Category Archives: BRO Shows

Ten Years: Anniversary Show

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Boston Rock Opera’s 10th Anniversary Celebration
Presented at the Middle East, Saturday, June 7th, 2003

“Featuring music from Preservation, Jesus Christ Superstar, SF Sorrow, Abbey Road, Sgt Pepper, Rocky Horror,
Happiness Stan, Aqualung, Billion Dollar Babies, old and new friends and a few surprises!”

Complete List of Songs and Performers

8:30
The Point! – in Concert
Music and story by Harry Nilsson

Directed by Eleanor Ramsay
Music Direction by Joel Simches
Choreography by Kristen Kissik

The Ensemble:
Mr. Curt as the Storyteller
Ramona Silver as Oblio
John Surette as The Pointless Man
Linda Viens as Oblio’s Mother
John Whiteside as The Count
Lisa McColgan as The Count’s Kid
George Bonin as The King
Stan LeRoy as the Rock Man
C. Moon Mullins as The Leaf Man
With Sally Tetzlaff and Wendi Whitsett

The Dancers:
Kristen Kissik, Rosemary Candelairo,
Jenna Hussey, Michelle Braden, Susan Fetter
With Tanina Carrabotta as Arrow

The Band:
Joel Simches – keyboards, vocals
Jeffrey Simmons – keyboards, vocals
Mick Maldonado – keyboards, vocals
Joe Turner – guitar and banjo, vocals
Nate Hagee – bass
Wright Maney – drums, percussion
Carolyn Corella – flutes, percussion and saxophone

Costumes by Penney Pinette
Set pieces by Laura McPherson
Lighting by Harry Melanson

10th Anniversary All Star Band
Music directed by Mick Maldonado
MC: Pat McGrath

The BRO 10th Anniversary Chorus: Front Row (l-to-r) John Powhida, T Max, Mick Maldonado, Eleanor Ramsay, Joe Turner. Second Row: John Surette, Judy Dombrowski, C. Moon Mullins. 3rd Row: Chris Mascara, Christine Zuffery, Holly Sugar, Linda Viens, Mark Cherone, Wendi Whitsett, Lisa McColgan, Susan Barnaby Travis, Gary Cherone

Vocalists:
Gary Cherone, Mick Maldonado, Chris Mascara, Kay Hanley, Peter Moore, T Max, John Surette, Linda Viens, Mark Cherone, Christine Zuffery, John Powhida, Izzy Maxwell, Judy Dombrowski, Holly Sugar, Susan Barnaby, Joe Turner, Joel Simches, C. Moon Mullins, Wendi Whitsett

Musicians:
Guitars: Bill Bracken, Cathy Capozzi, Mick Maldonado, Mike Loce, Chris Mascara
Bass: Ethan Mackler, Nate Hagee, Corin Ashley, John Rapoza, Izzy Maxwell
Keys: Carol Namkoong, Joel Simches, Suzi Lee
Drums: Malcolm Travis, Larry Dersch, Wright Maney, Steve Whitcomb
Carolyn Corella (piccolo, sax, percussion)
Melissa Welles (flute)

SkyPaint: A Popopera
words and music by Russell Chudnofsky

Russell Chudnofsky as Skypaint — vocals and guitars
Sarah Borges as Laila — vocals and guitars
Tom (Tao Jones) Sturm as Dr Riley J. Jones
Binky Rice as Hank
Eric Schmider as R. J. Jones II
Rob Dulaney — drums
Phil Magnifico — bass

Animation and lighting design by Larry Sampson

Happiness Stan (ArtBeat 1998)

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Directed by Eleanor Ramsay
Music Direction by Mick Maldonado
Choreography by Kristen Kissik

The Cast:

Peter Moore as The Storyteller
C. Moon Mullins as Stan
Kristen Kissik as The Moon
Brian Gottesman as The Fly
Kaci Carr as The Tiny Fly Voice
Lynette Estes as The Crone
T Max as Mad John
Megan Berry as The Wife
Brittanie Fletcher as The Sun

Dancers: Rachael Morales, Susan Oziemblewski
and Megan Berry

The Band:

Mick Maldonado: Guitar
Matt Thorsen: Guitar
Natasha Busse: Keyboards
Ethan Mackler: Bass
Nigel Matthews: Drums
Ken Field: Flute

Props, Masks and Costumes by Kat Mitchell, Eleanor Ramsay and Lisa McColgan

Night @ The Opera (1998)

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A concert celebrating the narrative long-form song
Saturday, June 27, 1998
at The Middle East Downstairs
480 Massachusetts Ave, Central Square, Cambridge, MA

Boston Rock Opera presented this three-hour, three-act night of rock opera excerpts, works in progress and narrative song favorites to showcase the talents of many BRO company members and raise money for BRO’s future productions.

ACT ONE (9pm)Overture/It’s a Boy
(Tommy, The Who)
Mick Maldonado – Acoustic Guitar, Vocal
Matt Thorsen, Chris Blue – Electric Guitar
Jim Mosher – French Horn
Kevin McKeever – Keyboards
Matt Silbert – Bass
Malcolm Travis – Drums
Lisa McColgan, Vocal
BRO Chorus – Ensemble VocalBillion Dollar Babies
Monologue/Black Widow (Alice Cooper)
Karen Martakos – Vocals
Gene Dante – Vocals
Chris Blue, Charles Hanson – Guitars
Rich Cortese – Bass
Malcolm Travis – DrumsOrdinary People (Soap Opera, The Kinks)
Mick Mondo – Starmaker/Norman
Kaci Carr – Andrea
Kevin McKeever – Keyboards
Matt Thorsen – Guitar
Dave Pace – Bass
Poppy Brodsky – Tenor Sax
Nigel Matthews – Drums
Lynette Estes, Linda Viens – Ensemble Vocal

The Gift (The Velvet Underground)
Devin McGuire – Vocal
w/ The Garage Dogs
Bill Hough, Paul Hough, Matt Hough

Wuthering Heights (Kate Bush)
a ghost story by Emily Bronte
Ticia Low – Cathy
John Ridlon – Heathcliff, Keyboard
Bill Hough – Edgar
Billy O’Brien – Guitar
Jason Redi – Bass
Mark Manczuk – Drums

Big Brother
Chant of the Ever Circling Skeletal Family
We are the Dead
(1984, released as Diamond Dogs, David Bowie)
Peter Moore – Winston
Linda Viens – Julia
Mick Maldonado – Keyboards
Chris Blue – Electric Guitar
Chris Burrage – Bass
Nigel Matthews – Drums
BRO Chorus – Ensemble Vocal

ACT TWO (10:15pm)

Brand New Gun (Marksmen, songs by Tim Robert,
dialogue by David Geissler)
scene directed by David Geissler
Peter Moore – Norman
Ticia Low – Kate
Jim McKay – Ray
Tim Robert – John
George Hall, Tom Scanlon – Guitars
Margaret Weigel – Bass
Ethan Meyer – Drums

There’s A Doctor I’ve Found/Go to the Mirror
(Tommy, The Who)
Soylent Green (is people!)
(Soylent Green, the Rock Opera, KrebStar)
Jess Walker – Keyboards, Vocals
Rick Shaw – Guitar, Vocals
Lance Blair – Bass, Vocals
Mike Demers – Drums

The Magician’s Birthday (Uriah Heep)
Mick Mondo – Narrator/Magician
Gene Dante – Evil Sorcerer
Kaci Carr The Good Witch
BRO Chorus – The Witches
Chris Blue – The Zombie, Guitar
Matt Thorsen – Guitar
Dave Pace – Bass
Nigel Matthews – Drums
Rick Shaw – Kazoo

 The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia (Russel)
Lynette Estes – Lead Vocal
Matt Thorsen -Guitar
Chris Blue – Bass
Wright Maney – DrumsRun Joey Run (Perricone/Vance)
Lynette Estes – Lead Vocal
Chris Blue – Guitar
Chris Burrage – Bass
Wright Maney – Drums
Gene Dante, Karen Martakos, Lisa McColgan – vocals

Meet ‘n Greet
Where Were You Then?
(Mondo’s House of Wax, Mick Mondo)
Mick Mondo – Lead Vocal
BRO Chorus – Ensemble Vocals
Matt Thorsen, Chris Blue – Guitars
Dave Pace – Bass
Nigel Matthews- Drums

Thick as Thieves
Burning Sky
Saturday’s Kids (Setting Sons, The Jam)
Matt Thorsen – Lead Vocals, Guitar
Dave Pace – Bass
Nigel Matthews – Drums, Vocals

ACT THREE (11:45pm)

Bohemian Rhapsody (Queen)
Lynette Estes – Lead Vocal
BRO Chorus – Ensemble Vocal
Mick Mondo – Conductor
Chris Blue, George Hall -Guitars
Kevin McKeever – Keyboards
Matt Silbert – Bass
Nigel Matthews – Drums

Big John
Pat McGrath – Lead Vocal
w/ The Wheelers & Dealers
BRO Chorus – voacls

Getting Better All the Time (Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, The Beatles)
Pat Badger – Bass, Vocals
Mick Maldonado, Matt Thorsen – Guitars, Vocals
Nigel Matthews – Drums

Punk Meets the Godfather
The Real Me
(Quadrophenia, The Who)
Gary Cherone – Vocals
Pat Badger – Bass, Vocals
Mick Maldonado, Matt Thorsen – Guitars, Vocals
Nigel Matthews, Mike Mangini – Drums

Sweet Transvestite
(The Rocky Horror Show, Richard O’Brien)
Gene Dante – Frankenfurter
BRO Chorus – Transylvanians
Mick Maldonado, Chris Blue – Guitar
Kevin McKeever- Keyboards
Chris Burrage – Bass
Poppy Brodsky – Tenor Sax
Nigel Matthews – Drums

Alcohol (The Kinks)
Mick Mondo – Vocal, Keyboard

Money Talks (Preservation Act II, The Kinks)
Mick Mondo- Mr. Flash
Tim Robert – Spiv
BRO Chorus – Floosies and Spivs
Matt Thorsen – Guitar
Dave Pace – Bass
Kevin McKeever- Keyboards
Nigel Matthews – Drums

Production Credits:
Music Direction: Mick Maldonado
Producer: Eleanor Ramsay
Stage Manager: Melisa Dowaliby
Lighting: Harry Melanson
Sound: Mike Higgins
Dresser: Elizabeth Hope

The BRO Chorus:
Lynette Estes, Gene Dante, Karen Martakos, Peter Moore, Linda Viens,Kaci Carr, Rick Shaw, Lisa McColgan, Tim Robert, Eleanor Ramsay, Ticia Low, Jess Walker

Special Thanks: The Massachusetts College of Art; Rick McDermott; Joe Gallo; Jane Bulger; Chachi and WBCN

Another Night @ The Opera (1999)

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Presented Sunday, August 1, 1999

The Middle East, 480 Mass Ave.,
Central Square, Cambridge, MA

Boston Rock Opera’s annual fundraiser featured more than 40 musicians, singers, dancers and special guests from the Boston rock community and previous BRO productions presenting music from The Small Faces, Roxy Music, The Kinks, Donovan, Genesis, David Bowie, Pretty Things, Queen, Alice Cooper and much more… Continue reading →

Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

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Boston Rock Opera presented
Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band — a concert, performing the classic Beatles’ concept album as a rock vaudevillian concert intertwined with a loose narrative of emotional highs and lows, during November 1995 and then for a special one-week run in February, 1996. The shows were enthusiastically received by fans who packed the Lansdowne Street Playhouse and braved the New England blizzards to spend a splendid time with Sgt. Pepper and his troupe.

 "A splendid, joyous production that’ll bring a smile to your face" The Boston Globe

"An original and creative vision" The Noise

"The band meets the daunting challenge
of covering one of the best-loved albums in rock ‘n roll history"
The Boston Herald

"Fresh and on-the-money"
Boston Rock

The Rocky Horror Show

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Boston Rock Opera revisited this sci-fi/horror spoof — a kinky UFO tale of sexual awakenings and forbidden fruit — for two weeks in October (1997) to raise money and awareness for The AIDS Action Committee, New England’s oldest and largest AIDS service organization.

The event, sponsored in-part by WBCN, was presented at the Massachusetts College of Art’s Tower Auditorium and entertained with an over-the-top production which also provided excellent community outreach and raised nearly $1,500.

Some Reviews (links take you to the full text)

“Ryan Landry embodied the ultimate Amazonian transvestite from hell… The crack six-piece band was another highlight. Ingeniously tucked away in a screened dungeon under the castle stairs, they achieved that elusive state of refined and raucous rock-opera grace.”
Joan Anderman — The Boston Globe

“By getting the music and spirit right the BRO crew can do the Time Warp without getting caught in a time warp”
Brett Milano — The Boston Phoenix

“The Boston Rock Opera’s 1997 presentation of “The Rocky Horror Show” had it all. And if it didn’t get you wondering where your sex life is really at then, well, drawers down to you.”
Scott Chelsy — Krave

“One of the problems of staging “The Rocky Horror Show” is that the spectre of the film always looms over it, inviting comparison of the cast’s interpretation of the roles as well as it’s design and tone. Fortunately, this production rises to the occasion…”
J.S.Hill — Bay Windows

“The show was way beyond any night club entertainment Boston has to offer. ”
–The Noise

Everyone, both musician and singer alike did a capital job…
— TheaterMirror.com

Abbey Road

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Boston Rock Opera performed the this amazing Beatles recording, live in concert, as a Special Event to benefit the Mikey Dee Musician’s Trust (mikeydee.org)

Featuring (vocalists): Chris Mascara, Peter Moore, Mick Maldonado, John Surette, Gary Cherone, Valerie Forgione, Linda Viens, Gene Dante, Brian Gottesman, Bleu, T Max, Corin Ashley, Christine Zuffery, Bree Greig, Paula Morris, Sally Tezlaff, Elaine O’Rourke, Judy Dombrowski, Megan Berry (the musicians): Cathy Capozzi, Mike Loce, Mick Maldonado, T Max: guitars; Joel Simches, Carol Namkoong: keyboards; Corin Ashley: Bass; Larry Dersch: Drums.

 

SF Sorrow

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A Rock Opera by The Pretty Things
Presented November 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 1999

SF Sorrow tells the cautionary tale of Sebastian F Sorrow; a nobody. With fatalistic resign he navigates through his life working in the “factories of misery” of an industrialized and unforgiving world where rain falls relentlessly and life is squeezed out drop by drop. We follow Sorrow from birth though adolescence; witness his early stirrings of love; the horror of war; the tragedy of loss; and the madness which eventually engulfs him after his fateful exchange with the sinister Baron Saturday.

The first true full-length rock opera, released in 1968, SF SORROW features a surprisingly relevant rock score brought to life by a cast of 14, a 6 piece rock band and a multi-image light show. The Production featured standout performances by Peter Moore as SF Sorrow, Linda Bean as Sally, the girl next door, Gene Dante as the Narrator and Mick Maldonado as Baron Saturday.

The Pretty Things, rock and roll’s unrepentant original bad boys, have a long and illustrative career. Breaking onto the scene during the first “British Invasion” of the mid-sixties the Pretties, like the Rolling Stones, Yardbirds and Kinks, demonstrated loudly that not all British bands were lovable mop-tops. The rawness of their sound and their off-stage antics foreshadowed what would become the de-rigure “bad” attitude for alternative rock groups to this day. They also managed to record a lot of great records along the way including SF Sorrow and Parachute, both recently re-released on Snapper Music, and they managed to stay alive. The Pretty Things themselves performed SF Sorrow live in concert for the first time in 1998 at Abbey Road Studios (with a live webcast and special guest David Gilmour), released a new CD Rage Before Beauty and completed a US tour (their first in almost twenty-five years!)

In BRO’s hands… the cold, brutal fatalism of the narrative… was infused with poignant drama, and the sense that at the story’s center beats a still-striving human heart.
— Jonathan Perry, Boston Phoenix

S. F. Sorrow is a dramatic, entertaining night of theater that should not be missed.
— digitalcity Boston

For the Benefit of Mr Dee

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Being for the Benefit of Mr. Dee
An Evening of Rock & Roll Storytelling and Song Honoring Mikey Dee
Presented Wednesday, May 3, 2000,
AXIS 13 LANSDOWNE STREET, BOSTON

Featued Gary Cherone, Kay Hanley, Peter Moore, Mick Maldonado, David Minehan, Linda Viens, Gene Dante, John Surette, Brian Gottesman, Lynette Estes, T Max, Holly Sugar and many others performing excerpts from BRO’s rock opera repertory, including The Who’s mini-opera A Quick One While He’s Away, excerpts from Jesus Christ Superstar, Preservation, Tommy and SF Sorrow and songs chosen for their significance to Mikey.

BRO’s presentation was the opening night event of a 5 night music series featuring some of the biggest names in the Boston rock scene. All proceeds supported the Mikey Dee Musician’s Benefit Trust established to assist with medical and living expenses while Mikey recovers from a devastating brainstem stroke suffered on Feb 7, 2000. The entire event raised $eleanor,000. The Trust’s long-term goal is to provide fund assistance for other musicians who suffer catastrophic events.

Show Highlights | More details/full schedule | Benefit Press Release | Review from Boston Soundcheck | Review from the Noise

The Festival: "FOR THE BENEFIT OF MR. DEE" MAY 3 – 7, 2000 — 5 Nights of Music and Love — FEATURED 26 SHOWS FEATURED 90+, BANDS INCLUDING: LETTERS TO CLEO, ANGRY SALAD, THE PUSH STARS, THE SHEILA DEVINE, BABALOO, ORBIT, SUPERHONEY, THE GRAVEL PIT, QUINTAINE AMERICANA, VOODOO DOLLS, SLIDE, THE STRANGEMEN, MERRIE AMSTERBURG, SEKS BOMBA, BABY RAY, THE OUTLETS, MARY LOU LORD AND MANY MORE! DETAILS AT: WWW.MIKEYDEE.COM

The Point!

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First Night 2003 BRO performed Harry Nisson’s classic album The Point! – in concert for Boston’s First Night Festival (December 31st at the Park Plaza Castle). The homage to the classic 1971 album featured vocalists, a seven piece band, dancers and puppetry and was a tribute to Nilsson’s fable of a round headed boy born into a pointed world. Also at the Castle that night Peter Moore solo piano and former Bostonians, indie darlings The Gigolo Aunts.

Nilsson’s beloved fable tells the story of Oblio, his dog Arrow, and their adventures in the Pointless Forest. Born without a point in a land where “everything and everyone must have one,” Oblio is banished for being different. During his banishment, little Oblio realizes that since everything in the Pointless Forest, no matter how odd it might be, has a point — a reason for being — then he must have one too.

First Night Presentation: Featuring:

In The Ensemble: Mr. Curt, Ramona Silver, John Surette, Valerie Forgione, Lisa McColgan, John Whiteside, George Bonin, Stan LeRoy, C. Moon Mullins, Sally Tetzlaff and Wendi Whitsett.

The Dancers: Kristen Kissik – choreographer, Tanina Carrabotta, Rosemary Candelairo,
Jenna Hussey, Michelle Braden and Susan Fetter.

The Band: Joel Simches – keyboards, music director, Jeffrey Simmons – keyboards,
Mick Maldonado- keyboards, Joe Turner- guitar and banjo, Nate Hagee – bass,
Wright Maney – drums, percussion, Carolyn Corella – flutes, percussion and saxophone.

Costumes by Penney Pinette, Puppets by Laura McPherson
Directed by Eleanor Ramsay and John Whiteside

Galleries:
Dress Rehearsal
Photos by Claudia DeHaven Biddle

The Point! (outside link)
by Andy Alpern