Ticket Office at 310/825-2101.

Since its inception in 1997, Reprise Theatre Company has been a focus of the Los Angeles musical theatre community, producing productions of great American musicals, and a wide variety of concerts, staged-readings, special events and outreach programs. In May 2007, Jason Alexander became Artistic Director. Christine Bernardi Weil is Managing Director and Gilles Chiasson is Producing Director of Reprise.

Since its inaugural production of Burt Bacharach and Hal David's "Promises, Promises," which starred Mr. Alexander, Reprise has brought to the stage vibrant productions from all eras of American musical theatre including the Gershwins' "Of Thee I Sing" and "Strike Up the Band," Cole Porter's "Anything Goes" and "Kiss Me Kate," Rodgers and Hart's "The Boys from Syracuse" and "Babes in Arms," Rodgers and Hammerstein's "Carousel," as well as Richard Rodgers' later "No Strings." The "Golden Era" has been well represented - Burton Lane and E.Y. Harburg with "Finian's Rainbow," Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe with "Brigadoon" and "Gigi," Leonard Bernstein, Betty Comden and Adolph Green with "On the Town" and "Wonderful Town," Irving Berlin with "Call Me Madam," Robert Wright and George Forrest with "Kismet," both of the Richard Adler and Jerry Ross musicals "The Pajama Game" and "Damn Yankees," Johnny Mercer and Gene dePaul with "Li'l Abner," Jule Styne with "Bells are Ringing," and Frank Loesser with "The Most Happy Fella" and "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying."

Musical theatre reached a new peak of popularity beginning in the sixties, along with new creative talents, and Reprise has presented shows by many of them including Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt with "The Fantasticks," Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick with "She Loves Me," Gerome Ragni, James Rado and Galt MacDermot's "Hair," Sherman Edwards and Peter Stone with "1776," Charles Adams and Lee Strouse with "Applause," Stephen Schwartz with "Pippin," Cy Coleman with "On the Twentieth Century" (libretto by Betty Comden and Adolph Green), "City of Angels" (lyrics by David Zippel), and "I Love My Wife" (libretto by Michael Stewart), Jerry Herman with "Mack and Mabel," Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty's "Once on This Island," Marvin Hamlisch and Carol Bayer Sager's "They're Playing Our Song" (with libretto by Neil Simon) and four Stephen Sondheim musicals - "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," "Company," "Sweeney Todd," and "Sunday in the Park with George."

Many of the great stage performers working today, as well as those who make their residence primarily in Los Angeles, have appeared in Reprise shows including William Atherton, Scott Bakula, Christine Baranski, Brent Barrett, Orson Bean, Jodi Benson, Stephanie J. Block, Stephen Bogardus, Dan Butler, Len Cariou, Carolee Carmello, Vicki Carr, Patrick Cassidy, Matt Cavenaugh, Anthony Crivello, Jason Danieley, Lea DeLaria, Cleavant Derricks, Manoel Feliciano, Rodney Gilfry, Kelsey Grammer, Josh Grisetti, Harry Groener, Bob Gunton, Neil Patrick Harris, Sam Harris, Gregory Harrison, Simon Helberg, Tom Hewitt, Mimi Hines,Seán Martin Hingston. Judy Kaye, Jane Krakowski, Marc Kudish, Ledisi, Vicki Lewis, Judith Light, Rebecca Luker, Lesli Margherita, Eric McCormack, Maureen McGovern, Joey McIntyre, Donna McKechnie, Andrea Marcovicci, Millicent Martin, Marin Mazzie, Julia Migenes, Karen Morrow, Burke Moses, Kelli O'Hara, Lisa O'Hare, John O'Hurley, Ken Page, Robert Picardo, David Hyde Pierce, Larry Raben, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Roger Rees, Charles Nelson Reilly, Cathy Rigby, Alexandra Silber, Douglas Sills, Rex Smith, Brent Spiner, Lea Thompson, Steven Weber, Lee Wilkof, Ruth Williamson, Marisa Jaret Winokur, Lillias White, Fred Willard, and Rachel York.

A Wicked Summer in DC, then west for Cabaret

July 6, 2011

It's a check off my "life" list to play and conduct at Kennedy Center this summer, a great way to be finishing up my time on tour with Wicked. It's been an amazing year - I've been all over the country (and parts of Canada!), played with amazing musicians, learned how to be on the road with two big dogs (my bodyguards - ha!), and get to finish up to where I grew up on the east coast with family and friends. Truly a blessed year through a time of transition and change in my life - I am so grateful!

At the end of August I will be heading home to Los Angeles to serve as Musical Director for "Cabaret" at Reprise. I am extra excited to work with director Marcia Milgram Dodge, artistic director Jason Alexander and producing director Gilles Chiasson, and can't wait for the cast to be announced!

Have a fantastic summer!

Song for Peace

May 30, 2011

A song I co-wrote with Shie Rozow for the documentary "Broken" premiered in San Antonio last week. The film deals with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on a personal level. I was honored to write the song with Shie for such a moving story. To take the message a little further, there is a facebook page for the song that you can reach here:

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=501357215&ref=ts#!/s.f.peace

In honor of Memorial Day, please remember those who have served and are serving all over the world to bring peace.

On tour with Wicked

January 11, 2011

Happy New Year! I'll be on the road with Wicked this year, below are the cites we are in through August. Hope to see you in the Emerald City!

11/30-1/23 CHICAGO
1/24-2/20 APPLETON
2/21-3/27 ORLANDO
3/28-4/24 FT. LAUDERDALE
4/25-5/22 BUFFALO
5/23-6/12 OMAHA
6/13-8/21 WASHINGTON D.C.

Happy New Year 2011 from the 'Emerald City'!

December 30, 2010

Wishing all family, friends, and colleagues a joyous and prosperous New Year! Currently I'm in Chicago, where it's been cold, snowing, and windy - that is until today, when it started to warm up and for the New Year will be a balmy 50 degrees! What a fun city it has been - the people, the sites - and did I mention the food and shopping?

2011 will start out in Chicago, then move through Wisconsin, Florida, New York, Nebraska, Washington DC, and points beyond. Hope to be seeing many of you in the New Year - Happy Happy!!

A year of gratitude, Happy Thanksgiving

November 23, 2010

This week marks a year of profound change in my life, and I am so grateful for the incredible blessings of family, friends, and music that I love. Here is one of my favorite passages about love that I'd like to share, going into this week of Thanksgiving and the holiday season.

Love is patient; love is kind;
love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude.
It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;
it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth.
It bares all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, live and love...

Update - Elvis, Toronto, and Niagara Falls

November 2, 2010

I just spent a busy couple of weeks helping Cirque du Soleil find some great singers for their VIva Elvis show in Las Vegas. The level of talent was astounding! Be sure to catch the show if you happen to travel to Vegas in the future - it's rockin.!

Wicked has settled in for a fall/winter run at the beautiful Canon Theater, and the musicians are wonderful! Couldn't be more thrilled to play with them - and Toronto is a great town (although this California girl is not so fond of the cold!). I'll miss Thanksgiving at home, but wish everyone a beautiful Turkey Day. Eat some for me!

Yesterday some friends and I went to see the "Canadian side" of Niagara Falls, which was breathtaking. It was a beautiful day (although a little chilly!), and the fall leaves were in full oranges and reds, and rainbows abounded. Good for the heart and soul - thank you, Niagara Falls.

Guest Speaker at Berklee

October 15, 2010

This week was pretty full with family and friend visits to Boston, and a very special day for me - I was asked to speak at Berklee College of Music along with Jason Yarcho, to talk about what it's like touring and conducting the National Tour of Wicked. The room was packed with students, and special thanks to Dr. Peter Cokkinnias, who invited us! What a great experience and honor... Next up is Toronto!

2010 Update from - Boston!

September 15, 2010

2010 has been a year that has profoundly changed my life both personally and professionally, and I haven't been very diligent in keeping things up-to-date, for obvious reasons (to those who are close to me).

However, some extremely exciting things have blessed my life, that I can now share with you - first of which has to do with touring as Assistant Conductor/Keyboards with the First National Tour of Wicked, and we are now playing at the gorgeous Boston Opera House!

Before coming out on the tour in the spring of 2010, I again worked with Dame Julie Andrews on her production "The Gift of Music" that took place at the O2 Arena in London. I also got some singing in as well, on the movie "The Last Airbender", and then did some string arrangements for an up-and-coming single by songwriters Erik Peterson and Danny Fehsenfeld that will knock your socks off in December. There's also a new project in the works that involved a trip to Las Vegas, and I just finished casting some more great musicians for Cirque du Soleil's "Kooza".

Pictures are forthcoming from my travels this year - thanks for your love and support! And if you're in Boston or will be in any upcoming cities - please come say hello!

WICKED 1st NATIONAL TOUR
ITINERARY:

8/30-10/17 BOSTON
10/18-11/29 TORONTO
11/30-1/23 CHICAGO
1/24-2/20 APPLETON
2/21-3/27 ORLANDO
3/28-4/24 FT. LAUDERDALE
4/25-5/22 BUFFALO
5/23-6/12 OMAHA
6/13-8/21 WASHINGTON D.C.

My heart really goes out to Sandra

March 18, 2010

LOS ANGELES -- Oscar winning actress Sandra Bullock has abruptly dropped out of the London premiere of her film "The Blind Side," due to "unforseen personal reasons."

Warner Brothers released the following statement from the Academy Award winning actress:

"Due to unforeseen personal reasons a trip abroad to support "The Blind Side" has been deemed impossible at this time.I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused and thank you for your continued support of the film."

Bullock's decision not to participate in the premiere comes amid recent reports that Bullock's nearly 5 year marriage to Jesse James,40, may be in trouble.

Tabloid rumors have surfaced of infidelity involving the star's husband of nearly five years, West Coast Choppers CEO Jesse James.

"Tattoo model" Michelle “Bombshell” McGee claims she had a months-long affair with James while Bullock was away filming "The Blind Side."

People Magazine reports that Bullock has left the L.A. home she shares with James.

Many in Hollywood say the news is a surprise after seeing the couple together during the recent awards season. The seemingly happy couple repleatedly expressed their mutual admiration and affection for each other.

Bullock "is old-school Hollywood," James told PEOPLE magazine at the Oscars on March 7 just after her win. "Nobody deserves this more and works harder. I'm so proud of her."

Christy's Article/Interview in Overture!

March 14, 2010

For those members of the LA Chapter of AFM (Local 47), there is an interview and pictures of me and the orchestra of Camelot at the Pasadena Playhouse in this month's "Overture" magazine. Have a look at my blog for pictures!

http://christyse-blog.blogspot.com/

Time with friends and family

March 10, 2010

After a whirlwind of a year, being away from home (LA) for a month, then closing Pasadena Playhouse with "Camelot", it has been time for some "personal" time with friends and most important, family. I've been lucky with the weather so far on the east coast - the major snows hit just before I got here. However, you've never seen snow piles so high! Most have melted now, but boy do I remember how much I love CA weather!

I'm busy writing, and will have new things to post about very soon, in the meantime, if you haven't, take a listen to some of my music, and let me know what you think!

Dalai Lama weighs in on Tiger

February 21, 2010

This story has captured my attention in particular. I'll share my thoughts on it soon - if you have thoughts as well, please post.

The Dalai Lama commented on Tiger Woods' sex scandals Saturday, saying self-discipline is among Buddhism's highest values, one day after Woods said he had strayed from his Buddhist faith.

Tiger Woods photos

Tiger's apology

Tiger Woods broke his long silence and apologized repeatedly on Friday. We've got complete coverage. Analysis:

* Lusetich: Where does he go now?
* Hench: Tiger to follow different path

News:

* Tiger: 'I am so sorry'
* Finchem on Tiger's speech

Videos:

* Watch Tiger's full statement

* Lusetich's take | Whitlock | Kriegel

* Alleged mistress wants apology

Photos:

* Images from Tiger's speech

* Tiger's Thursday practice


Tibet's exiled spiritual leader told The Associated Press in a brief interview in Beverly Hills that he had not heard of Woods, but when the circumstances were explained to him he said that when it comes to adultery, "all religions have the same idea."

"Whether you call it Buddhism or another religion, self-discipline, that's important," he said. "Self-discipline with awareness of consequences."

In his first public comments since the Nov. 27 car accident that set off a series of shocking allegations of rampant extramarital relationships, Woods said Friday that he was raised Buddhist but needed to focus anew on finding balance between his religion and professional life.

http://msn.foxsports.com/golf/story/The-Dalai-Lama-comments-on-Tiger-Woods%2527-scandal?GT1=39002

Camelot!

January 11, 2010

After several months of to-the-grindstone arranging and rehearsing, Camelot has finally started previews at Pasadena Playhouse. I have an orchestra of 13, which I am very excited about, and a fantastic cast of 8. Working with Director David Lee (Frasier, Cheers), on this production has been wonderful. Mark Esposito (Musical Staging) has also put his mastermind into the production. Here's what Playbill has on their website with a few more details...

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/135760-Pasadena-Playhouse-Launches-a-Leaner-Camelot-With-a-Cast-of-Eight-Jan-8

Get ready for fall...

September 30, 2009

I'm still pinching myself from meeting Alison Krauss in Nashville last week - she came backstage and then sat in the pit for Wicked - WOW! Would love to actually work with her one day.

Next up for October is re-orchestrating "Camelot", and finding some great keyboard and sax players for my new music "partners" Cirque du Soleil. Yes, that's right! I'll be finding the best musicians for Cirque's shows - so keep checking back here (my blog) for current listings. Then I'll hit the road again with Wicked for November/December. Where, do you ask? Let's just say I can say "Hello, Cleveland!" and mean it! Time to buy some winter clothes - BBBRRR!

I'm also performing with my friend Craig Meyer's award-winning act "Almost Elton John"! Can't wait, it's gonna be so much fun!

Of course, there are random projects in the air, but waiting until I know a little more about them. Who knows? Maybe with a little luck my name will be on a pilot this season (which would be just fantastic!).

Peace!

Hello Cleveland!

November 20, 2009

I arrived in Cleveland to be with Wicked on tour until mid-December. It's my first time to the birthplace of Rock 'n Roll, and I must say the people of Cleveland have been a pleasure! The weather? Well, I won't hold that against them. Here on opening night, we had a beautiful private cast party at "Star" Restaurant. If you're in Cleveland, come by the Palace Theater and say hello!

Or now, if you're on facebook, you can keep in touch on my page:

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Fall Schedule - Wicked, ProSingers Workshop, Camelot!

September 1, 2009

It's hard to believe summer is over! Wicked in San Diego was a lot of fun, and looks like I'll be traveling to Nashville as "Acting Associate Conductor" with the tour in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, I've started working on a few things at home, first on my plate is the ProSingers Workshop here in LA on September 26. Our guest is Michael Orland, Assoc. Music Director of AMERICAN IDOL. I've had the privilege of working with Michael, and you can be assured that it will be an event LA singers won't want to miss!

I'm also gearing up for an exciting project here in town - I'll be Music Director of "Camelot" at the Pasadena Playhouse, directed by David Lee (he created the TV sitcoms Cheers and Frasier). David has an amazing vision for the show, which also involves it being re-orchestrated. Hence me starting on the project now! The show will cast in late Oct/Nov, rehearse Dec, and run in Jan/Feb 2010.

I'm also going to do my best to get back on the ball with my blog - yes, in all my "free" time.

Here we go - much more to come!

Wicked National Tour - San Diego

August 5, 2009

Hi folks,

If you happen to travel to San Diego during August, I'll be with Wicked at the San Diego Civic Theatre. Stop by and say hello!

Connect with me on Facebook!

July 16, 2009

The passing of an icon, Michael Jackson

July 7, 2009

I have lots of feelings today about the passing of MJ, as I'm sure many of us do. For my generation, there has been no one close to his impact culturally and musically - I remember getting his "Off the Wall" album and playing it over & over in my room. I remember programming my Sequential Circuits keyboard for just the right sound for the beginning of "Beat It". I remember Moonwalking at the school dance. As the world celebrates his life today, I hope we all can take a minute and really think about the contributions he made, and what he constantly kept striving to do. Sure he had some eccentricities - but who of us doesn't? I will miss knowing that you're around, MJ. And I am sad to know that we will never have the opportunity to work together, but I am glad for the friends of mine who have had the chance. Your legacy will live, here and beyond.

The Ice Age doth Cometh! Voices Within, and WICKED!!

June 16, 2009

It's going to be a busy summer! Going to see "Ice Age 3"? Hope so - it SOUNDS great!! Composer John Powell created an excellent score, made even more excellent with the best LA session singers in town. We had so much fun on the date - I can't wait to see it in the theater!

Voices Within is a program with the Los Angeles Master Chorale that I am honored to be a part of as "Composer and Vocal Arranger". Our term this time is with The Harmony Project, and the kids are outstanding! Over the next ten weeks we'll be creating songs that will be performed with the LA Master Chorale at Forest Lawn on August 2nd.

AND THEN...

WICKED!!! I'll be filling in on keyboards while the 1st National Tour stops in San Diego. If you're coming to San Diego in August, drop me a note! Now I'll get back to practicing :)

Gossip Girl, and upcoming Soundtracks...

May 6, 2009

This month, "No Doubt" will be appearing not only on American Idol, but on the hit show "Gossip Girl." What you don't know unless you're in the know is that the on-camera band in the same scene, playing their song "Stand and Deliver" was recorded at my studio! What a fun day!

And - Soundtracks! If any of you saw the movie "The Uninvited,", score by Christopher Young, I was the Choir Conductor on the session. I also recently sang on the TV shows "The Simpsons" and "The Secret Life of the American Teenager," as well as on the scores for "Ice Age 3," and "A Thousand Words."

LA Session Singer Workshop May 2

April 28, 2009

On May 2, 2009 in LA session singer/vocal coach Gerald White and I are conducting the first ever nuts & bolts seminar about the world of session singing. For more info please email: info@prosingersaccess.com

Opening Night - The Producers!

April 9, 2009

After a couple of crazy rehearsal weeks, The Producers opens tonight at the California Performing Arts Center. I'm very proud to be the Music Director/Conductor of this production starring Broadway's Larry Raben as "Leo", and Nathan Holland as "Max." Here we go!

Christy sings as a nun on The Simpsons!

March 15, 2009

TONIGHT on Fox, I'll be one of the "singing nuns" on the hit TV show. Should be a classic episode!

See you at The Producers!

February 17, 2009

I'm excited to be the Music Director of "The Producers" coming to the California Theater. More info to come!

Happy Valentine's Day!

February 14, 2009

Here's wishing everyone a Happy Valentine's Day! I hope you can take a moment to tell someone close to you how much they mean to you - and if they're REAL close, give them a hug! Me? I'm celebrating by going to see "Confessions of a Shopaholic". Enjoy this "day of love"!

Had a great time live with Loretta Devine!

February 2, 2009

I had the pleasure over the weekend to play for the super-talented and fun Loretta Devine, at Dorothy Chandler pavilion in Los Angeles. The event was for a fundraiser for Center Theatre Group, and was followed by a special performance of their production of Pippin.

Listen and download my composer, songwriter, piano, singer, and arranging demos here! And please drop me a note and tell me what you think!

New www.ChristyCrowl.com!

January 8, 2009

Listen here to all my musical "reels" (they're also on the MUSIC page) OR - do a search of my catalog! AND don't forget to check out "my first on-camera job" video below...

Happy New Year 2009!

Welcome to the NEW www.ChristyCrowl.com!

January 6, 2009

New year, new website! Actually, it's been more like 4 years.

Well, in putting all this together, I found some real gems in my archives. Here's one of them from my first "on-camera" gig as a musician - I've added a little to it, just for fun.

ENJOY, and Happy 2009! I look forward to working with you!