The Adventure Club Cello Quartet

The Theatre Arts Club of Detroit sponsored this Chamber Music at The Playhouse concert in January as their fundraiser for The Eva Woodbridge Victor scholarship.

This is The Adventure Club's third contribution to our music series.

We were treated to a variety of musical pieces, including

G. B. Pergolese's Trio Sonata I
Delibes's Polka from “Sylvia"
Bizet's Habanera from “Carmen”
Mozart's Queen of the Night from “The Magic Flute”
Ljova's Bagel on the Malecon
Haydn's “Kaiser” Quartet, Op. 76, #3
Popper's Hungarian Rhapsody
Handel's Sonata for Two Cellos
Elgar's Nimrod from “Enigma Variations”
At The Hop
Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes from “The Gondoliers”
Sommar, Sommar, Sommar
Massenet's Meditation from “Thais”
Abreu's Tico Tico
The Stars and Stripes Forever

'Tis the Season with The Motor City Brass Quintet

This Chamber Music at The Playhouse concert provided a great lead-in to the holiday season.
Scott Thornburg and Derek Lockhart on trumpets, Eric Reed on French horn, John Rutherford on trombone, and Jacob Cameron on tuba filled The Founders Room with wonderful holiday music, including

Angels We Have Heard on High

Once in Royal David's City

Carol of the Bells

Footprints in the Snow

Toy Land

Sleigh Ride

Hannukah Begins Tonight

Simoo Shemen

O Hannukah

In the Window

S'Vivon

Mo'oz Tzur

Miracle on 34th Street

FASD's 103rd season opened when Director Susan Davis, with Producers Donna Ridella, Geri Day and Norma Eschenburg, collected a cast of 36 to entertain our members and guests through this well-known Christmas story, brought to the public first via the movie screen. This joint production with The Theatre Arts Club of Detroit packed The Playhouse for three performances in November.

Kris Kringle (Rick Mason) with children at Macy's

When the validity of Santa Claus is put to the test we are told that faith is believing when common sense tells you not to.

Miss Adams (Izzy Donnelly) and Mr. Shelhammer (Geno Pirrami)

It was hard to tell who had more fun with this production; the children (of all ages) on stage or the audience.

And Jonathan Davis' set with the toy stand that sprang from the floor wowed everyone.

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The play opens at Macy's Thanksgiving parade, with children and parents alike stretching to see Santa and the other holiday characters.

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Everything is wonderful after an intoxicated Santa is replaced by Kris Kringle, who finds ways for each child to get the gift he or she has been dreaming about.

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Elf (Claire Platt)

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Kris becomes a celebrity, with newspapers trumpeting his (and Macy's) generosity and good will.

Newsboy (Ethan Rymiszewski)

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But when that means sending parents to other stores, his troubles begin, since it is impossible to please everyone all the time. Kris is found to be mentally ill for his insistance on being the real Santa Claus. It takes thousands of letters to prove that Santa does indeed live on in the hearts and minds of children far and wide.

Dr. Sawyer (John Denler)

with reporters (Matthew Becker, Pat Vintevogel, Andrew Denler, Dan Badia, and Lisa Lechniak)

The Amabile Bach Ensemble

Season III of Chamber Music at The Playhouse began on Thursday, October 9 with The Amabile Bach Ensemble playing some selections by J.S. Bach.
Catherine Sherwin began the evening with the flute solo Partita in a minor. We were enchanted by the lovely sound of her flute.
Then, to give Cathy a brief rest, the ensemble (Michael J. McGillivray and Joseph Deller on violins, Colette Mataj on viola, Susan Clark Joul on cello, Dale Anderson on bass and Robert Conway on harpsichord) played the hauntingly beautiful Air, from the Suite No. 3 in D Major.
Cathy rejoined the ensemble to play the Ouverture from Suite No. 2 in b minor. We could see in our minds the dancers prancing and whirling around The Founders Room.
After a brief intermission, during which we enjoyed the traditional sweets and coffee, we were treated to the marvelous Brandendburg Concerto No. 5 in D Major.
The audience responded with a standing ovation.

The Motor City Horns and The Brothers Groove

The Chamber Music at The Playhouse series concluded its regular season with a rousing concert by these two exciting groups. They took the term "Chamber Music" to uncharted heights.

The Brothers Groove, formed in 1999, has been regarded as one of Detroit's best live bands, having collected 22 Detroit Music Awards including (in 2008) Outstanding Modern Jazz Group and Outstanding Jazz Instrumentalist. And now we saw (and heard) why. Their sound is a mixture of Jazz, Funk, Blues and Soul which is instantly familiar yet distinctly original.

The Motor City Horns, having collaborated with The Brothers Groove since 2000, added a fullness of sound to each musical selection. And each individual's virtuosity came through loud and clear during their frequent improvisations.


Led by Chris Codish on keyboard and vocals, the combined group included Skeeto Valdez on drums (and vocals), special guest Pat Prouty on bass, John Rutherford on trombone, Mark Byerly on trumpet, Bob Jensen on trumpet and Keith Kaminski on saxophone.

We were also treated to a special guest appearance by Johnnie Bassett, well-known around Detroit with his vocals and guitar.

Bob Jensen coordinated a dazzling array of equipment that generated a powerful, clear sound.

Their musical selections included Cadillac Blues by Bob Codish, Caravan by Duke Ellington and Juan Tizol, Coming Back, Mo' Room and Casual Observer by Chris Codish, Tune 88 by Jeff Lorber, Waltz for Hornz by Michael Nelson, and It's About the Dollar Bill and Superman Lover by Johnny "Guitar" Watson.

The group played on the Main Stage of The Players Playhouse, and filled the entire building (maybe even the entire E. Jefferson neighborhood) with fabulous sounds. We will remember this evening for a long time.