Albert’s Big Bash Getting Bigger

Over 150 performers from the Randolph Area are busily preparing for their appearance in "101 Premieres: Albert’s Big Bash" Saturday, Sept. 15 at Chandler Music Hall.

In Rochester, author Tom Wicker is looking over the passage he will be reading from Steinbeck’s "The Grapes of Wrath," and in Randolph, state legislator and selectboard member Jim Hutchinson has taken out his Robert Frost poetry collection to polish "Mending Wall." Randolph dancer Kim Nowlan is warming up a "Chorus Line" routine and in Braintree, RUHS senior Katie Yawney is thinking about how best to perform the role of Anne Frank. Meanwhile, Tom Harty of Randolph, who is creating the nine-hour marathon production’s digital images and sound, is working late night hours transferring material brought to him from the 10 decade directors to be transferred to a master DVD.

"101 Premieres" is a tribute to creative artists from the past 100 years and a salute to Col. Albert Chandler, who put his money on a winning horse—Chandler Music Hall—a century ago. It begins at 3 p.m. and ends at 12 midnight, with a costume parade before the performance, a dinner served in the middle, and a party at the end. The bell atop Chandler will be rung at midnight.

The list of creative artists who will be honored is very long and varied. It includes Constantin Brancusi, Alice Walker, Jackson Pollock, Harvey Fierstein, James Joyce, Keith Haring, Marcel Duchamp and a number of Bobs—Dylan, Newhart, Eddy, Mapplethorpe, and Frost. Elvis will be there (in spirit), as will Michael Jackson, Harry Potter, the Shirelles, Charlie Chaplin and the No Strings Marionettes.

Marjorie Drysdale will sing Gershwin and Puccini, Erik Nielsen will sing "Danny Boy," Maria Lamson will sing "The Star Spangled Banner," Julia Pattison will sing "Diamonds are A Girl’s Best Friend" and "The Way We Were," and the audience will sing "All You Need is Love" and "Oklahoma!" 

"Brigadoon" will be back, and so will the tinhorns from "Guys and Dolls" and Jim Sardonis’ "Whale's Tails." Dr Lou DiNicola will appear as Dr. Benjamin Spock, Craig Smith will play Brubeck, Kaytee Manchester will dance Strauss’ "Dance of the Seven Veils," and Rebbie Carleton’s primary school students will recreate Picasso’s "Guernica."

Comedy fans can look forward to Abbott and Costello’s "Who’s on First" and the Marx Brothers’ "A Night At The Opera." High school musical stars will bring back "West Side Story" and an acting group will deliver scenes from "Death of a Salesman," "A Streetcar Named Desire," "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" and "The Crucible."

And that’s not all…

Reserved premium seating is available at 728-6464 or tickets@chandler-arts.org. Tickets are available for the entire performance or for Part I, the first 50 years: 1907-1956, (3-6:15 p.m.) and Part II, the second 51 years, 1957-2007, (7:30-11 p.m.). General admission seating is also offered for a suggested donation of 25 cents per year.

"101 Premieres: Albert’s Big Bash" is sponsored by The Bare Mexican Restaurant and the Vermont Community Foundation.

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