Music/Theater Preview: KRITZERLAND’S 10TH ANNIVERSARY SHOW (Kritzerland — @ Home Again)

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by Tony Frankel on September 8, 2020

in Music,Theater-Los Angeles

PETULA CLARK, PAMELA MYERS, BETH MALONE AND MORE
SING THEIR HEARTS OUT
AT KRITZERLAND’S TENTH ANNIVERSARY SHOW

Petula Clark.

For the 109th Kritzerland show, roll out the ribbons and toss the confetti, because Kritzerland is celebrating its tenth anniversary. The monthly Kritzerland shows debuted in September of 2010 and over the years, audiences have heard more than 2300 songs, seen amazing performers, guest stars, and musical directors. Since early May, the Kritzerland shows have been done online.

Beth Malone.

On September 13, you’ll get not just the 109th show but The 10th Anniversary Show, which will offer new performances of old favorites, a lot of rarities, and a few things that have never been heard before.  The cast features Daniel Thomas Bellusci, Jason Graae, Peyton Kirkner, Beth Malone, Pamela Myers, Kerry O’Malley, Hartley Powers, Sami Straitman, Adrienne Stiefel, Robert Yacko, and special guest Petula Clark (yes, the legend herself).

Produced and hosted by Bruce Kimmel, co-produced by Doug Haverty, with musical direction by Richard Allen and technical expertise by Hartley Powers, the live concert streams for free on Facebook and YouTube (donations are welcome and will benefit The Actors Fund).

As always with the anniversary shows, there will be new performances of old favorites, a lot of rarities, and a few things that have never been heard before. So, don’t miss this celebration of the little show that could. Also scheduled to appear is Miss Mackenzie Wrap. There will also be surprises galore but those surprises will be secret until they happen. Kritzerland is produced and hosted by Bruce Kimmel, co-produced by Doug Haverty, with technical direction by Hartley Powers and musical direction by Richard Allen.

The Kritzerland concerts began ten years ago at the Gardenia in Hollywood. Throughout his career as a record producer, Bruce put out several albums of “cut” songs or “lost” songs featuring gorgeous, beautiful, funny, moving, great songs that had been removed from hit shows while in out-of-town try-outs. So, he already had all the charts for the songs, so he put an evening together and set up each song, explaining what show it was from and other key historical tidbits. Bruce would generally tap performers he’d worked with or with whom he had produced albums.

The show was very popular and became a monthly show with a different theme each month. This has been going on for ten years now. They eventually outgrew the Gardenia and moved to Vitello’s, then Upstairs at the Federal and back to the Feinstein’s at Vitello’s. Some shows were adorned with special guest stars, but it was usually a different cast each month. Since the pandemic, the shows have been virtual being presented on both Facebook and Youtube simultaneously.

Pamela Myers.

This is the only concert of its kind and each show has been different. There have been no out-and-out repeats. Some shows have featured famous theatrical composers, like Stephen Sondheim, Kander & Ebb, Schmidt & Jones, etc. and some shows have been more thematic; like “April Fools,” “Influencers,” or “May Madness.”

The Anniversary shows have typically been a potpourri of favorite numbers from recent shows mixed with all new material. But each balanced show is a celebration of composers, performers and song, all told with interesting facts and humor.

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