Ben Mulroney spotted in Westmount

Ben Mulroney could have been a lawyer. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, with a major in history, from Duke University and subsequently got a Bachelor of Laws degree from Université Laval. Instead, he chose the media and instead of being known as "former Prime Minister Brian Mulroney's son," he gained an identity of his own.

For more than a decade, Ben has been "the star" of CTV, notably as co-host of the entertainment show etalk. Perhaps his greatest moments came as host of Canadian Idol during the show's successful six year run, between 2003 and 2008. Above is a clip of him introducing and then congratulating a contestant. This where I got to know Ben, via the auditions in Montreal and then the actual live tapings in Toronto. My family and I headed down each summer and had a blast. It is a pity CTV cancelled this.  During his Idol run, Ben was also a spokesman for UNICEF and on two occasions I got him to visit local schools.

Through etalk, red carpet events and special programming, Ben still enjoys a very high profile. He recently co-hosted Live with Kelly Ripa, fuelling rumours he might move to New York and replace the retired Regis Philbin.

When his dad was prime minister, Ben lived in Westmount. That is where his bride, Jessica Brownstein, is from. He proposed to her at Nick's Restaurant on Greene Avenue.  Last week, noted real estate agent Anita Benabou Rozenblat spotted the happy couple at  the Tavern on the Square (as in Westmount Square). When Anita approached, he graciously exchanged pleasantries with him and posed for a photo (right).

Beauty and the Beast charms Montreal

Montrealers who head out to the Place des Arts this week are in for a real treat. I attended opening night for the Broadway Classic Beauty and The Beast and I must say it was sensational. It continues through Sunday, April 29.

 

Going into this show, previous press coverage touted strong voices in four principal roles: sopranos Emily Behny and Julia Louise Hosack as Belle and Mrs. Potts, and baritones Dane Agostinis and Logan Denninghoff as the Beast and Belle’s evil suitor, Gaston. I was therefore disappointed to hear just before the curtain rose that Agostinis would not be on stage; replaced by his understudy Carter Lynch. Well, Lynch was superb and came across as someone who has been playing the part for some time. I was also interested in seeing Denninghoff in action, having interviewed him by telephone just last week.  He was top notch and clearly a crowd favorite, along with Jimmy Larkin as his sidekick Lefou.

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast features the animated film’s Academy Award®-winning score with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by the late Howard Ashman, with additional songs with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Tim Rice. The book is written by Linda Woolverton. This, of course, is the classic story of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped in a spell placed by an enchantress.  If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end and he will be transformed to his former self. But time is running out. If the Beast does not learn his lesson soon, he and his household will be doomed for all eternity.

I have seen the movie and one other stage production in the Miami area a few years ago, certainly not at the same level. Yes, I know the story and how it will all unfold. Then why did I still sit at the edge of my seat as the Beast rescued Belle from a wolf attack? As for the music, you just cannot get tired of this score. Behny and Lynch were a treat to listen to.

I also must comment on the terrific set and very realistic special effects. In a scene towards the ending where they showed rain and lightning, it looked like the real thing. I even found the wolves to be kind of creepy. David Baur as the carpet showcased some marvelous acrobatics while seven year old Noah Jones was adorable as Chip.

Take a look at the final moments of the performance as the actors take their bows.

Here are some impressive facts and figures about Beauty and The Beast:

•        It  has become an international sensation, playing to more than 35 million people;

•       The production has been mounted worldwide in 21 countries;

•       The musical ran for more than 13 years on Broadway;

•        It is the eighth longest running musical in Broadway history;

•        The traveling company comprises 30 cast, 10 crew and 10 musicians;

•         More than 3,300 people were auditioned to select the cast of 30;

•        The musical score of contains six beloved songs from the Academy Award-nominated feature film, one song cut from the film that has been restored for the musical, and 6 original songs written for the musical.

•        The production uses 81 wigs and 580 costume pieces, including some pieces from the original Broadway costumes and 67 LED lights on the magic mirror.

 For more details log on to BeautyAndTheBeastOnTour.com. Bravo to Evenko for bringing us this masterpiece. Tickets are on sale at the Place des Arts Box Office, by phone: (514) 842-2112 or 1 866 842-2112 or online at www.pda.qc.ca or www.evenko.ca. Ticket prices range from $56.50 to $89.50 (taxes and service fees included).

Next on the agenda for Evenko in terms of Broadway shows is the Tony Award winning Wicked, set to launch here for one full month on August 1.

An extraordinary moment at ICRF Gala Auction

The Israel Cancer Research Fund (ICRF) held its annual fundraiser recently at the Place des Arts and while the legendary Beach Boys were the headliners, an unknown woman from the audience named Rhona Fainman turned out to be the true star of the evening.

Before the featured act took the stage, community leader Ross Paperman came to the stage to oversee a live auction for a trip to Los Angeles. His goal was to obtain a bid of $9,000. When action heated up and $10,000 was on the table, a small voice from the crowd shouted out “$18,000” (the number 18 symbolizes good luck in the Jewish community). “I was so shocked that I invited her on the stage,” Paperman told me. “When this woman came up she whispered in my ear that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer that morning. I asked if I could tell the crowd and she agreed. The audience gave her a five minute standing ovation.”

Rhona Fainman and Ross Paperman

Paperman then challenged the audience to join him in raising another $18,000  to bring the total to  $36,000. “I was yelling, ‘stand up stand up and be counted.’  Then something absolutely extraordinary happened. More than 50 people stood up. It was like a scene out of  a movie.  As a matter of fact, the next day people were calling in with  donations after hearing about what they missed. One thousand people that evening shared a moment in time. I'm so fortunate to have been able to help facilitate this moment. I went along for the ride. It was the most amazing moment I ever had on stage. This anonymous woman became the face of hope and support. It was magic.”

ICRF Montreal Executive Director Arlene Silver said the event raised more than $700,000 for cancer research. Rhona Fainman will be operated in late April and a whole lot of people will be praying for her.

Congrats to gala co-chairs Paul Ostrov and Gloria Richman. 

I just received this video clip of that extraordinary moment which I uploaded to YouTube, Let's hope it goes viral. Click here.

St. George's impressive at Show Choir Canada

The lone Quebec representative in the prestigious Show Choir Canada National championships at the Sony Centre for the Arts in Toronto made a pretty impressive showing. St. George’s School of Montreal made it to the coveted top six finalists. Not only did St. George’s finish fifth overall, but team members took home three of the seven individual awards: Patrick Park was presented with the best male vocalist while Sara Diamond and Alexandra Cohen tied for the top female triple threat performer.

Jim  Welter from Yamaha with Olivia Kostin Cohen, Patrick Park,  Candace Grynol, Alexandra Cohen and Sara Diamond from St. George's.

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Known as G. Major, St. George’s was the only non-Ontario entry. SPLASH from Etobicoke School of the Arts captured first place followed by defending champs Wexford Gleeks of Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts (Scarborough), SPSC from St. Peter Catholic High School (Orleans), Synergy from Unionville High School (Markham), St. George’s and Cheat Notes from York Mills Collegiate Institute.  There were 13 teams entered.

Here G Major performs Jump:

G. Major, which has its end of year concerts set for   May 10 and 11 at the Oscar Peterson Hall, won the 2010 Just for Kids Foundation Glee Showdown and came in second in the 2011 edition. Candace Grynol, the school’s head of performing arts, deserves a lot of credit. Not only is G. Major her baby, she spent the past year working with her team even though she is still on maternity leave after having her second child.  Aaron Stamboulieh, who by day is the school’s head of information technology, played an important role too as Grynol’s right hand man.

“Our goal was to make it into the top six” says Ms. Grynol. “The fact that we actually placed 5th was unbelievable given that many of the teams we were competing against were performing arts schools.”

Added Stamboulieh: “The relationships and bonds that happened naturally between all the schools almost makes the competition aspect secondary. Our students cheering for their competitors and receiving a huge ovation in return is something that none of them will ever forget, and that’s what made this experience so special for all involved.”

This was the second annual Show Choir Canada and there is no question the event will continue to grow. Organizers told me that television executives were in the audience and by the time the 2013 edition rolls around this could be the subject of a network documentary or reality series.

Toronto native and Juno Award-winning performer Shawn Desman, who served as a judge last year at the inaugural competition, did a superb job as master of ceremonies. He also delighted the audience of 1,000 strong with a solo performance on closing night.

The audience had a real treat with nationally ranked U.S. show choir, In Sync, from Burbank High School in California, performing outside of the official competition. They were amazing and we were told that this program was the inspiration for the Fox TV program Glee. Montreal educator and vocalist Jeri Brown was part of the judging panel.

Choirs that place first to sixth were awarded trophies and prizes totalling over $25,000. St. George’s will receive a Yamaha product valued at $1,500. The school’s  three award winners will each receive one-week scholarships to the Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts, valued at $1,000.

St. George’s had a well rounded set of about 20 minutes, which included routines to the tunes of Jump, You Can’t Stop the Beat, Happy Ending, One from a Chorus Line, a U2 medley and Unwritten.

“It is so great to see happy you are,” commented judge David Connolly, a professional director/choreographer. “The individual voices we heard stuck with us. You also showcased a nice variety, from Broadway to pop.”

“You had so much energy,” added Brown.

Show Choir Canada was developed in collaboration with Peter da Costa, Owner/Agency Director, da Costa Talent Management and George Randolph, President/Founder, Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts.   For more information go to showchoircanada.com.


Here are the Wexford Gleeks on stage:

 

I am now a Shawn Desman fan

If you are a fan of top 40 music, then you will be familiar with the name Shawn Desman.  The Toronto native and Juno Award-winning performer is a true name in the business.  Judging by the reception he received during his two days as host of the Show Choir National championships at the Sony Centre for the Arts in Toronto, fans adore him.

Desman’s career already includes a platinum debut album, a sophomore Juno Award winning album for Best R&B/Soul Recording, chart-topping singles and videos, movie performances and numerous accolades under his belt.  The singer, dancer, actor, songwriter and producer’s third highly anticipated album “Fresh” will debut in early May.

Born Shawn Bosco Fernandes, he came up with the stage name Desman because friends always referred to him as “Dez-Man.” He is a very friendly and charismatic individual. In an interview with The Suburban he said he absolutely loves coming to Montreal. A concert tour is in the planning stages and he hopes to see it take shape next fall.

Desman said he loves being associated with events like Show Choir Canada, stressing the importance of teens having such an opportunity to express their love for music. “I wish I had this when I was in high school,” he shared with the audience. “We had track.”

Here is my one-on-one chat with him:

 

From the moment he released his self titled debut platinum-selling album in the fall of 2002, Desman has enjoyed phenomenal success in the music industry. His album spent an incredible 49 weeks on the SoundScan Top 200 sales chart and produced two Top 10 singles and two number one videos. He instantly proved he was about to become a superstar entertainer worthy of all the critical acclaim and destined to be at the forefront of the global music stage.

Desman’s visibility then soared to even greater heights after the subsequent release of his sophomore gold-selling album “Back for More” which produced a number one hit single, three Top 10 hit singles, and also garnered him a Juno Award for Best R&B/Soul Recording. Desman’s hit single “Spread My Wings” was featured in the film “Kangaroo Jack” and appeared on the soundtrack. Desman has also worked with acclaimed producers Rodney Jerkins (Michael Jackson, Destiny’s Child, and Whitney Houston) and Tricky Stewart (Beyonce, Rihanna, and Mary J Blige). His high-energy, infectious single, “Let’s Go,” exploded onto the Top 40 radio chart after just 1 week, peaking at number one. His extensive tour schedules, both in Canada and abroad, showcased him as a dynamic and energetic performer and received extensive praise from international fans.

It was these stellar live shows, coupled with the awards and album sales, which further bolstered Desman’s successful debut and international growth. The release of “Back for More” in Europe resulted in Desman moving to Germany for a short time as the singles flew up the international charts.

Despite the frenetic pace of his own career, Desman, has collaborated with other artists and producers to continue to explore the possibilities of music. He has co-written and co-produced three consecutive Juno Award winning albums in the Best R&B/Soul category. His passion for music continues to have him write and produce for artists and labels around the world.

Desman continues to have a very successful acting career including roles in Paramount MTV”s feature film “How She Move,” “Honey” starring Jessica Alba and “Get Over It” featuring Carmen Electra.

Having spent most of his life working diligently as a world renowned entertainer and performer, Desman continues to strive to leave an indelible mark on the human experience.

Here is some footage I got of Shawn performing for the Show Choir audience:

 

Extraordinary Montreal singer Kathleen Reiter; winner of The Voice Israel

Hats off to native Montrealer Kathleen Reiter, 23, who moved to Israel last summer, auditioned for that country's version of the popular TV program The Voice and won.

I had the chance to meet her in person this week. Immediately upon learning that she had won this competition, viewed by 1.6 million Israelis each week, I set out to track her down. All I knew was that she was from Montreal. I checked Facebook and found a few "Kathleen Reiters." These turned out to be fan pages. Someone messaged me back, recommending that I direct message her via Twitter. I did so and it worked. 

In the "it's a small world" category, It turned out that she was already in  town visiting family; her parents reside close by my home in Côte Saint-Luc; and when I was trading emails with her while downtown on business I was only two blocks away from her dad's office.

Kathleen will return to Israel soon to take part in The Voice  concert tour. She won a five year recording contract and appears on the verge of stardom. This week she went to the Israeli Consulate in Montreal and received her official Israeli passport. A citizenship application is in process and naturally, she is already a very recognized personality in the Jewish state. "The  paparazzi are  taking my picture," she said. "People wave to me from their cars. It is all quite amazing."

The Herzliah High School graduate says her real wish is to sing the national anthem at a Montreal Canadiens hockey game.

Here is my exclusive video interverview with Kathleen.

Here is Kathleen singing in French:

And  here is Kathleen singing in Hebrew, a true trilingual threat.

St. George's School of Montreal lone Quebec rep at national Glee competition

As the City of Toronto prepares for the battle of the Gleeks, one Montreal high school has gained the opportunity to represent this city and province in the second annual Show Choir Canada (SCC) Nationals at the Sony Centre for the Arts, April 13 and 14. 

G. Major of  St. George’s School of Montreal  is the only non-Ontario entry. They will demonstrate their best vocals, dance moves, and musicianship against defending champions Wexford Glee. Wexford School of the Arts (Scarborough);  CN Explosion, Cardinal Newman Catholic Secondary School (Stoney Creek);  SPCH, St. Peter Catholic High School (Orleans); Synergy, Unionville High School (Markham); Cheat Notes, York Mills Collegiate Institute (York Mills); Splash, Etobicoke School of the Arts; Adrenaline!, Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute (Toronto); Vocal Fusion, Richmond Hill High School; GCVI Glee Club, Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute; Claude Watson Glee, Earl Haig Secondary School (North York); Storm Surge, South Carleton High School (Richmond); Coca Codas, Sinclair Secondary School (Whitby).

St. George’s won the 2010 Just for Kids Foundation Glee Showdown and came in second last November. “It is such an honour to be representing Montreal and Quebec as the only school in the competition from outside of Ontario,” says Candace Grynol, the head of the St. George’s Performing Arts Program and  of the Glee program. “ Our students are extremely excited and are working very hard, investing their time into many many hours of rehearsal. Our goal is to embrace the experience, learn a lot and have a ton of fun performing our set at the Sony Centre.”

Here they are in action at the last Glee Showdown:

Toronto native and Juno Award-winning performer Shawn Desman, who served as a judge last year at the inaugural competition, will step out from behind the judging table and take the reins as host. With an accomplished career including a platinum debut album, a sophomore Juno Award winning album for Best R&B/Soul Recording, chart-topping singles and videos, movie performances and numerous accolades under his belt,  the singer, dancer, actor, songwriter and producer’s most recent album is entitled "Fresh."

This year, Show Choir Canada will also showcase the talents of the top-rated, nationally ranked U.S. show choir, In Sync, from Burbank High School in California. Participating as part of a cultural exchange, In Sync will perform outside of the official competition, but will receive valuable feedback from the judging panel. The Burbank High School show choir program ranked number one in the U.S. in 2009 and 2010.

The 2012 judging panel will consist of five top industry experts who will assess the teams competing in the preliminaries and finals.  This includes Montreal  educator  and  vocalist Jeri Brown.

Jeri Brown

 “Not only does the event provide a healthy and educational outlet for emerging talent, it also provides a new and refreshing perspective on vocal performance in 2012,” Brown says.” I think of shows like Smash, Glee and   and others as indication that its time has come. At this year’s Nationals in Toronto I will be a judge and conduct workshops to over  300 participants. I am definitely excited and hope to get others involved in the Montreal community in the future.”

Choirs that place first to sixth in Toronto   will be awarded trophies and prizes totaling over $25,000. The competition will also award scholarships to the Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts for exceptional individual performers.

SCC was developed in collaboration with Peter da Costa, Owner/Agency Director, da Costa Talent Management and George Randolph, President/Founder, Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts.  Peter da Costa, the CEO and executive producer of  Show Choir Canada, is excited to see a Montral entry this year. “Absolutely,” he told The Suburban. “Our goal is to make this event truly national. This year we have two schools from the Ottawa region  and we are thrilled to have with us our first out of province school, St. George’s of Montreal. Our invitation went out to as many schools across Canada as possible and we are constantly researching and growing our list of existing and newly forming Canadian show choirs. We have been in contact with several schools on the west coast who have expressed that they plan on attending next year’s event. 

Da Costa says that  Yamaha Music Canada has also increased its support and participation from last year’s prize of a digital grand piano that went to the winner, to this year offering $20,000 in prizing to be shared by all sixfinalists. “Our venue is also much larger at the Sony Centre for the Performing Arts as well as a panel of five judges over last year’s three,” he said. “ All in all – great growth in a number of different areas.”  

Tickets can be purchased online at www.sonycentre.ca or by calling 1.855.872.SONY (6779).

Follow me on Twitter @mikecohen.ca on April 13 for updates on the competition.