Reneesance Dreams and Spotlight on Festivals present a special performance of “From The Front Porch” at the Jan Hus Theatre – 351 East 74th St. (between 1st and 2nd avenues) on Feb. 29, starting at 8:00 p.m.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the Homeless Outreach and Advocacy Program of Jan Hus Presbyterian Church and neighborhood.
Renee Flemings takes us back to the Alabama of her youth with her one woman show and promises “ice cold RC cola, canned sliced peaches….love life….rhythm and blues……From the Front Porch.”
This musical memoir has had successful runs at the Triad Theatre as well as the Greenwich Street Playhouse and has garnered raves: “Breathtaking….inspiring” Stage Pages; “Amazing” Theatrescene.com and Producer Frank Calo adds “Renee Flemings can not only make each and every character she plays distinct and riveting but her choice of songs and amazing blues vocals make you wonder when this woman will be snatched up and skyrocketed to fame!”
Renee’ Flemings’ previous plays include Strange Weather (readings at Roundabout Theater Company; Centenary Stage, NJ; Run of the Mill, Baltimore and New Professional Theater Company), The Jam (Genesis Play Festival at Crossroads Theater, NJ).
Her other plays have been produced at Manhattan Theater Source, Spotlight On and HERE. As an actor her most recent credits include Law & Order: SVU; Macbeth and Sonny’s Blues. As a member of the blues/rock band, Renee’ and the Derelicts she has performed at Terra Blues, Harlem Tavern and Dinosaur BBQ.
The musical trio that accompanies Renee consists of Mario Sprouse on keyboards as well as the evening’s musical director; Paul Bauman on guitar and Sal Carolei on blues harp.
Musical Director Mario E. Sprouse has a distinquished career as musical arranger/conductor and producer for over 30 jazz and pop records for jazz legends such as Carmen McRae and Grover Washington, Jr. He was also the musical assistant for late, legendary, modern Renaissance man Gordon Parks for 20 years as well as being the music supervisor for three Parks films and producing his first CD of original classical music to accompany his new book “A Star for Noon.”
Sal Carolei (blues harp) has played with legendary Mississippi blues man, Floyd Lee; Detroit rock diva Eliza Neals as well as playing with Renee’ Flemings the the NYC based blues band, Renee’ and the Derelicts. Paul Bauman (guitar) is a veteran of the NY music scene having performed in countless venues and toured the U.S. and U.K. He is currently taking part in the Battle of The Boroughs: Manhattan.
Spotlight On Festivals has been producing festival and theatrical events since 1997 in N.Y., NJ as well as Paris.
