`Weekend on the Green' kicks off
Pacific Repertory Theatre launches its 2022 summer season with A Weekend on The Green featuring two tribute concerts on The Garden Stage (Jack Payton Stage) at the Monterey County Fairgrounds.
“In the Park with Sondheim” celebrates works by the legendary composer Stephen Sondheim Saturday at 4 p.m. On Sunday at 2 p.m. the company presents another of its popular Legends of Rock concerts. Tickets for the two tribute concerts will be sold separately.
Sondheim, who died at age 91 last November, is a luminary of American musical theatre, whose contributions span more than six decades. He achieved prominence in 1957 as Leonard Bernstein's lyricist for “West Side Story.” His acclaim flourished as a brilliant and unconventional composer, songwriter and lyricist, with musicals such as “Company,” “Sweeney Todd” and “Into the Woods.” His song “Send in the Clowns” from A Little Night Music has been recorded over 500 times, most famously by Frank Sinatra.
Born in New York, he moved with his mother to Pennsylvania after his parents' divorce, where they lived near Broadway musical icon Oscar Hammerstein and his wife, who was a friend of his mother's. Hammerstein became a father figure and mentor to Sondheim, who saw himself as the heir to his musical legacy. He took the genre far beyond the traditional music and structure of his mentor and is credited with reinventing the American musical. Over the past four decades, PacRep has produced many of Sondheim's works, the musicals as well as reviews of his songs.
PacRep artists JT Holmstrom, Velvet Piini, Jeff Hinderscheid, Lara Devin and Niki Moon will perform over 30 Sondheim classics, drawn from his Broadway musicals.
PacRep's classic rock tribute concerts have a devoted following. Sunday's Legends of Rock performers will present over 40 hits featuring Daniel Simpson, Malinda DeRouen, Lydia Lyons, with Davitt Felder, David Shultz and the Echo Boomers. Their performances include works made popular by Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Eddie Cochran, Betty Everett, Martha and The Vandelles, Carole King, The Contours, Etta James, Linda Ronstadt, The Beatles, Dion, Tina Turner, Fleetwood Mac and more.
Enjoy lawn seating (bring a blanket) directly in front of the stage. Bleacher seating is available on a firstcome, first-served basis.
Grounds open 60 minutes before showtime. Fair concessions will be available. Advance tickets can be purchased at the PacRep's Box Office at the Indoor Forest Theatre. For tickets and information call 831622-0100, or see PacRep.org.