MIDLAND, Pa., May 26 -- The musical compositions left to
posterity by Henry Mancini vary from the powerful and energetic to the
romantic and sensual -- perfect inspiration for dance interpretation.
Yet a full program of dance set to Mancini's music had never been
staged until a Western Pennsylvania performing arts center -- founded by a
fellow native of Aliquippa, Pa., and like Mancini, the son of Italian
immigrants -- undertook the project.
"Dances With Mancini," featuring energetic choreography and multimedia
elements, had its world premiere April 4 and 5 to a full house at the
Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center, (http://www.lppac.org), according to
Dr. Nick Trombetta, CEO of Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School and
(http://www.pacyber.org/about/trombettaBio.aspx) founder of the Center and
the affiliated Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School.
"Mancini's three-movement symphonic suite 'Beaver Valley '37' has
special meaning to the Pittsburgh region because it was inspired by the
composer's childhood in West Aliquippa, Pa.," said Dr. Trombetta. Images of
the steel mills and Italian bands of the 1930s are part of the show.
The Beaver Valley Suite's first movement, "The River," is an ode to the
Ohio River and its moods; the second, "Black Snow," recalls the soot and
smoke that poured from the steel mills. A tarentella may be heard in the
third movement, "Sons of Italy," as it pays homage to the local ethnic
Italian bands that flourished in the valley in the early 20th century.
Mancini himself played in such a band.
Trombetta said the dance program uses a variety of arrangements of
Mancini numbers such as "Peter Gunn" and "Moon River," as well as Mancini's
hit song arrangement of another artist's work, the love theme from
Zeffirelli's film "Romeo and Juliet."
Trombetta also grew up in the steel town of Aliquippa, a son of Italian
immigrants. He is CEO of the PA Cyber Charter School in nearby Midland,
Pa., location of Lincoln Park. The school and center enjoy a special
relationship with the Mancini family. The community arts training program,
for instance, is named the Henry Mancini Arts Academy. Dance and music are
taught to all ages on evenings and weekends.
Lincoln Park Managing Director Stephen Catanzarite said Ginny Mancini,
the legendary composer's widow, attended the second performance.
Catanzarite put the show together but the concept was her idea, he said.
Mrs. Mancini's favorite song was featured in the program: "Two for the
Road," Mancini's theme from the 1967 film starring Albert Finney and Audrey
Hepburn.
"Not only is it a beautiful, haunting melody, but Leslie Bricusse's
lyrics kind of tell the story of what Hank and I were about as a couple,"
said Mrs. Mancini. "I think it's a lovely song, and that it would probably
be his favorite of all the standards that he wrote."
The show was sponsored by the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center, the
National Network of Digital Schools and Pittsburgh jazz station DUQ 90.5
FM.
Catanzarite said creating "Dances with Mancini" was a collaborative
effort and labor of love and respect for the composer by Lincoln Park's
dance, media arts, theater, music and creative writing departments. The
show was staged in Lincoln Park's 750-seat state-of-the-art main theater.
With the show's success, there has been interest from other promoters
in staging "Dances with Mancini," said Catanzarite.
The Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center is located 45 minutes northwest
of Pittsburgh and southeast of Youngstown in Midland, Beaver County, Pa.
The $30 million facility opened in 2006. The Center is home to the Lincoln
Park Performing Arts Charter School, a Pennsylvania public charter school
providing a state-approved academic program along with professional
training in music, theater, dance, creative writing, vocal performance and
media arts.
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