NEW YORK, NY – Fifty years after her legendary Carnegie Hall debut, The New York Pops remembers Hollywood icon Judy Garland on Friday, March 11 at 8:00 PM, with a song-for-song re-creation of the 1961 performance referred to by so many as “the greatest night in show business history”. Under the baton of Music Director Steven Reineke, Broadway luminary Ashley Brown, Grammy Award winner Heather Headley and West Side Story star Karen Olivo take the stage of Carnegie Hall in this vibrant revival of the historic concert, which features signature Garland favorites, such as “Over the Rainbow”, “The Trolley Song”, “Come Rain or Come Shine” and “The Man That Got Away”.

“I’m thrilled to recreate this iconic concert back here in Carnegie Hall,” said Reineke.”To perform the original arrangements of these timeless classics is a dream come true. Even more, I’m excited to be working with three of Broadway’s finest leading ladies.”

Judy Garland attained international stardom as a master of every venue of show business: film, television, recordings, radio, the concert stage, and even vaudeville. A Grammy, Golden Globe, Tony, and Academy Award-winning artist, Garland was signed to MGM as a teenager – she would go on to star in 30 films with the studio, including the film with which she would be most identified, The Wizard of Oz. After her release from the studio, Garland gained renewed success through a well-regarded but short-lived television series, multiple concert appearances, and a return to the silver screen with critically acclaimed performances in A Star Is Born and Judgment at Nuremberg.

In 1959, Garland was hospitalized with Hepatitis, and told by doctors that she would never be able to perform again. Yet against all odds, Garland came back stronger than ever, and the 1961 Carnegie Hall concert was described by The New York Times as “a tour de force for Garland”, as it marked her remarkable comeback to show business – “(The concert) turned into something not too remote from a revival meeting” ... “the star-studded, wildly applauding crowd was in a transport of ecstasy”. The performance became known to the world through the chart-topping live recording Judy Garland at Carnegie Hall, which was certified gold, charting for 95 weeks on Billboard, including 13 weeks at number one. The album won an unprecedented five Grammys, including Album of the Year and Best Female Vocal of the Year, and has never been out of print.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Ashley Brown originated the title role in "Mary Poppins" on Broadway for which she received Outer Critics, Drama League and Drama Desk nominations for Best Actress. Other Broadway credits include Belle in "The Beauty and The Beast". Ashley starred in the national tour of Disney's "On The Record". Ashley has performed with many orchestras in this past year, the New York Pops at Carnegie Hall (twice), the Cincinnati Pops (with Maestro Erich Kunzel), the Indianapolis Symphony (with Maestro Jack Everly) and the Pensacola Symphony. Upcoming projects including starring in the title role of Disney's national tour of "Mary Poppins" starting in Chicago (March 2009), a return engagement with Jack Everly and the Indianapolis Symphony, the 2009 NY Philharmonic gala with Marvin Hamlisch at Lincoln Center (April 2009), and a debut album of American Songbook standards to be released summer 2009. Regional credits include "Guys and Dolls" and "The Leading Men of Broadway" with the Indianapolis Symphony, "Broadway By the Year: 1956" at Town Hall in New York City and many shows at the Muny. Ashley studied at the Cincinnati College‐Conservatory of Music where she received her Bachelor in Fine Arts degree in Musical Theater. She was honored with the Laurie Beechman Award at CCM.

Heather Headley is a Tony and Grammy Award-winning artist who stole the national spotlight in 1997 when she originated the role of Nala in the Broadway adaptation of The Lion King. Headley's performance was highly lauded, and soon after, she originated the title role in the Broadway production of Aida, earning the 2000 Tony Award for Best Actress. In 1999, she appeared in the Encores! production of Do Re Mi, with Nathan Lane, Randy Graff, and Brian Stokes Mitchell. She also starred in a concert version of Dreamgirls alongside fellow Tony Award winners Audra McDonald and Lillias White.

In 2006, Headley sang "I'll Never Fall In Love Again", from the 1968 musical Promises, Promises for "The Kennedy Center Presents: The 2006 Mark Twain Prize," honoring playwright Neil Simon, an event which was broadcast on PBS. She has also performed on tour with Andrea Bocelli, and in the Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial with Josh Groban. Headley received a Grammy nod in 2002 for her debut album, This Is Who I Am (RCA), and her second album In My Mind was released in 2006. In 2010, Heather won a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Gospel Album for Audience of One (EMI).

Karen Olivo recently starred as Anita in the acclaimed Broadway revival of West Side Story, directed by Arthur Laurents, a role which garnered her the 2009 Tony Award, as well as nominations from Drama Desk, Drama League, and Outer Critics Circle.  Olivo originated the role of Vanessa in both the Off-Broadway and Broadway productions of the 2008 Tony Award-winning musical, In the Heights.  Furthermore, Olivo joined Lin-Manuel Miranda and the rest of the multi-ethnic cast in In the Heights: Chasing Broadway Dreams, a televised documentary highlighting their road to the New York stage. Olivo made her Broadway debut as Mimi in Jonathan Larson’s Pulitzer- and Tony Award-winning musical, Rent, a role she also performed in the first touring production of the show.  In 2004, she originated the role of Faith in the Broadway production of Brooklyn The Musical, directed by Jeff Calhoun.  Olivo has also been a recipient of the Astaire Award for Best Female Dancer on Broadway. 

Additional theatre credits include the Off-Broadway production of The Miracle Brothers, the Public Theatre’s 40th Anniversary concert production of Hair, and The Ford Theatre’s production of Children of Eden. Olivo will soon be seen opposite Keanu Reeves in the Mark Mann film Generation Um, scheduled to hit theaters in 2012.  Among Olivo’s television credits include guest-starring roles in “Criminal Minds,” “Chase,” “The Good Wife,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” “Conviction,” “Law & Order,” and “All My Children.”

The New York Pops is the largest independent pops orchestra in the United States, and the only professional symphonic orchestra in New York City specializing in popular music. Led by Music Director Steven Reineke, the orchestra performs an annual subscription series and birthday gala at Carnegie Hall, enjoying one of the venue’s highest subscription renewal rates of any series. The New York Pops was founded by former NBC Music Director Skitch Henderson in 1983 with a mission to create greater public awareness and appreciation of America’s rich musical heritage. Along with performing at Carnegie Hall, The New York Pops tours throughout the world and gives free concerts in New York City parks. The orchestra’s media projects include performing for the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular on NBC, nationwide radio broadcasts, and numerous recordings. The orchestra’s extensive education programs allow thousands of public schoolchildren to participate in concert and music-making experiences at Carnegie Hall and in schools throughout New York City’s five boroughs.

Steven Reineke’s boundless enthusiasm and exceptional artistry have made him one of the nation’s most sought-after pops conductors, composers and arrangers. In 2010-2011, he began his second season as Music Director of The New York Pops. In addition to conducting the orchestra’s annual Carnegie Hall concert series, Reineke leads concert tours, recordings and nationwide telecasts, including the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks on NBC. Reineke also serves as Principal Pops Conductor of the Long Beach and Modesto Symphony Orchestras and Associate Conductor of the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, where for fifteen years he served as a composer, arranger and conducting protégé of the late celebrated conductor Erich Kunzel. Steven Reineke’s notable guest conducting appearances include the National Symphony Orchestra, Boston Pops, Philadelphia Orchestra and his debut at the Hollywood Bowl in 2007. Mr. Reineke is also an established symphonic composer, with his works most recently performed by the New York Philharmonic and Los Angeles Philharmonic.

TICKETS Single tickets are priced from $33 to $106.  Subscriptions to the 2010-2011 Carnegie Hall series are also available, at $145, $165, $210, $350, $460 and $510. Purchases can be made at the Carnegie Hall Box Office (57^th Street and 7^th Avenue) or by calling CarnegieCharge at 212-247-7800. Visit www.carnegiehall.org for more information.

PRESS TICKETS 

Contact: Whitney Holden, Cohn Dutcher Associates; 917-339-7188; wholden@cohndutcher.com

PROGRAM

Friday, March 11, 2011, 8:00PM, Carnegie Hall, Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage

The Greatest Night in Show Business History: The 50^th Anniversary

Celebrating Judy at Carnegie Hall

Steven Reineke, Music Director and Conductor

Ashley Brown, Heather Headley, Karen Olivo, Guest Artists

RALPH BLANE/HAROLD ARLEN                           Overture: The Trolley Song – Over the Rainbow – The Man That Got Away

MARK FISHER/JOE GOODWIN/                            When You’re Smiling (The Whole World Smiles with You)

LARRY SHAY                                                     

FREDERICK LOEWE/ALAN JAY LERNER             Almost Like Being in Love – This Can’t Be Love                                       

– RICHARD RODGERS/LORENZ HART

GEORGE GERSHWIN/BUDDY DeSYLVA              Do It Again

J. FRED COOTS/HAVEN GILLESPIE                     You Go to My Head                                                                              

ARTHUR SCHWARTZ/HOWARD DIETZ                  Alone Together

GEORGE GERSHWIN/IRA GERSHWIN                 Who Cares? (As Long As You Care for Me)                         [Jazz Combo]

IRVING BERLIN                                                    Puttin’ On the Ritz                                                            [Jazz Combo]

GEORGE GERSHWIN/IRA GERSHWIN                 How Long Has This Been Going On?                                   [Jazz Combo]

JESSE GREER/RAYMOND KLAGES                    Just You, Just Me                                                              [Jazz Combo]

HAROLD ARLEN/IRA GERSHWIN                         The Man That Got Away

BRONISLAW KAPER/WALTER JURMANN/           San Francisco

GUS KAHN

                                                                           INTERMISSION                                                                                    

ARTHUR SCHWARTZ/HOWARD DIETZ                  That’s Entertainment

JIMMY McHUGH/DOROTHY FIELDS                     I Can’t Give You Anything But Love (arr. Nelson Riddle)                            

HAROLD ARLEN/JOHNNY MERCER                     Come Rain or Come Shine (arr. Nelson Riddle)

RICHARD RODGERS/LORENZ HART                    You’re Nearer                                                                       [Solo Piano]

GEORGE GERSHWIN/IRA GERSHWIN                 A Foggy Day                                                                       [Solo Piano]

NOËL COWARD                                                   If Love Were All                                                                    [Solo Piano]

JAMES F. HANLEY                                              Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart (arr. Nelson Riddle)                            

HAROLD ARLEN/TED KOEHLER                          Stormy Weather

JAMES V. MONACO/JOSEPH McCARTHY–          You Made Me Love You – For Me and My Gal – The Trolley Song

GEORGE W. MEYER/EDGAR LESLIE/E. RAY

GOETZ – RALPH BLANE/HUGH MARTIN

JEAN SCHWARTZ/SAM M. LEWIS/                       Rock-a-Bye Your Baby (With a Dixie Melody)

JOE YOUNG

ENCORES TO BE ANNOUNCED FROM STAGE

The New York Pops is a not-for-profit corporation supported solely through the generosity of individual donations, institutional grants, and concert income. Dates, artists and programs are subject to change.

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