Archive for the ‘Friends’ Category

OUR TWO PRIDE & PREJUDICE MUSICALS!

Saturday, March 23rd, 2013

Josie Brown and I have just finished final edits on our new 7-person cast version of PRIDE & PREJUDICE. Since the London World Premiere of our 15-person cast version, we have some exciting developments, and look forward to the US premiere of that one. But the smaller version will be a little less tradional and a little more whimsical, with much role changing, comedy, and gender shifting. Will keep you posted!

200th Anniversary of Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice! 1/28/13

Monday, January 28th, 2013

It is a truth universally acknowledged that Jane Austen’s timelessly precious gift-that-keeps-on-giving will continue to delight and inspire the world for as long as there is a world. The story will soar on, beyond every form of media we humans can devise–which is why author Josie Brown and I were moved to make a musical of it, a humbling experience which demanded of us the best, and then some. While others have tweaked, twisted and revised the tale to make it theirs, we aspired to keep it authentic, as if Jane herself decided to add songs. And the sweet audiences at our Ruislip Operatic Society, UK world premiere in November seemed to approve. Happy Anniversary, Jane, and thank you from the bottom of our millions and millions of hearts.

http://www.prideandprejudicemusical.com/

Our Pride & Prejudice Musical in London!

Saturday, December 29th, 2012

Our world premiere of Pride and Prejudice, The Musical, was a big success, and we look forward to many more productions, in the UK and around the world!

Rita Abrams Tribute by Mayflower Chorus

Wednesday, October 17th, 2012

Mayflower Choral Society
Gala Goes Gaelic
November 3
Rita Abrams Tribute! Dining! Dancing! Auction Values!
Corte Madera Recreation Center,
498 Tamalpais Ave., 5:30 p.m.  

Join our singers, friends and fans for an extraordinary evening.  
Reserve tickets today.

 
 
Tickets, which include dinner, must be purchased in advance. You may mail this form to reserve your tickets for $35 per person. Be sure orders reach us by October 27. 

 
Or, click below to order by credit card.  A third-party processing fee applies.

http://www.mayflowerchorus.org/benefitgala.html
 

 
Friend of Marin Arts Award Highlights Gala
 
Along with your favorite Gala-style festivities,  Mayflower Choral Society offers something  very special at its 19th annual fundraiser.  
 
We’ll be honoring Marin’s preeminent songwriter

Rita Abrams with the Friend of Marin Arts Award.  Two of Rita’s musical comedy stars will present her songs.  Attendees will have the opportunity to meet the songwriter and performers. 
 
The Gala Goes Gaelic theme celebrates the chorus’ upcoming concert tour of Ireland in April 2013. To help set the mood, Fourth Street Beat, an ensemble of Mayflower Chorus members, will perform the popular Irish song “Kerry Dancing.”

Dining and Dancing, too!
Our Gala buffet dinner draws raves every year from fresh salads through creative entree to decadent dessert. We also offer a vegetarian or vegan plate; please make that request with your ticket order.  Excellent wine by the glass or bottle, beer and soft drinks will be served at the  no-host bar.

 Throughout the evening, Lauralee Brown and Company will be offering vocals and very danceable music. 

Auction Excitement
Indulge yourself with personal and gift shopping among our silent auction gifts: gift certificates from merchants and professionals; special gift, grooming and hobby items; jewelry and collectibles; home decor pieces; and more.  The evening’s climax is an action-packed live auction of premium prizes at value prices.  
This year we can accept payment by credit card!

???  Mystery Box Raffle  ??? 
Fun and suspense surround the  drawing for–and the opening of–Mystery Boxes!  These 
beautifully-wrapped  prizes, minimum value $100, go to the raffle winners who have bought tickets at $1, at 6/$5, or at $20 per arm-reach. They’re always a favorite Gala feature.

Invite friends to join your table!?Bring a buddy. Bring the gang.
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Award-winner Rita Abrams brings her songs and songsters
 
As Rita Abrams receives the Friend of Marin Arts Award, two musical comedy stars will pay tribute in song.  

With Ms. Abrams herself accompanying them, musical and cabaret performer 
Julie Ekoue-Totou, and musical comedy and Mountain Play veteran Joe Osborn will perform two of her witty and insightful songs with all the showmanship and pizzazz they deserve.
 

Julie Ekoue-Totou has been singing and performing in the Bay Area for the past 25 years, mostly in musicals such as Nunsense, Once Upon a Mattress and The Spitfire Grill.  In recent years Julie costarred in a cabaret show, The Dynamic Duet, that included three of Rita Abrams’ songs.
 
Joe Osborn’s 20 years

of extensive experience in musical theater include Rita Abrams’ ensemble shows For Whom the Bridge Tolls–a Bay Area Critics Award winner–and New Wrinkles. Joe has also been seen in six Mountain Plays.   He played  leading roles in College of Marin Opera 
productions, in  the comic opera You and Hugh, and in First Love, Last Orders at the Tiburon 
Music Festival, a modern comic opera by Barry Russell.  Joe took leading roles in numerous other musical productions.
 

Proceeds support our
Non-profit Activities
 

Just My TYPE

Wednesday, August 22nd, 2012

My musical comedy created with Charlotte Jacobs and Michael Sally is in its final stages of readiness for its premiere.  Who knew a show based on the Myers-Briggs Personality Type Indicator Assessment (!) could be so entertaining?  2 actors playing 10 characters, with 20 songs by me.  Watch for it!

PRIDE & PREJUDICE & OTHER SHOWS

Tuesday, August 21st, 2012

Josie Brown’s and my PRIDE AND PREJUDICE premieres in London November 27th. And NEW WRINKLES has several shows pending. Also, Dr. Elmo’s and my Christmas Revue is looking for its world premiere. Any ideas?

New Wrinkles, Pride & Prejudice, Mill Valley album

Saturday, April 14th, 2012

When it rains it pours. Our show, New Wrinkles,The Middle-Age Musical, is spreading like wildfire–well, almost–around the country. The latest interest comes from LaBelle, FLA. Been looking for an excuse to go to Florida. And our Pride and Prejudice musical may premiere in Ruislip, UK, just outside London. Then there’s the MUZAK, Japan, current release of my Mill Valley album with the Strawberry Point School Third Grade Class–in Japan, after 41 years!!

Thursday, October 20th, 2011

Friday October 21st, NEW WRINKLES, The Middle-Age Musical, by Jerry Nachman, Morrie Bobrow, and me, opens for a month-long run at Chanticleer’s Theatre in Castro Valley, CA. If you’re in the SF Bay Area, please tell your friends. If you’re not, please let any theatres in your area know that this show has played from here to Pittsburgh, PA, to Ontario, Canada, never failing to delight its audiences or the press (See reviews below).

Thanks so much for your support!
Rita Abrams
415-383-2368

http://chanticleers.org/

Client praise

Thursday, September 15th, 2011

Hi Rita- here is the comment we received when we submitted your writing: Gregangelo, Velocity Entertainment:

Oh my god, LOVE the song! You did such a phenomenal job.
-Director of Marketing
Rodan & Fields

TYPE TALKING, The Myers-Briggs Musical

Sunday, July 3rd, 2011

I’ve just finished composing the songs to a great little show based on the Myers-Briggs Peronsality Test–by Charlotte Jacobs and Michael Sally. Read about it here: