mendelstyx

Looks very interesting (and thank you Kathy in advance). Love that he has gotten himself to such a good place these days. Hats off to him. Liz

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/13094...s_Will_Play_NYC 01 Dalmatians: The Musical Tour to Launch in Minneapolis; Will Play NYC By Adam Hetrick and Kenneth Jones 09 Jul 2009 Jerry Zaks Jerry Zaks photo by Aubrey Reuben Tour dates have been announced for the new Jerry Zaks-helmed family production 101 Dalmatians: The Musical, which is set to launch in Minneapolis Oct. 13. Featuring a score by STYX rocker Dennis DeYoung and a book by Zaks' protégé and Billy Elliot resident director BT McNicholl, 101 Dalmatians: The Musical is a fresh take on the 1957 novel by British author Dodie Smith. The production, which will incorporate actors dressed as dogs in addition to 15 actual spotted pooches, is told from the Dalmatians' point of view. Casting for the tour will be announced shortly. The touring schedule for 101 Dalmatians: The Musical follows: Minneapolis, MN (Oct. 13-18 at the Orpheum Theatre) Appleton, WI (Oct. 20-25 at the Fox Cities PAC) Atlanta, GA (Oct. 28-Nov. 1 at the Cobb Center) Washington, DC (Nov. 3-15 at the Warner Theater) Detroit, MI (Nov. 17-22 at the Fox Theatre) Austin, TX (Nov. 24-29 at the Long Center) Dallas, TX (Dec. 1-20 at the Music Hall) Boston, MA (Dec. 23-27 at the Citi Center) Miami, FL (Dec. 30, 2009-Jan. 3, 2010 at the Arsht Center) Birmingham, AL (Jan. 12-17, 2010 at the BJCC) Nashville, TN (Jan. 19-24, 2010 at the TPAC) East Lansing, MI (Jan. 26-31, 2010 at the Wharton Center) Toronto, ON (Feb. 2-14, 2010 at the Princess of Wales Theatre) Chicago, IL (Feb. 16-28, 2010 at the Oriental Theatre) Columbus, OH (March 2-7, 2010 at the Palace Theatre) Indianapolis, IN (March 9-14, 2010 at Clowes Hall) Providence, RI (March 16-21, 2010 at the PPAC) Wallingford, CT (March 23-28, 2010 at the Chevrolet Theatre) New York, NY (April 6-25, 2010 at the WaMu Theatre) Tulsa, OK (April 27-May 2, 2010 at the Brady Theatre) San Antonio, TX (May 4-9, 2010 at the Majestic Theatre) Kansas City, MO (May 11-16, 2010 at the Music Hall) Pittsburgh, PA (May 18-23, 2010 at Heinz Hall) San Diego, CA (June 1-6, 2010 at the Civic Theatre) Los Angeles, CA (June 8-20, 2010 at the Pantages Theatre) 101 Dalmatians: The Musical, according to press notes, "follows Dalmatians spouses Pongo and Missis Pongo who are living the good life in London with their 'pets' Charles and Catherine Dearly. When their 10 puppies are suddenly 'dognapped' by the villainous Cruella de Vil, they summon the help of a vast network of dogs and set off to rescue their pups. There’s a happy ending for all with laughter, mayhem and music along the way." The production will have choreography by Warren Carlyle (Tale of Two Cities, Finian's Rainbow), lighting design by Paul Gallo, costume design by Robert Morgan, scenic design by Heidi Ettinger, orchestrations by Danny Troob, with dance arrangements by Mark Hummel. Joel Slaven is the dog trainer for 101 Dalmatians. McNicholl said in a previous statement, "Here is an enchanting, upside-down vision of the world: seeing life from the dogs' point of view. Embracing this wonderfully daft proposition, we are instantly transported to a slightly topsy-turvy, exciting, and altogether fantastic reality that gives grand license for song, dance and spectacle." Humans will be "in a heightened form of dress and scale so as to appear larger than life — as they would seem from a dog's point of view," stated Zaks. The Dalmatians will have "no ears, no paws — but, rather, a clever use of costumes in the black-and-white palette that will immediately set them apart from the human characters. This represents a technical solution to the question, 'How do we present dogs and humans on stage simultaneously?'" BT McNicholl is a BMI Award-winning librettist and lyricist, whose work includes the musical The It Girl (published by Samuel French and Hal Leonard Publishing). He is also a respected director. DeYoung is best known as keyboardist, songwriter and a founding member of the rock group Styx. He was the lead singer and composer of Styx hits, "Lady," "Come Sail Away," "Best of Times," "Mr. Roboto," and more. His musical The Hunchback of Notre Dame was an extended hit in Chicago in 2008. (The first production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame, was staged in Nashville, by the Tennessee Repertory Theater.) For more information, visit Dennis DeYoung.com. Zaks won Tony Awards for Direction of Six Degrees of Separation, Lend Me a Tenor, The House of Blue Leaves and Guys and Dolls. He also directed the popular Smokey Joe's Café and the revivals of Anything Goes and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (he was Tony-nominated for all three). The musical is produced by Magic Arts & Entertainment/Tix Productions, Troika Entertainment, and international producer Luis Alvarez. For tickets, visit The101DalmatiansMusical.

http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/THE_1...622810_20090709 THE 101 DALMATIONS MUSICAL Plays The Ford Center For The Performing Arts 2/16-2/28/10 Feedback Printer-Friendly E-Mail Article Enter Your E-Mail Address: Thursday, July 9, 2009; Posted: 02:07 PM - by BWW News Desk Presented by Broadway In Chicago, THE 101 DALMATIANS MUSICAL is one of the world's greatest classic tales and will come to life on stage at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts, Oriental Theatre for a limited engagement February 16 to 28, 2010. Based on the beloved book by Dodie Smith, THE 101 DALMATIANS MUSICAL is a one-of-a-kind adventure for the entire family about what it means to be a family, canine and courageous. The musical is led by an award-winning creative team including four-time Tony Award winning director Jerry Zaks (A Bronx Tale, Smokey Joe's Café, Guys and Dolls), acclaimed bookwriter and co-lyricist BT McNicholl (Billy Elliot, Spamalot, The IT Girl), and Dennis DeYoung, founding member of the legendary rock band STYX, on board as composer and co-lyricist. The musical is produced by Magic Arts & Entertainment/Tix Productions, Troika Entertainment, and international producer Luis Alvarez. Tour and ticket information is available at www.The101DalmatiansMusical.com. "We are thrilled to be bringing the beloved classic story of 101 Dalmatians to life and to audiences across the country this fall," said Lee D. Marshall, Co-Founder of Magic Arts & Entertainment/Tix Productions. "The inspiration for the production's unique and delightful concept came directly from re-discovering the original 1957 novel. Now over 50 years later, the 101 Dalmatians tale continues to bring joy to families and we are confident our talented creative team will inspire theatergoers of all ages through THE 101 DALMATIANS MUSICAL's unique story-telling, amazing new music and tremendous performances." In keeping with the spirit of the beloved original story, THE 101 DALMATIANS MUSICAL promises a quirky, upside-down view of the world, where the audience is allowed to see life from a dog's point of view. The stage musical will transport theatergoers into an exciting and altogether fantastic reality that gives grand license for song, dance and spectacle. In addition to the bevy of talented human actors, THE 101 DALMATIANS MUSICAL will showcase fifteen talented Dalmatians, many of which were rescued from animal shelters across the country and given a new lease on life with this starring role, making this an even more, truly inspiring rags to riches story. THE 101 DALMATIANS MUSICAL follows Dalmatians spouses Pongo and Missis Pongo who are living the good life in London with their "pets" Charles and Catherine Dearly. When their 10 puppies are suddenly "dognapped" by the villainous Cruella de Vil, they summon the help of a vast network of dogs and set off to rescue their pups. There's a happy ending for all with laughter, mayhem and music along the way. Director Jerry Zaks added, "We felt it was very important to accurately portray the look and feel of the original book, -- which tells the story from the dog's point-of-view -- in a way that translates to the stage. Humans will be presented in a heightened form of dress and scale so as to appear larger than life, and the actors who play the animals will thus seem more human than their humans. As for the lovable Dalmatians, they will have no ears, no paws - but rather a clever use of costumes in a black-and-white palette that will immediately set them apart from the human characters. THE 101 DALMATIANS MUSICAL is a universal tale about a parent's love for their children and how they must band together during a difficult time." The show's lively contemporary score and soundtrack was composed by Grammy nominated and People's Choice Award winner Dennis DeYoung. As former singer of the legendary rock band STYX, DeYoung composed such unforgettable, timeless hits as "Babe," "Come Sail Away," "The Best of Times" and "Mr. Roboto." With THE 101 DALMATIANS MUSICAL, he brings his pop rock flair to an array of original songs destined to become popular material to kids and adults alike. These include: "One-Hundred-and-One Dalmatians," "Twilight Barking," "One True Love," "Cruella Always Gets Her Way" and "Be A Little Braver." "I love having the opportunity to give musical life to the outrageous Cruella De Vil, what composer wouldn't? (Mozart perhaps, but I digress). But more importantly to try and create a score that will stay with the audience long after they have left the theater. As in days of old, musical theater music should aspire to be relevant both in and out of dramatic context. With that in mind, it might be time to start teaching your dogs to sing," said Dennis DeYoung, composer and co-lyricist for THE 101 DALMATIANS MUSICAL. THE 101 DALMATIANS MUSICAL also features a surprise grand finale showcasing the tremendous talents of the professional and rescued Dalmatians that will leave audiences cheering. The dogs were all trained by one of the world's foremost animal trainers, Joel Slaven, who has worked extensively with Jack Hanna on such features films as Ace Ventura Pet Detective and That Darn Cat. Purina® Dog Chow®, the brand that celebrates millions of rascally dogs around the country, has signed on as the title sponsor for THE 101 DALMATIANS MUSICAL. Purina Dog Chow will support the musical with an extensive national print, retail and online campaign. The individual tickets on-sale date will be announced at a later date. Tickets are currently available as part of the 2009-2010 Broadway In Chicago Series at 312-977-1717 and to groups of 20 or more by calling (312) 977-1710.

http://www.broadway.com/101-Dalmatians-Mus...ay_news/5030324 Headlines: 101 Dalmatians Musical, Composed by STYX vet Dennis DeYoung, Set to Tour by Broadway.com Staff The classic children’s tale 101 Dalmatians is coming to the stage, with 15 real Dalmatians in the cast. The 101 Dalmatians Musical (which apparently has no connection to the Disney movies) will begin a national tour in Minneapolis on October 13, including a three-week engagement from April 6 through April 25, 2010, at New York’s WaMu Theater. Featuring music by STYX founding member Dennis DeYoung, a book by B.T. McNicholl and lyrics by DeYoung and McNicholl, the show will be directed by four-time Tony winner Jerry Zaks. Inspired by Dodie Smith’s 1957 novel, The 101 Dalmatians Musical follows canine spouses Pongo and Missis Pongo who are living the good life in London with their “pets” Charles and Catherine Dearly. When their 10 puppies are suddenly “dognapped” by the villainous Cruella de Vil, the Dalmatian parents summon the help of a vast network of dogs and set off to rescue their pups. Zaks explains in a statement that the musical will be told from a dog’s point of view. “Humans will be presented in a heightened form of dress and scale so as to appear larger than life, and the actors who play the animals will thus seem more human than their humans. As for the lovable Dalmatians, they will have no ears, no paws—but rather a clever use of costumes in a black-and-white palette that will immediately set them apart from the human characters.” Grammy nominee DeYoung, composer of hits such as “Babe,” “Come Sail Away,” “The Best of Times” and “Mr. Roboto,” has written a score with a pop rock flavor. The grand finale of The 101 Dalmatians Musical will feature 15 Dalmatians, including many rescued from animal shelters across the country. The dogs and two trainers will travel in a customized tour bus equipped with a grooming station and portable playground. All canine performers will be placed in loving homes or at trainer Joel Slaven’s Florida ranch after the tour. No human cast members have been announced. The musical is being produced by Magic Arts & Entertainment/Tix Productions, Troika Entertainment, and Luis Alvarez.

http://www.cantonrep.com/entertainment/x13...perform-July-17 The best of times at Clay's Park: DeYoung to perform July 17 By Dan Kane CantonRep.com staff writer Posted Jul 09, 2009 @ 04:38 PM Dennis DeYoung was working on the score for a stage-musical version of “101 Dalmations” when he phoned the other day. It’s not so surprising when you think about it. Theatrics long have been a part of DeYoung’s musical style, from Mr. Roboto to Cruella DeVille. About half the songs on his new solo album, “One Hundred Years From Now,” could fit into a Broadway show. But other tunes, such as “Private Jones” and “Turn Off CNN,” rock with authority. DeYoung used to be the vocalist for the rock band Styx, after all. Launched with the hit single “Lady” in 1975, Styx has sold more than 35 million albums worldwide, and scored nine top-10 singles. DeYoung wrote eight of them including “Lady,” “Come Sail Away,” “Mr. Roboto,” “The Best of Times” and “Babe.” Styx split up in 1984, then reunited for tours in 1996, ’97 and ’98. DeYoung left permanently in 1999. Today, he and Styx continue to tour separately playing Styx music. On July 17, DeYoung will take his soaring vocals to the stage of the Rock N Resort Festival at Clay’s Park. His wife of 38 years, Suzanne, is a backing vocalist in his band. In conversation, DeYoung, 62, was energetic, candid and witty. Excerpts follow. Q. I was just listening to your new CD. Will you be playing much of it at your show here? A. No. I will mix in two or three new songs, but the majority are the big ones. They are paying to come hear them and relive their memories of a time when music and youth and freedom all mixed together to give them the illusion of no responsibility. That’s what this music means to people. I know that’s what it does to me. Q. How has your voice held up through the years? You sound strong on the new CD. A. I’ve gotten better. That album has no pitch correction. Every note was played and sung as is. Q. How many concerts are you doing this year? A. Forty shows. I did 65 or 70 last year, did a tour of Germany. At some point you’ve got to be aware of your age. Q. Which song gets the biggest crowd reaction at your shows? A. Usually it’s “Come Sail Away.” That song, of everything I’ve written, is the one where people can sing every word, including both verses from start to finish. I’m in awe of that. A close second would be “Roboto” and “Lady.” They get the same response. People love to sing “The Best of Times.” Q. How about “Babe”? A. “Babe” is where people seem to exhale. That’s a song that’s very reflective of who they were with when the song was popular and who they had sex with. (Chuckles) People tell me these things, and that’s knowledge I don’t need! Q. Are you in touch with the other guys from Styx? A. We haven’t been in touch for almost 10 years. Q. But you’ll be standing next to them when Styx gets inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, right? A. Well yes, but I’m not so sure that is likely to happen. All I have to say about the Rock Hall of Fame is, would I like to? Yes. Do we deserve to? Well, I see a lot of people in there who meant less. Last year, they inducted Leonard Cohen. I respect him for his achievements, but the Rock Hall of Fame? On what possible criteria? The songwriter hall of fame, certainly, but the rock hall? Q. Styx is one of many bands that scored a string of big hits but never got a lick of critical respect. A. Styx, Foreigner, Boston, REO Speedwagon, Journey were all staples, bands whose music continues to please people, but they were of an era that was deemed either too mainstream or corporate, whatever that meant. It was the label put on us by critics who loved the Ramones. Q. When Styx was hugely popular, did it ever get overwhelming? A. It was never overwhelming because it happened to us gradually. It wasn’t like Hootie & the Blowfish or Alanis Morissette, where one day you woke up and you’d sold 12 million albums. I fully expected what happened to us would happen — that’s what dreams are about. I didn’t dream of playing the Elks Club Friday night at the fish fry. Q. You guys were pretty huge. A. I guess for us what was overwhelming was that from 1972 through 1983, we released on average an album every 12 months, and in between that we were on the road. It’s still the greatest job in the world, but think about people who go on vacation maybe one or two weeks a year, and even that can be exhausting. Traveling musicians are constantly facing the disconnectedness of being away from home. It comes down to the essentials of “Where’s my food, bed and toilet?” Q. Let’s talk about the Volkswagen commercial that used “Mr. Roboto.” That had to inspire some new fans. A. That commercial ran for two years! What it did was allow that song to become part of popular culture. “Domo Arigato, Mister Roboto” has become part of the vernacular. I’d been offered lots of commercials using my music, a fast-food chain and an oil company to name two, and I turned them all down. But when I got offered a Roboto commercial for a car stereo, how do you not do that? I re-recorded the song for it. Q. The music industry is so fragmented nowadays. Any thoughts on that? A. I lived at the greatest time in the history of mankind to be a musician, from the end of the ’60s through the middle of the ’80s. There was still a common culture, and the audience was not distracted by new technological inventions. Music was the sole outlet for young people’s lives. Q. You sound like a fulfilled man, Dennis. A. You know how lucky I am? I play a few notes of a song I wrote 35 years ago and people scream! If you don’t enjoy that, you may have made a poor career choice.

http://www.usatoday.com/life/theater/news/...al_N.htm?csp=34 15 lucky dogs will be spotted on '101 Dalmatians' stage The 101 Dalmatians Musical , featuring live dogs, begins a national tour Oct. 13 in Minneapolis. Enlarge image Enlarge The 101 Dalmatians Musical , featuring live dogs, begins a national tour Oct. 13 in Minneapolis. By Elysa Gardner, USA TODAY Musical theater is going to the dogs — a whole chorus line of them. Fifteen canine performers will kick up their paws in The 101 Dalmatians Musical, a show based on the children's novel by Dodie Smith, which also inspired the classic animated Disney film. In the stage version, which begins a national tour Oct. 13 at Minneapolis' Orpheum Theatre, live pooches will figure prominently both at the end of Act One and in the closing number. "The finale is going to bring the house down," promises lead producer Lee Marshall. Dog trainer Joel Slaven, whose credits include the movies Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and That Darn Cat, will choreograph the four-legged troupers. A majority will be rescue dogs, and they will make their showbiz debuts in comfort and style. FIND MORE STORIES IN: Dennis DeYoung | Dodie Smith "They'll travel (by) bus, with a trainer for every four animals, who will always be with them," Marshall says. "Dalmatians are pack animals by nature, so they like to live as a family." Since dogs, however gifted, cannot sing lyrics or recite dialogue, principal characters will be played by humans. That includes canine couple Pongo and Missus and their puppies, who are dog-napped by Cruella De Vil. "It's a great story," says director Jerry Zaks, a four-time Tony Award winner. "It's about a family being ripped apart and put back together. It's going to have kids and adults weeping, and then happy." The actors playing humans "will be moving about 15 inches off the ground, so that they seem larger than life. The humans playing dogs will move around like adults, only costumed. The whole idea is that we see things from their point of view." Zaks is working with a libretto adapted by B.T. McNicholl and a score by Styx frontman Dennis DeYoung, who co-wrote lyrics with McNicholl and had previously written a musical version of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. "The dogs will have songs with a contemporary pop sensibility," DeYoung says. "The adults will seem ensconced in a different time" with songs that pay homage to traditional Broadway music. There aren't yet plans to bring Dalmatians to Broadway — instead, there's an extended New York engagement at Madison Square Garden in 2010 — but "it will be marketed as a Broadway musical," Marshall says. Whatever happens, the rescue dogs needn't worry: A happy ending awaits after the final curtain. "Either we'll find fabulous homes for them, or Joel will take them to live on his farm," Marshall says. "They won't be going back to the shelters."

http://gazetteonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/art.../NEWS/707059986 REVIEW: DeYoung sticks his hits in fine form By Diana Nollen The Gazette diana.nollen@gazettecommunications.com CORALVILLE — Under some rain, some shine, Dennis DeYoung whipped up the best of times Friday night at Coralville’s 4thFEST. Thousands turned out to hear the voice of Styx create his magic during a 90-minute free concert in S.T. Morrison Park. They danced the robot, they cheered, they sang those familiar lyrics and some dined in style with elaborate homemade picnics and barbecues. Even Miss Iowa, Anne Michael Langguth of Iowa City, whipped out her fiddle for a rousing “Orange Blossom Special” to kick off the concert. It doesn’t get more Americana than that for a Fourth of July celebration. Chicago native DeYoung, 62, is in fine form. He sounds just as fabulous today as in his former band’s heyday in the ’70s and ’80s. The years aren’t always kind to rock ’n’ roll tenors, but his pure, high tones shot like a rocket through the layers of funky electronics. Although he’s parted company with his former bandmates, he’s assembled a groovy new group with dual guitars, bass, percussion, keyboards and two backup vocalists. Something tells me DeYoung sounds better without Styx than Styx sounds without DeYoung. (We’ll find out when Styx plays an outdoor show at the Riverside Casino at 8 p.m. Aug. 29.) He is so personable, so comfortable in his own skin, that watching him in action is a delight. He kicks and punches the air with gusto, chats often with the audience, teases the crowd, mugs with tongue in cheek and makes wisecracks about growing older. He knows how to play his fans and, I suspect, reel in some new ones, including some Goth teen headbangers in front of me. He launched the evening with “Grand Illusion,” his tenor soaring through the air, promising great things to come. As the song wound down, he stepped behind his synthesizer and laid out a delicate, tinkling piano line that segued into one of his biggest hits, “Lady.” Things didn’t stay gentle for long, as DeYoung and the band blasted into all out rocker mode. Blistering guitar licks continued through “Lorelei,” as well as other quintessential hits, from “Rockin’ the Paradise” to the sublime encore, “Come Sail Away.” DeYoung obviously knows guitarists don’t get much better than Tommy Dziallo and Jimmy Leahey, with each having extended solo turns in addition to their crunching duels. The audience had the most fun with “Mr. Roboto.” It was a real kick to watch the boomers around me bust their best herky-jerky moves. The concert showcased lovely moments, as well, with an extended guitar solo shining through “Desert Moon,” and DeYoung’s signature ballad, “Babe,” the first song he wrote for Suzanne, his wife of nearly 40 years. Not one to rest on his laurels, DeYoung also broke out the title track from his new CD, “100 Years From Now.” It begins softly, like a French folk song, then churns into anthem mode, chock full of emotion. Recorded as a duet with Quebec rocker Eric Lapointe, the single powered its way to the top of Canadian radio charts. Amazed at this latest success, DeYoung quipped to the crowd, “People my age don’t even get on the radio!” Maybe not, but there’s plenty of firepower left in the man who sounds forever young.

Happy birthday to a great lady. Liz =D>

Now see, I'm with Kathy here. I like the new version with the inclusion of Mountain King, but it to me is one of the few symphonic songs that doesn't blend as well. I prefer the more simplistic original version. As for set lists and wishes...way too hard for me to make a list, and I'm content enough just to hear him sing whatever he wishes. I figure he's earned the right. But, I am enjoying your lists. Liz

Well I know you loved it...I mean come on...Dennis nearly stepped on your hand. But for those of us in the middle of the floor, seriously the sound was extremely muddied. I think having the sound man off to the side contributed to this, though I understand the logistics of it. Personal favorite for me...Chicago Theater show (where the double live was created and we got a snippet of Pontius Pilate and the absolute best version he has done of Summertime...wish that had made the cut for the double live). Festa with the moon over the water was great. Milwaukee and the excitement of being the first set of fans to get the double live...along with scary lady trying to get backstage...oh that's right...you were backstage and missed her...LOL. And let's not forget our adventures just getting to that concert. Because...there was no stop sign right???? LOL. There are so many concerts of his I have had the great fortune to go to. Each had moments I loved. Here's to him continuing for as long as he wants. Liz The

Off to see this latest incarnation of my prom song.... Liz

Hey...don't forget to punch your chest as you sing this song. One must emulate the great Dionne. And ya know...they didn't actually drown. That icy water...they actually suffocated (no joke). How horrid. And just why didn't Leo go and grab a life vest from one of the many dead bodies around him? Just something to ponder. Because...we'll stay...forever this way.... Liz

I think any artist that attempts to showcase themselves in a different light is subject to the kind of review given above. Personally, I applaud the attempt to be diverse. Something Dennis has always been. Liz

I was there. And while it was a good concert, from where we were, the sound was rather muddied. I could have lived without Unfinished Song (though it was done for Chuck Lofrano...and how wonderful that with his health situation he was there to see it). Loved Best Thing and Borrowed Time. The show was great, the crowd was into it, but it wouldn't land in my top 3 concert faves from him. Liz

I was firmly under the impression they only performed Babe one time since Dennis left. For a show in Japan where they were specifically asked to include it in the set list. I'm fairly certain it wasn't Babe, more likely it was Lady that was heard at the concert being talked about here. And please....no reunions for Dennis and company. I'd so rather leave them apart at this point. Just not worth it. Liz