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Best Life Ever TRANSCENDENCE THEATRE COMPANY
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2018 877-424-1414 | BESTNIGHTEVER.ORG
EVERY MOMENT COUNTS SUMMER ENDS AND THE HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR BEGINS
Theater should be something that empowers people to gather together, feel the love of their community, and share in the experience of the Best Night Ever. This past summer, I saw just how powerful theater can be during our phenomenal Broadway Under the Stars summer season. It’s been a year since the 2017 fires, and many people are still in the process of recovering. This year’s theme, “Every Moment Counts,” spoke volumes to a community still healing. I was humbled to see Transcendence shows uplift and help keep the community connected. In addition to the magical shows, our incredible team of performing artists and crew members was also able to do some amazing service in our community this past summer. We worked with children through various outreach programs and at our kids camp. We also connected with the La Luz Center to put on a special performance where we welcomed over 200 people from Sonoma’s Latino community, many of whom had never seen a live show before. It’s been a busy summer, and I’m proud of what we accomplished. “THE HOLIDAYS ARE A JOYOUS TIME WHEN FRIENDS AND FAMILY COME TOGETHER TO SHARE IN POSITIVE ENERGY.” We’re looking ahead to our fourth annual holiday show, which is currently being created. Our theme of “Every Moment Counts” didn’t end with the summer season. The theme continues in the holiday show through the song selection, an exploration of light, and the idea of making a difference. Director Tony Gonzalez and Co-Creator Susan Draus are really taking this year’s holiday show to the next level, so check out the article on Page 4 to learn more about what is sure to be a spectacular night.
This will be a really exciting holiday season for Transcendence. Not only are we returning to the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts in Santa Rosa, but for the very first time, we are bringing the Broadway Holiday Spectacular to Napa Valley! We’ll be performing for two nights at the Lincoln Theater in Yountville. We regularly have audience members from Napa Valley come out to our shows, and it is so thrilling to branch out into the Napa community and bring Transcendence Theatre to them. The holidays are a joyous time when friends and family come together to share in positive energy. It’s fitting that Transcendence is joining in on this most wonderful season, sharing that energy and really inspiring people as they enter the new year. Our goal is for the Broadway Holiday Spectacular to go beyond being just one fun evening. The best holiday shows encourage the audience to reflect on the past, appreciate the present, and look into the new year with excitement and enthusiasm. Our artists bring a lot of heart to the show, and we want the audience to feel the love from the stage. As we head into the holidays and the new year, I want to say how grateful we are to all of the people who support our shows. This Big Dream wouldn’t be possible without our sponsors, donors, and volunteers who believe in us. Each year has been unforgettable, but this year, as our community joined together and overcame the challenges of the fire, it was magical. This has been one of the best years we’ve ever had, and I can’t wait to finish strong with the magic of the Broadway Holiday Spectacular.
–Amy Miller
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BACKSTAGE TOUR MARC KIMELMAN THE CHALLENGE TO RISE UP
At Transcendence, every artist and volunteer who helps put on a show has their own “dot,” something that connects them to Transcendence and our mission to create the Best Life Ever. For Marc Kimelman, Choreographer and Associate Director for “Shall We Dance,” the third show in our Broadway Under the Stars season, his dot was years in the making. “I’ve been hearing about Transcendence for the past four years from friends and colleagues who have gone out to the West Coast to be part of the shows,” Marc explains. “It always sounded like an interesting place to work, something out of the ordinary. I had been trying to figure out a way to get out there when a good friend of mine, Matthew Rossoff, who had directed another summer show, recommended me last year. I interviewed with Amy, Brad, and Stephan, and it seemed like a good fit. They wanted me to work on ‘Shall We Dance,’ which was right up my alley.”
Marc has been a choreographer in New York City for years and has lent his incredible talents to everything from Broadway’s “A Bronx Tale” to Vogue magazine as a movement consultant. We were thrilled to have Marc bring his contemporary style to the Transcendence stage. with more liberating movements. I’m a big fan of hip-hop. For ‘Shall We Dance,’ I choreographed a dance battle to one of my favorite songs of all time, ‘Sing, Sing, Sing.’ It was ballet versus hip-hop versus tap versus swing. I really enjoyed working with the talented cast and creating something amazing to show the audience.” In each Transcendence production, we encourage our creative team to both showcase their strengths and challenge themselves to go beyond their comfort zones. This is something Marc truly excelled at when working on the tango number “El “I love the big, classic musical numbers,” Marc says, “but I also love the newer styles
Tango de Roxanne” from “Moulin Rouge.” Marc admitted that partner work wasn’t in his wheelhouse, so he was a little hesitant to work on the number in preproduction. But of all the performances in “Shall We Dance,” “Roxanne” turned out to be an audience favorite. “People loved it every night, and we got many standing ovations. I’m quite proud of how it turned out, and working on ‘Roxanne’ reminded me that when you’re challenged so much, you have to work harder on something, and that can really pay off. Transcendence challenged me in a lot of ways, and I really had the best time.”
“As an artist, it was great to feel so completely supported by the people of Sonoma and all of the team at
Transcendence. I’m back on the East Coast now, ready to jump back into work. I want to remember all the wonder I felt while on the West Coast and bring the Transcendence attitude to my New York City life.”
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STARS OFFSTAGE Beyond catching a few Broadway shows that came through San Francisco, Bradford Davis was never a big musical theater enthusiast. That has all changed in the last few years. Today Brad is Chairman of the Transcendence Advisory Council, advising on the management of our company and heading up the Operations Committee of the Council. This role includes improving safety at Transcendence events and helping develop an evacuation plan for our Field of Dreams at Jack London State Historic Park. But where did it all begin?
BRAD DAVIS’ LOVE OF TRANSCENDENCE AND OUR COMMUNITY
Brad, Stephan, and the rest of the team at Transcendence. The energy of this group is infectious, and I really wanted to be a part of it.”
Brad has gone out of his way to help realize Transcendence’s Big Dream. He has hosted numerous events, including stepping up at the last minute to put on a big Fourth of July picnic. Talk about coming full circle! Brad and his partner have also recently built a guest cottage on their property and are excited to host Transcendence artists for the first time next summer. “Sonoma is a very tranquil place, and Transcendence could not be a more exciting addition to the community,” says Brad. “During the summer, Transcendence shows are the social event of the season. I love being part of the Transcendence experience, and I look forward to future opportunities to support this amazing company.” Brad is a truly dedicated Chairman who goes the extra mile to help make the Transcendence experience amazing. The Advisory Council’s latest subcommittee initiative will address improvements to the current pre-show picnic, and they would love to get feedback from the Transcendence audience. If you have thoughts on how to make the pre-show experience even more extraordinary, reach out at BestFeedbackEver.org!
“My niece, Lauren Weintraub, was repeatedly cast as Annie when she was younger. I have seen ‘Annie’ more times than anyone should,” Brad says. “In 2011, my partner, Gary Masch, and I flew out to see her perform in Brunswick, Maine, over the Fourth of July weekend. After ‘Annie,’ the next show at the theater starred an artist named Eric Jackson. We had the pleasure of meeting Eric later that weekend at a huge picnic for the cast and crew hosted by community supporters.” “The following summer, we saw Eric’s name in the local Kenwood paper promoting his role in a show with Transcendence Theatre Company. We’d never been to a Transcendence show before. Right away, we were enchanted by the magic of Jack London State Historic Park and the incredible performers. Later, Eric introduced us to Amy,
SPICY, CREAMY SWEET POTATOES
HAVE A LAUGH!
Sweet potatoes are a Thanksgiving staple, but they’re often the blandest thing on the table. Luckily that’s not the case with this recipe, which features Thai spices and coconut milk.
INGREDIENTS
• 5 pounds sweet potatoes • 1 cup canned coconut milk • 1 tablespoon Thai red curry paste
• 1/2 cup dark brown sugar • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter • 1 tablespoon kosher salt
DIRECTIONS 1. Heat oven to 375 F. On a large sheet pan, bake potatoes until very soft, approximately 75 minutes. 2. Let potatoes cool until they are safe to handle, then peel and mash. 3. In a small saucepan over low heat, combine coconut milk and curry paste. Once mixed, add the mixture, salt, half the sugar, and half the butter to potatoes. 4. 30 minutes before serving, heat oven to 425 F. Spread potatoes in a baking dish, cover with foil, and bake for 20 minutes. 5. Uncover potatoes and dot with remaining butter and sugar. Broil until brown, crusty, and delicious. Serve hot. Inspired by The New York Times BESTNIGHTEVER.ORG | 3
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19201 SONOMA HWY #214, SONOMA, CA 95476 877-424-1414 • BESTNIGHTEVER.ORG
Inside This Issue
PAGE 1
A Magical Year
PAGE 2
Shall We Dance?
PAGE 3
Support What You Love
PAGE 3
Spicy, Creamy Sweet Potatoes
PAGE 4
Reimagining the Broadway Holiday Spectacular
REIMAGINING THE BROADWAY HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR
Have you ever looked up at a Christmas tree while lying on the ground? The lights shine and reflect off the ornaments. Some are new and some you recognize from when you were a child. Tony Gonzalez describes it as a feeling of nostalgia from holidays past and excitement about what is to come. “That is the feeling I want to create,” he says of the Broadway Holiday Spectacular this year. It seems too soon to be talking or even thinking about the holidays, but believe it or not, they’ve been on Tony’s mind for a while now. Tony is directing and choreographing the Broadway Holiday Spectacular, opening Nov. 30, 2018. He isn’t the only one with the holidays on his mind. Susan Draus is returning to this special Transcendence production after her debut in the spring production of “Ladies of Broadway.” This time, Susan is the Co-Creator with Tony Gonzalez. Sue’s impressive list of credits includes “Mamma Mia,” “Sister Act,” “Billy Elliot,” “Book of Mormon,” and “Beautiful: The Carole King Story.” This talented duo is delighted to include new songs, revamped holiday favorites, and pop songs with a festive twist in the Broadway Holiday Spectacular.
We can’t wait to reveal the cast in November. In the meantime, we can tell you that it is shaping up to be a wonderful show with all of your favorite TTC alumni and amazing new artists who will nestle right into your heart with their stellar talent.
This will be a fun and enchanting start to the holiday season, perfect for the whole family to enjoy.
The Broadway Holiday Spectacular will be at the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts in Santa Rosa Nov. 30-Dec. 2, and at the Lincoln Theater in Napa Dec. 6-7.
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