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LANSING

News & Reviews

New On CD

Starlight, Starbright

Dawn Upshaw Sings Vernon Duke;
"...the sun was shining, kids were
Dawn Upshaw, soprano;
playing, birds were singing, everyone
Eric Stern, conductor;
in the fancy-schmancy procession was
Nonesuch
lining up, ready to go. ... And in the
Not nearly as popular as his col-
middle of it all stood two Imperial
leagues Gershwin, Porter and
Pink Blobs — the most gullible
Rodgers, Vernon Duke (born
schmucks I'd ever seen. I couldn't
Vladimir Dukelsky in a Minsk rail-
believe the Emperor and his wife were
road station in 1903) nevertheless
buying into this meshuggaas! ... Trust
etched his indelible imprint on the
me, you ain't seen nothing yet! Oy vey."
American popular song. He didn't
Thus does Fran Drescher, the
write many hits, but those that
"Hedda Hopper of horns," herald
gained popularity are memorable
the start of the birthday parade
for their harmonic and melodic
that features the Emperor in his
complexity, such as "Autumn in
New Clothes.
New York" and "April in Paris."
Remember the original Hans
Still, Duke was capable of com-
Christian Andersen fairy tale that
Steven Spielberg and friends raise money for a chil-
posing less complicated but equally
teaches the old adage "honesty
dren's charity with a charming new book and CD.
affecting ditties, like "Taking a
truly is the best policy"? Well,
Chance on Love" and "I Can't Get
Throne? Says Rosie O'Donnell, "I prefer
Steven Spielberg and a cast of celebri-
Started."
my royal heinies unexposed!"
ties wrote their own chapters to this
Duke inhabited parallel musical
There are 24 such characters, each
old yarn, imaginatively reinventing the
(--/\
universes.
While working with such
vying
to
tell
his
or
her
own
version
of
story. The result is The Emperor's New
celebrated
lyricists
as
Ira
Gershwin,
the
story.
Nathan
Lane
is
the
Imperial
Clothes: An All-Star Retelling of the
Yip Harburg and Ogden Nash on
Dresser; Dr. Ruth Westheimer plays
Classic Fairy Tale (Harcourt Brace &
Broadway shows — most of them
the Imperial Physician; Jeff Goldblum
Company; $35), published last fall
failures — he also continued to write
takes the role of the Imperial Wizard;
and available now in bookstores.
more "serious" music under his given
and Robin Williams is, of course, the
"Once upon a time there lived an
name. It was George Gershwin who
Court Jester.
Emperor with a passion for fashion ..."
saw promise in Duke, suggesting he
Spielberg is the Honest Boy who
begins the story, and in the creative
change his name and make money
blurts out the state of the Emperor's and
collaboration, celebrities — and
writing
for Tin Pan Alley.
Empress'
nakedness,
and
Joan
Rivers
is
world-renowned illustrators including
Duke, who died in 1969, isn't
the Honest Boy's Mother. And who bet-
Maurice Sendak, Chris Van Allsburg
much remembered today. However,
ter to be the Emperor's Underwear than
and Daniel Adel — take it from there
this CD devoted to his lush, clever
Calvin Klein? "Nothing comes between
to bring the fable to life, all to benefit
and often wistful songs could go a
me and my Emperor!" he states.
Spielberg's Starbright Foundation, an
long way in promoting Duke to the
"Everyone brought such fun and
organization that is working to change
plateau he deserves.
imagination
to
his
or
her
chapter;
it
the face of childhood illness.
It may be an exaggeration to say
makes
for
a
wildly
creative
storytelling
By recognizing the link between a
experience," says the project's senior
child's state of mind and his ability to
producer, Karen Kushell. And, of
cope with the challenges of illness,
course, they all live happily ever after.
Starbright programs address the core
issues that sick kids face — pain, fear,
— Linda Bachrack
loneliness and depression.
The group of people we assembled
To learn more about the Starbright
for this project is astounding —
Foundation, visit the Web site at
remarkable beyond their talent and
wwwstarbright.org. And if you
impressive credits," says Spielberg.
want to see a live performance of
The book's warmth and humor is
the fairy tale — in its original
evidence of their skill and generosity."
incarnation — AACT Junior
Included with the book is an accom-
Theatre presents The Emperor's
panying CD, in which the story is
New ClothT. 8 p.m. Thursday and
performed by the star-studded cast.
Friday, March 18 and 19; 3:30
In the traditional tale, there are a lim-
and 8 p.m. Saturday, March 20;
ited number of characters, yet there are
and 2 p.m. Sunday March 21.
innumerable perspectives from which
Ann Arbor Civic Theatre
the story can be told. How would the
Playhouse, 2275 Platt Road, Ann
Dresser's Spectacles view the event?
Arbor.
$6/adults; $5/students. To
Jason Alexander tells us from his perch
order
tickets,
call (734) 971-2228. I
on the nose of the duped royal tailor.
Vernon Duke: Parallel musical universes. c
How would things sit with the Imperial
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