ENGINEERING A NEW ROLE : `MISS SAIGON' HEADLINER KEVIN GRAY RETURNS TO TOWN IN A REVAMPED TRIBUTE TO MUSIC OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER.Byline: Janet Weeks Daily News Staff Writer What's the difference between 1991's ``The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber Noun 1. Andrew Lloyd Webber - English composer of many successful musicals (some in collaboration with Sir Tim Rice) (born in 1948) Baron Lloyd Webber of Sydmonton, Lloyd Webber ,'' starring Michael Crawford Michael Crawford, OBE (born as Michael Patrick Dumbell-Smith, 19 January 1942, Salisbury, Wiltshire), is an English actor and singer. He has won critical acclaim and numerous awards during his career, which includes radio, television and stage (including appearing on stage , and 1996's ``Andrew Lloyd Webber - Music of the Night,'' starring Kevin Gray Kevin John Gray (born January 7 1972 in Sheffield, England) is an English footballer, playing as a defender for Chesterfield. Football career He started his career at Mansfield Town signing as a trainee in July 1990 and had a successful 4 year period at "The Stags". ? ``When Michael did it,'' quips Gray, ``I didn't get paid.'' Gray comes to the Ahmanson Theatre The Ahmanson Theatre is one of the four main venues that comprise the Los Angeles Music Center. Through the generosity of philanthropist Robert H. Ahmanson, construction began on March 9, 1962. on Tuesday for a two-week run with the newly revamped show. Those who remember the production five years ago can expect more of the same with a host of new twists. More of the same includes familiar selections from hit maker Lloyd Webber's ample catalog, which includes such mega-musicals as ``Cats,'' ``Evita,'' ``Jesus Christ Jesus Christ: see Jesus. Jesus Christ 40 days after Resurrection, ascended into heaven. [N.T.: Acts 1:1–11] See : Ascension Jesus Christ kind to the poor, forgiving to the sinful. [N.T. Superstar'' and ``The Phantom of the Opera.'' As before, the principle performers are backed up by a 32-piece orchestra and 12-person chorus. The added twists include tunes from ``Sunset Boulevard Sunset Boulevard is a street in the western part of Los Angeles County, California, that stretches from Figueroa Street in downtown Los Angeles to the Pacific Coast Highway at the Pacific Ocean in the Pacific Palisades. ,'' which wasn't around in 1991, additional dance numbers, new dramatic lighting, new orchestration and new secondary singers - all staged by hot director Scott Ellis For the English cricketer, see . Scott Ellis is a Emmy and Tony Award-nominated American stage director and television director. He has directed numerous Off-Broadway and Broadway productions, starting with the New York City Opera Company revivals at the New York State (``The World Goes 'Round''). ``It's much more of a show, as opposed to a concert,'' says musical director Phil Reno. ``There are changing backdrops as opposed to a unit set. The performers make three and six costume changes. It's much more of a high-tech production.'' Gray seems a natural choice to lead the production, donning evening clothes and belting tunes so beloved by American audiences. After all, he played Lloyd Webber's Phantom on Broadway and on national tour for two years. ``He brings a wonderful expertise to the show,'' says Reno. ``He's also an excellent singer and handsome leading man, an engaging, energetic performer.'' But Gray says the song-after-song format of the show is quite challenging. ``When I sang `Music of the Night' 1,200 times as the Phantom, I had a girl to sing to. I was wearing a mask, which hid my face. There were incredible sets. This all is helpful. It takes the audience's attention away,'' he says. ``Now, here, I come out on a bare stage and sing the song. And the audience can see me and know what I'm thinking.'' Working up the energy needed for the songs - most of which highlight a particular musical - is also a challenge. For example, one of the concert numbers is ``Gethsemane'' from ``Jesus Christ Superstar,'' an emotionally charged song that comes at the end of the musical when Jesus confronts his mortality. ``The difficulty as a performer is to play a moment that ordinarily comes at the end of a journey of 2-1/2 hours. Now you're asked to condense con·dense v. con·densed, con·dens·ing, con·dens·es v.tr. 1. To reduce the volume or compass of. 2. To make more concise; abridge or shorten. 3. Physics a. the journey.'' Of course, not everyone wants to go on that journey, especially when it comes to Lloyd Webber's music. Although his musicals have had extreme financial success - some estimates put Lloyd Webber's collective take over the years at $700 million - they also have generated some stinging critical reviews. Gray attributes Lloyd Webber's popular success to the composer's song-writing ability. ``It comes down to the fact, the pure and simple fact, that Andrew can write hit tunes, music that can be taken out of the format and be a pop hit.'' Reno agrees. ``His music is hummable and engaging,'' he says. ``It sticks in your mind. Sometimes it sticks so much I want to slap myself.'' Gray's most recent role on stage was as a character much darker than the tuxedoed crooner he presents in ``Music of the Night.'' Until October, he toured as the Engineer in ``Miss Saigon Miss Saigon is a musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil, with lyrics by Boublil and Richard Maltby, Jr.. It premiered at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, in London on September 20, 1989, closing after 4,264 performances on October 30 1999. .'' That gig landed him at the Ahmanson for most of last year, and the part earned him a Drama-Logue Award The Drama-Logue Award was a theatre award established in 1977, given by the publishers of Drama-Logue newspaper, a weekly west-coast theatre trade publication. Winners were selected by the publication's theatre critics, and would receive a certificate at an annual awards ceremony. for best performance in 1994. ``It is very hard to leave behind a role, a character, especially one as complex and delicious as the Engineer,'' Gray says. ``What a great part. After I left the tour, I really missed being out there on stage.'' Gray also has appeared in various TV shows, including ``Miami Vice,'' ``The Equalizer'' and several soap operas This is a list of Soap operas by country of origin. Argentina
``The point of being an actor is to do many, many things,'' he says. THE FACTS The show: ``Andrew Lloyd Webber - Music of the Night.'' Where: Ahmanson Theatre, Los Angeles Music Center The Music Center (officially named the Performing Arts Center of Los Angeles County) is one of the three largest performing arts centers in the nation. Located in downtown Los Angeles, the Music Center is home to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Ahmanson Theater, Mark Taper , 135 N. Grand Ave., Los Angeles. When: Tuesday through May 5. Tickets: $15 to $65. Call Ticketmaster at (213) 365-3500. Also: May 7-12, Terrace Theatre, Long Beach. $35 to $60, also through Ticketmaster. CAPTION(S): Photo Photo: ``Andrew can write hit tunes, music that can be take n out of the format and be a pop hit,'' says Kevin Gray, starring in ``Music of the Night.'' |
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