JUNE 2009

THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON

Fred is co-composer-lyricist-librettist for Universal's THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON, playing at the Universal Studios Park in Los Angeles. After 20 years, Fred joins forces again with co-lyricist, co-librettist, and director Gerard Alessandrini. Jonathan Tolins is the scriptwriter, Lynne Taylor-Corbett is the choreographer, and the production is co-produced by Marc Routh and Broadway Attractions.

Hear: "The Black Lagoon" (Opening Number sung by N'Kenge Simpson)

Hear: "There Are Other Fish In The Sea" (sung by Patti Russo)

ONE FOR MY BABY (The New Harold Arlen Musical)

Fred continues script and score preparation for the new Broadway musical ONE FOR MY BABY, based on the song catalogue of the legendary Harold Arlen.

The demo-CD cast includes Carolee Carmello, Anika Noni Rose, Mary Bond Davis, Gavin Creel, Lauren Kennedy, Meredith Patterson, Kevin Earley, Chester Gregory, and a chorus of 12, with Fred conducting his 16-piece orchestra.

The production is conceived, directed, and choreographed by Scott Thompson, with book by Thompson & Barton.

INDIANAPOLIS POPS ORCHESTRATIONS

Fred created orchestrations for the Indianapolis Pops Orchestra's new concert From Ragtime To Ritzes: The Music of Irving Berlin, starring Hugh Panaro, Ashley Brown, NaTasha Yvette Williams, James Lane, and Tony DeSare. The concert opened in June and is booked by symphonies around the country throughout 2009 and 2010.

JEROME ROBBINS CONCERT & "BROADWAY WINNERS"

Fred music-directs and performs in a concert of songs from Jerome Robbins Broadway musicals as part of the Lincoln Harbor Park Concert Series in Weehawken, NJ June 29, starring Mary Testa, Donna Marie Asbury, Graham Rowat, Sierra Boggess, Sebastian LaCause, Lisa Howard, John Viscardi, Paula Leggett Chase, Patrick Boyd, and Kendrick Jones. The evening is directed and choreographed by Scott Thompson.

July 13, Fred music-directs Scott Siegel's latest concert at New York's Town Hall, entitled Broadway Winners -- show songs that have won Tony, Oscar, or Grammy Awards -- starring Debbie Gravitte, James Barbour, and other Broadway performers to be announced.

WONDER PETS!

Fred orchestrates and conducts Nickelodeon's Emmy-winning hit show WONDER PETS! Each 12-minute episode is a through-composed classically-styled opera for children, recorded with live orchestra. Larry Hochman is Head Composer, and Jeffrey Lesser is Music Supervisor. Since its debut in March 2006, Wonder Pets! has consistently ranked among the top three preschool shows on commercial TV in the U.S, and is the top-rated show in all categories in Australia.

• The Magic Schoolbus continues to air world-wide, scored by Fred and head composer Peter Lurye (produced by Scholastic.)

SYMPHONY ORCHESTRATIONS

Anika Noni Rose sang Fred's arrangement/orchestration of Harold Arlen's "When The Sun Comes Out" with the Hartford Symphony in March.

Twenty-two concerts including Fred Barton's orchestrations have been scheduled to date by symphonies around the country and Canada for 2009-2010.

The Houston Symphony debuted Fred's symphonic-big-band medley of "That's Amore" and "Volare," commissioned and conducted by Steven Reineke. Maestro Reineke has been named the new conductor of the New York Pops Orchestra.

Fred orchestrated songs for Ann Hampton Callaway, who starred in the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra's annual Yuletide extravaganza, under the baton of Maestro Jack Everly; simultaneously, Sandi Patty sang Fred's orchestrations in the Baltimore Symphony's annual Christmas extravaganza.

CATHOUSE: THE MUSICAL

HBO Documentary Films announces the DVD release of CATHOUSE: THE MUSICAL, in which Fred made his HBO debut appearing as himself. Fred provided the musical arrangements and supervision of this unusual production, featuring the denizens of the Moonlite Bunny Ranch in Carson City, Nevada who regularly appear on HBO's late-night series CATHOUSE.

Sheila Nevins and Patti Kaplan produced this musical special, with musical numbers staged by Fred's longtime collaborator, Scott Thompson. Fred played, led the band, and even sang a duet with... well, see the DVD. Note: NOT for children of any ages!

MISS GULCH RETURNS!

A new production of MISS GULCH RETURNS! played at the Open Space Cafe Theatre in Greensboro, N.C. for the month of January. The production starred Macon Shirley as the tuxedoed cabaret sophisticate who vents his frustrations in the persona of the notorious Oz harridan.

A new production of Fred's show MISS GULCH RETURNS! played at the Artists' Cooperative Theatre 1 in Nashville, Tennessee, August 1-9. The show was directed by Brian Hill, who directed a Nashville production of MISS GULCH RETURNS! in 1990-1.

MISS GULCH RETURNS! and THE TWO SVENGALIS CDs

Fred Barton's acclaimed CDs of his shows Miss Gulch Returns! and The Two Svengalis are now available on i-Tunes and thirty other digital download services, including Napster, MP3tunes, and EMusic. They are available at Amazon.com and CD Baby, and you can also find it in selected stores nationwide, and at Dress Circle in London. The liner notes and photographs can be viewed on the respective pages of this site.

BURLY-Q

Fred recently appeared as a top banana in the second workshop production of Phillip George's new revue BURLY-Q, a gay take on the burlesque show tradition. Fred also wrote a new opening title song, as well as "I'm Of Two Minds," and an ode to the vanished Gay Life of the post-Stonewall age, "I Loved The Cruise." Also interpolated was Fred's "I'd Love To Love Someone" from his show THE TWO SVENGALIS.


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