In Our 13th Season

A Letter From the Artistic Director

Dear Fellow Music Lovers:

Welcome to the 13th season of the Key West Pops Orchestra. Thanks to your continued support and generosity, the Pops will be presenting a full season of entertainment this year – a return to its original three concert format. In addition, two of those concerts will have two performances each – a first in the Pops' history.

Our first offering is a production of the Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice musical, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat featuring an all-Key West cast. This light-hearted and tuneful retelling of the story of the biblical Jacob and his twelve sons stars Marc Crow in the title role and features Nulita Loder as The Narrator. Rich Simone directs and Dean Walters and Elizabeth Halbe will be assisting with the musical preparation. So, do you need a pick-me-up for those dragging days between Christmas and New Year's Eve? Need to find activities for friends and family visiting for the Holidays? Well, Joseph is the perfect solution. It's a delightful, charming and heartfelt show; a true Holiday treat. The Pops will be presenting Joseph on Thursday and Friday, December 29 and 30, 2011 in St Paul's Episcopal Church at 7:30 PM.

Our second concert: in the first few seasons of the Pops, I presented quite a few opera-oriented concerts. After a hiatus of several years, we are now able to bring you another on Sunday, January 22, 2012 at the Tennessee Williams Theatre. I'm calling it Obbligato - Opera with a Twist and the twist I've added I think you will find very entertaining. The singers will be accompanied by a full symphony orchestra, but in addition, I've chosen operatic music that also features instrumental soloists who 'duet' with the singers (think of the 'Mad Scene' in "Lucia di Lammermoor" with the flute and soprano.) I've heard of these obbligato arias (the scholarly musical term for them) being programmed individually here and there in orchestra concerts but I've never heard of a full concert consisting only of this repertory. The music will be by Handel, Mozart, Rossini and Verdi and our singers include returning Pops artists sopranos Victoria Atwater, Amanda Pabyan and tenor Bruce Reed. Joining them will be baritone Thad Shirey and bass Christopher Job. Instrumental soloists will include Pops Concertmaster Geremy Miller, cellist Steve Sigurdson, flautist Donna DeForrest, horn player Jim Carter and trumpeter Adam Bookspan. If you enjoyed our PianoMen from a couple of seasons ago, you will not want to miss Obbligato - Opera with a Twist.

The crowning jewel of the season will be our concert version of Kiss Me, Kate playing for two performances on Saturday and Sunday nights, March 24 and 25, 2012 at the Tennessee Williams Theatre. This Cole Porter classic featuring such hits as "Too Darn Hot," "Another Opening, Another Show" and "So in Love" brings together returning Key West favorite Susan Powell and Broadway veteran Richard White as the feuding protagonists along with Kyla Piscopink, Eric Davis and Eric Haley. The production will be directed by Lee Roy Reams. Join us for an evening of wit, sophistication and good old fashion fun as only Cole Porter could conceive it.

And there you have it, folks; three very different concerts, five opportunities to treat yourself, be entertained, expand your musical horizons and indulge in the thrill that only live entertainment can bring. I trust I will see you there.

And remember, Key West Pops tickets and subscriptions make great gifts.

Yours Truly,
Vincent P. Zito
Founder / Artistic Director

A Letter From the Chair

I am pleased and proud to be a part of the Key West Pops organization for another great season. This year we will be expanding our musical horizons by presenting two Broadway shows in concert form, an opera concert featuring the popular music of times past and many other exciting events. As always, I am grateful for the support our Board of Directors, our Executive and Artistic Directors and most of all, our loyal and generous Keys audience. Be sure to join us for what promises to be our best season yet!

Hon. Lurana S. Snow,
President

A Letter From the Executive Director

Welcome to our 13th season. We are excited to offer you a full line-up of concerts once again. Please make a donation to the Key West Pops today. You may make a secure PayPal donation directly from our "schedule" page on this website. Without your individual contributions, Vincent would not be able to bring you the caliber of performances for which the Pops has become known.

It's going to be quite the season!