The Bowl waltzes off with a stellar night
A moody Sibelius and Ravel’s seductive ‘Bolero’ make an alluring combination.
That was fast. It’s only the third week of the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s classical concerts at the Hollywood Bowl, and the adventure and ambition feel like they’re pretty much over.
With the exception of Gustavo Dudamel’s hastily arranged, mid-August popsflavored Latin American program, which replaces a much-anticipated performance of “The Nutcracker” by the National Ballet of Cuba (canceled thanks to the federal government’s visa restrictions), the Bowl has nothing of the last half-century other than screenings of “Star Wars” films with live orchestral accompaniment.
It’s an idiosyncrasy of the American summer that we seek exploration in our travels but not our minds, this being the season of popular programming, blockbuster films and escapist literature (unlike in Europe, where the most important summer festivals are places of discovery).
Then again, there is adventure, and there is adventure. A perfect night at the Bowl — and Tuesday had some aspects of being one — can place a listener in the mood for music. What is familiar fare for some, more-
place in 1933, during the Great Depression.
In one scene, Warbucks takes Annie to meet President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who is inspired by her song “Tomorrow.” The resonant themes of hope and faith in the book and lyrics attracted Arden to the show. He saw striking parallels with America’s present political environment.
“We’re in a time much like 1933, in which we feel like we’ve lost our voice and our agency, and a lot of people seem so exhausted by the news of the world and politics that they feel a sense of hopelessness,” he says. “I hope people leave inspired by the idea that one voice can change the minds of multitudes, and I hope it will help people to go to the polls, or reach out to someone with different ideas.”
Where Arden sees the story of a little girl who, out of adversity, inspires people from social and political divides to come together, the diminutive actors cast as the orphans see it as something else.
Eight little girls were cast based on open audition tapes submitted to the production’s creative team via YouTube. Six are from Southern California, including Santa Monica, Los Angeles, Murrieta and Eastvale. Sitting together after the rehearsal, the girls chatter excitedly about having come from community theater and suddenly finding themselves about to perform before an audience of more than 17,000.
“This is going to be a big step in all of our careers for acting, singing and dancing,” says 12-year-old Olivia Zenetzis of Reseda. “I’m also excited because we’ll get to perform it for so many people and they will get to experience the joy of ‘Annie.’ ”
“I can’t believe I get to perform with Megan Hilty and Roger Bart,” says 9-year-old Marlow Barkley of Altadena. “They are so inspiring, and I feel like I can follow in their footsteps, hopefully.”
Hilty, who played Ivy Lynn in NBC’s musical drama “Smash,” will be the scheming Lily St. Regis, Rooster’s girlfriend. Bart, who originated the role of Carmen Ghia in “The Producers” on Broadway and won a Tony for “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown,” plays Rooster.
Comedian David Alan Grier, the three-time Tony nominee and former star of the comedy series “In Living Color,” will play Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks. Ana Gasteyer (“Saturday Night Live”) will be Miss Hannigan; Lea Salonga (“Miss Saigon”) will be Warbucks’ secretary, Grace Farrell; and Ali Stroker (the 2015 revival of “Spring Awakening”) will play Star to Be.
The role of Annie belongs to Kaylin Hedges, 10, a New York actress who auditioned for her first show at age 6 and played a sheep in “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.” Kaylin recalls this early role while sitting beside the rescue dog who plays Annie’s dog, Sandy.
“I started acting when I was 6, but I wanted to act when I was 4,” she says, smiling. “I got in my first show at 7, and I got to play a lamb.”
Three years later Hedges is the seasoned veteran of the “Annie” cast along with 12-year-old Amadi Chapata, who is from Atlanta and appeared in “School of Rock” on Broadway.
“It’s really great that once I perform on the stage, all the little girls in the audience might be like ‘Oh, maybe I want to do this when I grow up,’ ” Hedges says. “It’s fun to try to encourage them.”
Arden does hope to inspire the young dreamers of Los Angeles, particularly because he got his start as a director here and feels a special kinship with the city. He was artist in residence at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills, and his revival of “Spring Awakening” landed on Broadway in 2015.
“They have so much energy; they love what they do,” Arden says of the young actors. “The Bowl only gets a week to rehearse the show, and it’s a huge musical, so it’s pretty demanding. But they are having a good time and they have great snacks. I think it’s working out well.”