Glendale Centre Theatre will be the backdrop for the special
benefit concert starring Broadway star John Raitt at 5 p.m. Sunday.
The concert will raise funds for Jason Black, a young opera star
recovering from a tragic accident.
At 25, Black was an accomp- ished opera singer until a tragic
accident left his vocal cords paralyzed. He has starred in numerous
operas from "Rigoletto" to "Carmen" on stages from Germany to Los
Angeles.
The concert will help raise funds to cover the necessary medical
procedures to help restore his operatic voice.
Paul Gleason is director for the event and Jeff Urband is musical
director and is co-producing it with Tim Dietlein, theater owner.
Urband plays piano for audi- ions at Centre Theatre. He met Black at
Miceli's in Studio City where both were performing.
"Before the accident, his talent was limitless," Urband said. "He
was destined for the Metropolitan Opera."
Urband asked Dietlein if the group could do the production at
Centre Theatre and Dietlein provided the theater cost free.
Broadway performer Raitt will perform with actress and singer
Constance Towers. They have been singing together throughout the year
in venues across the country.
Raitt originated several Broadway roles, including Billy Bigalow
in "Carousel" and the lead in "The Pajama Game." His musical
selections will highlight his years on the Broadway stage.
Towers plays the villainous Helena Cassadine on ABC's "General
Hospital." She also has appeared on Broadway and is remembered best
for her starring role as Mrs. Anna in the 1978 revival of "The King
and I" opposite Yul Brenner.
"I'm thrilled to be able to help another singer," Towers said
about singing at the benefit for Black. "He is a delightful young man
who has had a tragic thing happen to him. This way, I can give the
millions of dollars that God gave me in singing to help someone
else."
Tickets are $20 and can be reserved by calling the box office at
244-8481.
SPECIAL EVENTS
'LADY LIBERTY' CONCERT AT DESCANSO GARDENS
Pasadena Pops opens its summer season at Descanso Gardens tonight
with a concert titled "Lady Liberty," honoring composers who were
forced to immigrate to this country either for religious freedom and
or freedom from persecution in their own country, said Music
Director/Conductor Rachael Worby.
On the program are Max Steiner's "Gone with the Wind,'' Dmitri
Tiomkin's "High Noon'' and Franz Waxman's "A Place in the Sun."
Another focus of the concert is on composers born and raised in
