Published: August 08, 2008 07:31 am         

Danville Light Opera sings for the money

DANVILLE — Vision, venue and vocals combine Aug. 16 when Danville Light Opera presents a “Summer Night of Jazz with DLO.”

The fundraiser began with the idea of showcasing veteran DLO performers singing outside the usual musical theater format.

“This provides an opportunity to showcase some of our vocalists in a venue that’s not wrapped around a show,” Brad Smith, event coordinator, said. “Some of our seasoned performers get pigeonholed or typecast in shows. There will be some surprises for the audience.”

More than a dozen singers, some newcomers to the musical theater group, will perform solos, duets and other combinations including a whole cast number. Smith said there’s a jazz theme running through the show, with songs ranging from Sophie Tucker to Sinatra. Most, if not all, will be familiar to audience members.

Doc Ashton and the Root Canals Big Band will accompany the vocalists as well as provide dance music during the evening.

Vermilion Place on Hazel Street, the event venue, has an atmosphere that DLO board member Kathleen Spain-Swiersz described as “similar to something in an old movie. This isn’t a concert setting.

“People would go to a nightclub. They could sit and listen to the band and the singers or they could dance,” Spain-Swiersz said. “That’s the atmosphere we hope to create.”

A variety of desserts also will be included in the evening’s entertainment.

“We’ll have cheesecakes, cream puffs and a chocolate fountain,” Tom Fricke, DLO treasurer, said.

Marie Pribble, co-owner of the Vermilion House, will provide bread pudding.

“There also will be samples of beer or wine for people to try and then order, if they wish,” Fricke said.

Three gift baskets, one representing each show in DLO’s 2008-09 season will be auctioned. Those shows are “My Fair Lady,” “Cabaret” and “Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?”

Fundraisers aren’t new to this or any of the local arts organizations. Even in the best of times, community groups operate on tight budgets. In these difficult economic times, they are no different than the rest of the community — their budgets are even tighter.

“Royalties for shows keep going up,” Fricke said. “The cost of lumber is higher. So are costume rentals.

“But we’ve kept our season membership the same (price),” he said. “This is the third year in a row that we haven’t increased it.”

A DLO season membership remains at $50 for one ticket to each of the season’s three shows.

IF YOU GO

Danville Light Opera presents a “Summer Night of Jazz with DLO” from 7-11 p.m. Aug. 16 at downtown Danville’s Vermilion Place. Tickets are $20 and can be reserved by calling the DLO box office at 431-1660 or by e-mail at danvillelightopera@hotmail.com. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door.