Broadway greats pay tribute to the art of Jazz Dance & Music12:00AM / Thursday, July 15, 2004
Choreographers Chet Walker and Matt Mattox premiere Jazz on Jazz at the Pillow including live music at all performances
Becket - Broadway veteran Chet Walker premieres his latest production Jazz on Jazz in the Doris Duke Studio Theatre at Jacob's Pillow, August 5-8. A protégé of Bob Fosse, Mr. Walker conceived the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical "Fosse" in 1999, and his latest production is an evening-length tribute to the uniquely American art of jazz through dance and music.
The show features a live jazz quartet, acclaimed dancers from screen and stage, and new choreography by Mr. Walker and jazz dance legend Matt Mattox. In addition to the live musicians, the show also includes recorded classics by such masters as Count Basie, Herb Alpert, and Cole Porter.
In related Free Events, a preview performance of excerpts from Jazz on Jazz will be given at Inside/Out on Wednesday, August 4 at 6:30pm, and The School at Jacob's Pillow shows works by Chet Walker and Matt Mattox at Inside/Out on Saturday, August 7 at 6:30pm.
Performance and Ticket Information for Jazz on Jazz: Performances are held Thursday, August 5 at 8:15pm; Friday, August 6 at 2:15pm and 8:15pm; Saturday, August 7 at 2:15pm and 8:15pm; and Sunday, August 8 at 5pm. Tickets are $20 each for all performances, with a 10% discount available for seniors, students, and youth under the age of 13.
Tickets may be purchased by calling the Box Office at 413.243.0745, faxing orders to 413.243.0749, or ordering online at www.jacobspillow.org. Jacob's Pillow is located on George Carter Road in Becket, MA; 10 minutes East on Route 20 from Mass Pike Exit 2.
Jazz on Jazz honors the art of jazz through original jazz dance choreography and a variety of jazz music. Drawing on the dance traditions of Jack Cole and Bob Fosse, the choreographers create dances that are both spirited and punchy. For this production, Chet Walker has assembled a talented cast whose credits include many hit musicals: "Fosse," "Contact," "Chicago," "A Chorus Line," and the recent revival of "Oklahoma!", while two of the dancers, Ami Price and Ashley Bachner, were once Rockettes.
The cast also includes dancers with significant film credentials: Shannon Lewis appeared in "The Stepford Wives" and Dana Moore was in Woody Allen's "Everybody Says I Love You."
The live jazz quartet plays classics and hits by such greats as Cole Porter, Tom Peterson, Joe Zawinul, Bobby Troup, and Lee Morgan. Music Director Rick Willett plays drums and leads the band as they accompany many of the dances and provide musical interludes.
He is joined by Harry Anderson (bass), Robert Ponte (keyboards), and Steve Spencer (woodwinds). The music is rounded out by recorded standards by Count Basie and Herb Alpert, along with swing-era recordings by Jimmy Mundy and Neal Hefti.
Chet Walker debuted on Broadway at the age of sixteen in a revival of "On the Town." He appeared in Bob Fosse's musicals "The Pajama Game," "Pippin," "Dancin'", and "Sweet Charity." In 1999, Mr. Walker conceived the Tony Award-winning Broadway smash "Fosse," and off-Broadway he premiered "Seduction" with his music theater company 8&ah1 Productions in 2000.
At the Pillow in 2001, he conceived and created "Anger" for "The Seven Deadly Sins," and his company 8&ah1 performed "Confessions of Love." Mr. Walker has directed the Jazz Program for The School at Jacob's Pillow since 2000.
Matt Mattox is a revered icon in the world of jazz dance whose career has spanned decades and has included work in the worlds of stage, film, and television. He received his early jazz training from the pioneering master of jazz dance Jack Cole, who was a student of Pillow founder Ted Shawn and choreographed such notable films and productions as "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes," "There's No Business Like Show Business," and "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum."
On Broadway, Mr. Mattox performed such classics as "Song of Norway," "Oklahoma!", "Kiss Me, Kate," and "Once Upon a Mattress;" he also portrayed Caleb in the classic screen musical "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" and was a featured dancer in "The Band Wagon" and "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes." He has been on the faculty for The School at Jacob's Pillow since 2001.
Free Events this Week:
New York City Ballet principal dancer Peter Boal discusses his new company and how he selects repertory pieces in the PillowTalk Peter Boal: On His Own on Wednesday, August 4 at 5pm.
Authors Nancy Reynolds (the Director of Research for the George Balanchine Foundation) and Malcolm McCormick discuss their recently-published dance history chronicle, followed by a book signing, in the PillowTalk "No Fixed Points: Dance in the Twentieth Century," Saturday, August 7 at 4pm.
A preview performance of Jazz on Jazz will be given at Inside/Out on Wednesday, August 4 at 6:30pm. The precocious talent of Belvoir Terrace, a performing arts camp in the Berkshires, performs on Inside/Out, Thursday, August 5 at 6:30pm. Lionel Popkin brings his unique interpretation of companionship through dance and cooking, "And Then We Eat," to Inside/Out, Friday, August 6 at 6:30pm.
The School at Jacob's Pillow: Jazz program, led by Program Director Chet Walker, showcase their week's efforts with instructor Patty Wilcox on Inside/Out, Saturday, August 7 at 6:30pm. The ongoing Exhibits are America's Irreplaceable Dance Treasures: The First 100, Balanchine at the Pillow, and Unseen: Photos by Mike van Sleen.
Jacob's Pillow Funders As of April 2004, support for Festival 2004, including presentations and educational programs, has been provided by Doris Duke Charitable Foundation; The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation; The Wallace Foundation; Surdna Foundation; The Prospect Hill Foundation; William Randolph Hearst Foundation; National Endowment for the Arts; Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency; The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation; Altria, Inc.; The Shubert Foundation; Leir Charitable Trusts in Memory of Henry J. Leir; The Ridgefield Foundation; The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation; William J. and Dorothy K. O'Neill Foundation; National Dance Project and Expeditions program of the New England Foundation for the Arts; The Harkness Foundation for Dance; Alex Toys; Dance Heritage Coalition; Evelyn Stefansson Nef Foundation; Capezio®/Ballet Makers Inc. & Capezio®/Ballet Makers Dance Foundation.; Banknorth Massachusetts; Berkshire Bank; Onota Foundation; Big Y World Class Market; Arch W. Shaw Foundation; Health New England; Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation; the Pillow Business Alliance; and our Members.
Major endowment funding comes from the Talented Students in the Arts Initiative, a collaboration of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and Surdna Foundation; The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation; William Randolph Hearst Foundation; and Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
ABOUT THE PILLOW: Located in the town of Becket, Massachusetts, internationally acclaimed Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival was originally a family farm in the 1700s and served as a station on the Underground Railroad in the 1800s. Legendary dancer, teacher, and choreographer Ted Shawn established the Festival in 1933 as a showcase for his company of Men Dancers.
The Pillow encompasses 162 acres and 30 buildings, including three stages, four dance studios, a restaurant, a pub, housing, Archives, and administrative offices. During the 10-week summer festival, the Pillow attracts thousands of visitors to see world-class dance on three stages and enjoy hundreds of free events, including performances, lectures, tours, film showings, exhibits, and talks with the artists.
The Festival is augmented by The School at Jacob's Pillow, which draws a world-class international roster of students and faculty; the Archives, which are open to public access; an Intern Program, which trains arts administrators and theatre technicians for professional careers; support for artist development of new work with Creative Development Residencies; commissions and world premieres; and year-round Community Programs throughout the Berkshires.
Jacob's Pillow is a National Historic Landmark, designated by the federal government as an exceptional cultural venue that holds value for all Americans. |
