We’re celebrating a birthday on this week’s Dress Circle (2/15 7:00 p.m.).Actually, we’re celebrating two birthdays. This week’s program begins our 43rd year as volunteer hosts of the Dress Circle, a fact of which we’re extremely proud. Since that, in itself, isn’t very musical, we’re also going to be celebrating the 121st birthday of Hyman Arluck who is better known as the fabulous composer of musicals and film songs, Harold Arlen.
Arlen was born in Buffalo, NY on February 15, 1905 and wrote over 500 songs for Broadway and Hollywood for over 13 stage musicals and 25 to 30 film scores. He was nominated for 8 Oscars and won one for the song voted the greatest of the 20th century by several organizations: “Over the Rainbow” from “The Wizard of Oz.”
Our celebration with include songs from 5 Broadway shows, “Bloomer Girl,” “St. Louis Woman,” “House of Flowers,” “Jamaica,” and “Saratoga.”
His film work will be represented by songs from “Summer Stock,” “Stormy Weather,” “The Wizard of Oz,” and those he added with E.Y. Harburg to the film version of “Cabin in the Sky.”
Other than Harburg, you’ll hear his works with lyricists including Johnny Mercer, Truman Capote, and Ted Koehler.”
Some of our party guests include Lena Horne, Celeste Holm, Howard Keel, Carol Lawrence, Judy Garland, and Pearl Bailey.
You may not have known his name, but we’re sure you recognize (and love) the songs of Harold Arlen. Grab a cupcake and tune-in this Sunday evening.
