Lyric adds new shows to season!

Shelley Koppel
Staff writer
skoppel@YourVoiceWeekly.com

STUART — The Lyric Theatre has added several shows to its already bountiful season. On Nov. 14, Lyric favorite Lorrianna Colozzo kicks off the new season with “A Night at the Opera.” Colozzo will perform arias from favorite operas and will also perform with guests. The classically trained soprano is a graduate of the prestigious Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore. She last appeared at The Lyric in the spring, as Sarah Brown, in The Lyric’s production of “Guys and Dolls.” She will be accompanied by pianist Evan Ferrar, who also sings locally with the Palm Beach Opera. Bass baritone Graham Fandrei will join the two on stage. Mezzo-soprano Christina Zimmer and tenor David Pereira round out the program. Zimmer has appeared in concert with the Miami Symphony Orchestra and Marchese has performed with the Toledo Opera, Naples Opera and the Miami Lyric Opera.

“The Rabbi and the Italian,” is not the beginning of an old joke. It is a show starring Rabbi Bob Alper and stand-up comic Dick Capri, and combines favorite Jewish and Italian humor in a clean, family-friendly context. Alper is an ordained rabbi with a doctorate from Princeton who decided to pursue a comedy career. Dick Capri has performed at Radio City, the Palladium Theatre in London and on Broadway. The two take The Lyric stage on Dec. 10.

On Feb. 17-18, “Old Jews Telling Jokes” replaces “Big River” in the Broadway Series. “Old Jews” celebrates the tradition of Jewish humor, from one-liners to comedy routines. It pays tribute to some of the world’s most famous comedians as it showcases five actors who recreate and reinvent some of the greatest standups bits in Jewish comedy history. The show stays fresh by blending old and new jokes and is suitable for those of all ages and all religions. You don’t have to be Jewish…

Frank Loesser, father of The Lyric’s Executive Director, John Loesser, wrote “Guys and Dolls.” Before that, he wrote for Hollywood movies, collaborating with composers like Hoagy Carmichael and Burton Lane. He returned to Broadway with “Where’s Charley?” “The Most Happy Fella,” and “How to Succeed in Business.” On Feb. 23, the musical revue “More of Loesser” will treat the audience to the words and music of one of Broadway’s most celebrated composers.

On March 5, Florida native the Sauce Boss returns to The Lyric. The one-man band brings his ’53 Telecaster and 1948 Fender amp to perform some of his hits, including “Great Big Fanny,” and “Let the Big Dog Eat,” featured in the Jonathan Demme film, “Something Wild.” Did I mention that while he’s performing, he’s cooking up a big pot of gumbo that is served to the audience?

On March 9, the audience can relive the ‘60s and ‘70s with The McCartney Years. The band presents a live and accurate reproduction of Paul McCartney’s performances from the era of Beatlemania to the famous “Wings over America” tour of 1976.

The Texas Tenors come to town March 25. The trio, top four final-ists on “America’s Got Talent” in 2009, brings its blend of country, Broadway and classical styles to The Lyric stage. The group, originally from Branson, Mo., released its latest album, “You Should Dream,” in 2013. It was named a Billboard Top 10 album and led to a PBS special in November 2013. The Texas Tenors have performed in more than 20 countries, but they stick close to their roots and still perform at the Starlite Theatre in Branson, where they got their start. For The Lyric show, they will present original songs as well as songs including, “My Way,” and “Mountain Music” by Alabama.

The Lyric Theatre is located at 59 S.W. Flagler Ave., Stuart. For more information, call (772)286-7827 or visit the website, www.lyrictheatre.com. Tickets are on sale for members now; they go on sale to the general public Sept. 2. Memberships