2012 Summer Blast Off!

So this is it folks, our summer season has officially started! It's time to kick it off with our annual Summer Blast Off! this Sunday, May 27 @ 8pm. Maybe you're already planning to be here or maybe you haven't been before, either way, let me give you a few reasons to try it out.

Who comes to the Wolf Trap Summer Blast Off?
Families
Couples
People on a budget (it’s free!)
People who love music
Marines
Firework connoisseurs
People excited to kick off the summer season with a bang
Picnic lovers
Winos
…and everybody in between!

What is the Summer Blast Off?
Blast Off! is a Wolf Trap summer tradition that happens in two parts. First, the United States Marine Band plays a beautiful set at the Filene Center from 8pm until about 9:30pm. Songs include a mix of patriotic, big band, and orchestral arrangements. If you’ve never heard the USMB perform before, you really must. They are the best of the best, and did I mention it's free?

Here is the USMB set list.

March, "Hail to the Spirit of Liberty"
Jubel Overture, J.245
"Napoli"
"Doodletown Fifers"
Suite from Band of Brothers
Suite from A White House Cantata
Overture Solennelle, "1812"
"God of Our Fathers"
"The Stars and Stripes Forever"
A Salute to the Armed Forces of the United States of America

The second part of Blast Off! happens after the USMB closes their set, everyone moves from the theatre to stake out spots on the hill behind the Meadow to watch the fireworks. Watching fireworks in a National Park on one of the first beautiful nights of summer is a treat in itself, but we've also put together an exciting accompanying playlist to sweeten the deal and to get you all pumped for our summer season! Some artists you can expect to hear on our fireworks playlist include Barenaked Ladies, Martina McBride, Gipsy Kings, Alan Jackson, and The B-52s.

I hope to see you all there this Sunday!

A Prairie Home Companion - a note from the host

The Filene Center season opens tomorrow night with A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor.

Be part of the audience as Garrison Keillor leads an ensemble cast through his entertaining live radio show filled with special guest performances, comedy sketches, musical interludes, and Keillor’s signature monologue, “The News from Lake Wobegon.” Keillor will be joined by three-time GRAMMY winner Shawn Colvin, singer/songwriter Heather Masse, a member of the chart-topping folk group The Wailin’ Jennys, and Sara Watkins part of the GRAMMY-winning acoustic bluegrass trio Nickel Creek. 

And now, a note from the host:

Call me a fool if you like, but the course of American life in my time has been in the direction of greater civility and kindness: the wheelchair ramps, the public understanding of mental illness, the no-smoking laws, and so forth.

There seems to be less outright meanness. On the Internet, yes, anonymity breeds viciousness, ditto the freeways at rush hour, but decent people don't stand around ragging on their favorite despised minority as much as they used to. A girl today can look forward to a life of such opportunity as her grandmother didn't dare imagine. Men and women mingle more or less unself-consciously as equals and a man who cannot deal with this is considered weird. My mother is 96, living at home, and old age is far, far easier now than when Grandpa was packed off to the nursing home.

So there are some grounds for optimism. My people believed in cheerfulness. They came of age in the Great Depression and amused themselves with kitchen table small talk because it was free. Dad always made small talk with clerks and waitresses. How're you doing today? Good. Looks like we're finally getting spring. Small talk looms larger and larger to me these days, the sweetness of it.

One morning in February, I ate breakfast in the Waffle House in Little Rock, a bowl of oatmeal with raisins and brown sugar, a cup of coffee, and when the waitress brought the check she said so sweetly, "I sure do hope you enjo-oyed your breffus, honey." And I said yes I had, though honestly, I don't associate oatmeal with enjoyment. It's more about the fear of heart attacks. But I loved the way she elongated the word "joy," and her smile, and of course the "honey," which Minnesota waitresses would never say for fear of inviting flirtation. She offered a whole other view of life- that even from ordinary oatmeal, one can derive pleasure.

It struck me harder because, a week before, I'd been driving to the Mayo Clinic at high speed in a snowstorm so as not to be late for an MRI of my brain. I was talking on a cellphone to a woman walking through Central Park in New York, and I passed a semi as he was blasting through a snowdrift across the road, and suddenly I was in a cloud of whiteness, much like the Rapture will be, but with even less visibility. Central Park was on the verge of spring, she said, and then the whiteness swallowed me up. I blew through the cloud and out the other side and hit another patch of snow, and took my foot off the gas, and the semi blew pas, horn blasting, a few feet off starboard. In the whiteness, I had unknowingly changed lanes, and he had swerved around me.

A chastening moment, and I reached up and fastened my seat belt. The woman was on her way to the museum to look at Monets. I went to Mayo and learned that I do not have a brain tumor. I might've wound up in the ditch with 10 tons of cargo on me, but I survived and found out that I probably wouldn't die anytime soon. And that is cheerful news. I hope you enjoy the show.

-Garrison Keillor

Steve Winwood: The "Everyone" Interview

We wanted to give our readers a chance to learn about Steve Winwood from some great interviewers/interviews out there, so we figured it best to pull together various questions from various sources at various points throughout Steve's career. Know any other great interviews with Steve from any time in his career? Let us know in the comments section!

Interview magazine (April 1986):
You were being hailed as the "boy wonder," a "rock 'n roll Mozart" [during your school years]. What did that do to you?

Steve:
It can affect you a lot, but in my own defense, I'd say we were quite lucky, as it wasn't an overnight thing. We worked hard and traveled hard and built a reputation. We traveled around Europe in vans, playing small places, extraordinary gigs in places like Ireland, where you'd go down a dirt track to a church where one line of people were on one side and one line on the other, and they were two families. There were a lot of gigs like that in the early days and I think that's different now. It happens quicker.

Chicago Tribute (June 2010):
How did you get together with Clapton for the Powerhouse session in 1966?

Steve:
We were quite friendly by then. Eric’s a couple years older, and at our age now that means nothing, but when I was 16 and he was 18, 19, it was a big difference. I just moved from Birmingham to London and I lived in lodgings in the suburbs, and Eric had a wonderful bohemian flat in a cool part of the city, so I’d go and hang out with him. He took me under his wing in many respects. He introduced me to his friends, and we’d play and talk about records. The whole conversation revolved around music. When we met, he was playing with the Yardbirds and then John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers and I was in the Spencer Davis Group. In those days we’d play on the same bill a lot. If we weren’t we’d see each other traveling between the clubs we all used to play at. The Powerhouse was put together by (producer) Joe Boyd, I think it was some sort of sampler for a new label. Eric was there, and I sang. We recorded a bunch of songs in a day. In those days we would make records in a day, entire albums in a day. We’d do side one before lunch, break, and then do side two. 

GQ UK (June 2010):

Steve (on his Traffic days in the '60s):
Our music was the soundtrack of the decade, and that applies to anyone who was in a band at the time. We were just genuinely obsessed with making music, which hadn't happened before in this way. A lot of people think that the music was responsible for a lot of changes in the Sixties, but I think the music came out of it. The music wouldn't have happened without the social changes. It happened in America first. Before every son wanted to be like his father and every daughter wanted to be like her mother…but the Sixties changed all that. In the Sixties you didn't want to be like your parents at all. 

Express UK (February 2011):

Steve (on still making music):
I wouldn’t say I’m so enthusiastic about the music business itself, but I am still incredibly excited by music, I’m still learning, and it never really ceases, and I think that’s why I still have such an interest in it even though I’m now in my 60s. I still haven’t cracked it, and there is no such thing as perfection, and that’s what keeps me going. Music is my life... it’s running through my blood.

About.com Classic Rock (March 2008):

If you could go back and change anything in your career, choose one thing you could do over, is there one, and, if so, what would it be? 

Steve: 
There are two answers to that, I suppose. On the one hand, I've been very lucky and very blessed to be able to play with so many people and to play to so many people, and that I have a vocation that I really love to do, so I actually have no complaints at all. 

But then on the other hand, I suppose there can always be improvements, so I can't say that I've done everything as perfectly as it could have been done. I'm sure there are things I could have done a little better at the time. I can't think of a specific one right offhand, but as it happened, I did what I did and what I live with now is what I've done in the past and I can't complain.

Five things you didn’t know about Wolf Trap Opera

Think you know everything about the Wolf Trap Opera Company? Think again. Here to shed some light on five opera truths is Lee Anne Myslewski, Administrative Director, Wolf Trap Opera and Classical Programming.

We have a sense of humor.
Q: “How many tenors does it take to change a lightbulb?”
A: “One… to hold it while the world revolves around him.”
Q: “What’s the difference between a soprano and a pit bull?”
A: “Lipstick.”

Opera is usually seen, and rightfully so, as serious: big emotions, big drama, big voices surfing over big orchestras. But we’ve commissioned two comedies – Volpone (which was nominated for a Grammy – not too shabby for our first commission!), and The Inspector. You can sometimes find us improvising comic Mad Libs for discerning elementary-school students. And, if you’re really lucky? You can see us singing things that are totally ridiculous at our (thankfully private) Inappropriate Aria Nights.

We work out.
Our bodies are our instruments, and we do our best to keep them healthy. If we don’t sing, often we don’t get paid…so the incentive to stay healthy is very real, and the myth of a singer as wide as they are tall simply doesn’t stick anymore. We work out, because stage directors like to make us do crazy things physically while we’re simultaneously trying to do insane things vocally. Flexibility, stamina, stress-reduction…we’re at the gym, doing yoga, eating healthily, drinking water like it’s going out of style. Because we can’t go to work when we have the sniffles – performing with a stuffy nose or a sore throat can do us serious damage, and it’s not the sound you’ve paid to hear.

We listen to a crazily/weirdly/amazingly wide range of music.
While we love opera, that doesn’t necessarily mean that we love it to the exclusion of all else. You’ll be able to see gangs (opera gangs…like scooter gangs but way louder) of us at the Filene Center for any number of shows. A Prairie Home Companion, Riverdance, Steve Miller Band, Barenaked Ladies, k.d. lang…if they’ll let us out of rehearsal, we’ll be there! (Because nothing enriches our performing like watching others at the top of their game, regardless of genre.)

We’re not in it for the glamour.
There are pretty dresses and parties, to be sure. But there are long months spent away from loved ones, wardrobes and keepsakes locked in storage units in towns that we might not see for calendar years. Some of us are married, some have children, and all of us are trying to figure out how to work in this crazy career while caring for our families – it can be tough! And while we make intense friendships during shows, once the show is over – or in this case, the summer – it could be years before we see any of these folks again. It can be really lonely.

We’re “Young Artists” because we’re just starting out.
In some ways that’s true – our average age hovers in the early 30s. But most of us have spent almost all of that time in training: undergrad degrees, Master’s degrees, Artist Diplomas, Doctorates. We’ve worked for summer training programs, and large house (The Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco, Lyric Opera of Chicago) year-long programs. (Rather than thinking of us as students, we’re closer to medical Residents at a teaching hospital.) In many ways, this is our first chance at walking away from that “training” security net, and it makes this opportunity all the more special.

What We're Listening To: Volume II

We'll be delivering our "What We're Listening To" playlists straight to you once a month via a Spotify collection that will also be posted on our Facebook page. It's free to sign up for a Spotify account and I promise it will change the way you listen to music. This month we've got a lot of new tracks for you, mostly culled from records that were released within the last couple of months with the exception of Wilco and Harper Simon. Enjoy - and let us know what you're digging as well as dismissing.

What We're Listening To: Volume II

Behind our Blog Team: Barbara Parker

Today we hear from Barbara Parker, our Director, Operations & Initiatives here at Wolf Trap. She's one of our longest tenured employees and is armed with extensive knowledge about the industry, plus can regale you with classic stories of meeting and mingling with some of the biggest artists in the business. 

Where are you from?

Richmond, VA.

What is your favorite Wolf Trap memory?

I vividly remember my Wolf Trap interview 15 years ago, so I have too many to count. Picnicking with my parents before many a Summer Blast Off. Sitting on the lawn with my interns watching the Wolf Trap Opera perform La boheme. The lawn sprinklers going off in the middle of a performance… while people were sitting on the lawn. Every dance commission, every conversation I’ve had with an Artist, all the once-in-a-lifetime moments I’ve witnessed.

What is your favorite song now or of all time? What speaks more strongly to you the music or the lyrics?

I am currently in love with two big hits- Gotye’s “Somebody That I Used to Know” and fun.’s “We Are Young.” They are great songs musically and lyrically, but my favorite thing about them is that they are at the top of both the rock and pop charts right now. That is the sign of a good song.

Do you have a musical guilty pleasure – something you don’t admit to liking in casual conversation?

Milli Vanilli songs were really good. Yeah, so they were phonies who didn’t actually sing, but the songs were really good. *starts singing “Blame It On the Rain”*

How do you consume recorded music? i.e. ipod, Spotify, Pandora, vinyl...

In the mornings and in the car, I listen to the Kane Show on Hot 99.5. At work, I’m on Spotify all day- I can’t work without music. At home, it’s itunes through Apple TV. I also have my Dad’s turntable and a fantastic collection of records that span my Dad’s musical tastes and my own. I still regularly buy Artists who continue to release on vinyl- Ryan Adams, Gaslight Anthem, Black Keys, Mumford and Sons.

I feel like everyone has a bit of a music snob in them. What styles of music, or if you want to get really specific, which bands/artists in particular drive you bonkers?

You know what drives me bonkers? Selected fans. If you love an Artist enough to purchase a ticket to his show, respect him enough to honor his request for no photos, audio  or video recording. Don’t talk through the entirety of a show. Be polite enough to not scream and yell when you know they are shooting a live DVD at the show. And, for the love of all things, don’t ever be that guy who shouts “Freebird!” End rant.

Given the nature of your role with Wolf Trap, you quite often liaise with many of the world’s greatest artists backstage before they hit the stage. Can you recount your top three most memorable experiences/interactions with artists?

I once knocked on The Supreme’s Mary Wilson’s dressing room only to have her drag me inside. She needed help zipping a gorgeous floor-length, red sequined gown she was going to wear that night. The zipper was impossible and she and I struggled and laughed for several minutes until I finally got it all the way zipped. She looked at me, and wheezed, “I can’t breathe!” before making me unzip it again.

I am a huge Talking Heads fan. When David Byrne appeared here last, I looked him straight in the eye after his show and said, “I love you.” He smiled and brushed it off, and I said again, “No, I really love you.” File under: The Most Unprofessional Thing I’ve Ever Done. I ran into him several months later at a dance performance in New York where he was sitting two rows behind me. When I went to say hi, I could sense he remembered my crazy declaration, and his question “What brings you from Virginia to Brooklyn?” sounded a bit like “Are you stalking me?”

Hootie and the Blowfish once sang me “Happy Birthday.” Julio Iglesias and J.D. Fortune have kissed my hand. Frankie Valli told me I have nice legs. And I receive compliments on my shoes all the time. Sometimes, it’s the little things.

When was the last time you were truly star struck by a performer arriving at the Filene Center for their gig?

Musicians don’t leave me star struck. I admire them; I am in awe of them; but it’s not star struck. However, in 2006 we had Leonard Nimoy narrate a National Symphony Orchestra performance To Boldly Go…. and I went to say hello (and gawk) and I just kept thinking, “Oh my God, that’s Spock!” There, it’s official, I’m a nerd.

For anyone who is looking to jump start a career in the music industry as an administrator, booking agent or marketing pro, what advice would you offer them?

If you can imagine yourself doing anything other than working in the music business, if you can imagine being a teacher, a stylist, a writer, or a lawyer, then forget about the music business altogether right now. At the beginning of your career, the hours are too long, the pay is too little, and the competition too fierce for you to be trying to succeed unless this is the one and only thing you want out of life.

That is honest but a bit pessimistic. If I were to be more optimistic, I would say first: arrive early, stay late and do the job no one else wants to do. That’s what makes you invaluable. Second, I would say: have opinions. That’s what makes you distinct.

What artist has yet to perform at Wolf Trap that your team is hoping to book in the next few years? Can you give us a glimpse into the research process that goes into pulling together a 92 show season?

Oh, man, here are some of the Artists on my wish list for the Filene Center: David Gray, Ryan Adams, The Shins, Cake, The Avett Brothers (they have been at The Barns), The Flaming Lips, Keane, Matchbox 20, Duran Duran. For The Barns: William Fitzsimmons, Greg Laswell, Glen Philipps (who was supposed to appear in March but cancelled).

The booking process is less summed up as research and more as awareness. It’s being aware of who has new product, who may be touring in support of new product, how many tickets an act is worth. Sure, you could research these things, but by the time you were finished, a season would have passed you by. You must pay enough attention that the knowledge is at the front of your brain.

Behind Our Blog Team: Liz Uyeda

Today marks part four of our Behind Our Blog Team series—where we give our readers all a chance to get to know our team a little better. I crafted a few serious and a few funny questions for our Program and Production Assistant Liz Uyeda, where she delves into her dreams of living in the sea, helping others, and becoming a dragon.

Where are you from?
I was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii where my time was equally split between school, the beach, and ballet class. I lived there until I graduated from high school, when I moved to Virginia to attend the University of Richmond. It seems a strange move to many, but it worked for me and here I am, a little less tan, in Virginia some six years later.

What is your favorite Wolf Trap memory?
Embarking now on my third summer season at Wolf Trap, it starts to become difficult to pick a favorite among so many special memories. One that particularly stands out is my first Filene Center show day when I was an intern in 2009. It was A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor. I had never seen a Wolf Trap performance before, but there I was, backstage with my radio, clipboard, and three inch pumps. I mean, if Barbara Parker can work a show in heels, why can't I, right? So very wrong. After my first very successful 16-hour show day, my feet covered in blisters, I walked barefoot to my car with a smile stretch across my face. It was easily the most exciting and exhausting day I had ever had in my life and I couldn't wait to start it all over again the next morning (in flats).

What is your favorite song now or of all time? What speaks more strongly to you, the music or the lyrics?
 I've always been drawn to music lyrics. The combination of word and sound is where the magic of songwriting lives, but I must say that I am particularly drawn to the poetry of music. Picking a favorite song feels a little like choosing a favorite child; I don't want to slight the other songs. But my favorite song probably lies somewhere in the repertoire of my favorite band, Radiohead. Easily my favorite rock concert to date is seeing Radiohead perform in Osaka, Japan, where i studied abroad in college.

Do you have a musical guilty pleasure—something you don't admit to liking in casual conversation?
I do have a few... in my younger years I had an affinity for heavy rock/metal. The spectrum ranged from Metallica to System of a Down. (My favorite Metallica album is S&M, which they recorded with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra. It is actually quite beautiful.) I can't say that I listen to much Metallica these days, but System is still one of my favorite bands. Maybe I'll see you at their Verizon Center concert in August?

How do you consume recorded music? I.e. iPod, Spotify, Pandora, vinyl...
All of the above! My iPod has weathered many hard falls and long cross-country drives. I don't have a record player YET, but hopefully I'll find one I like very soon.

What is your go-to karaoke song?
Hands down I always go for The B-52s' "Love Shack." However, I discovered a new fun pick a few months ago. My friends and I went out to sing karaoke for my birthday and someone put on Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart" and it was a huge hit. I definitely recommend it.

If you could have one fantastic non-musical talent, what would it be?
Well, this question could go a number of ways, but just off the top of my head I would say to breathe underwater so I could build a new civilization on the bottom of the ocean that would rival Newt Gingrich's moon colony. There may be some finer issues to work out, like sharks for example, but I think it would all come together with time. We could call it "Atlantis II," although that might not bode well. I'll keep working on it.

Fill in the blank: "If I didn't work in the performing arts, I would be a _____ for a living."
Let me start by saying, I can't imagine my world without the performing arts. The arts have always been a vital part of my life, something I maybe didn't realize at the age of five, putting on ballet slippers for my first dance class; or perhaps at 17 when I played the trumpet in the Macy's Day Parade as part of the Hawaii All-State Marching Band; or maybe even when I decided to complete a minor degree in Dance. Looking at my track record, I think the performing arts are in my life to stay.

But because I know this is a hypothetical fun question, I'll give it a shot. If I did not work in the performing arts, I think I would be working another lifestyle job directed toward helping people. I'm not sure in what capacity that would be exactly (local, global, etc.), but I love working to help the community and I have always admired the efforts of people who work for the betterment of humanity on its most basic levels.

If you could interview any celebrity, alive or dead, who would it be?
There are many people past and present that I would love to speak with, but one person I have always been curious about is Hayao Miyazaki. He is the animator and film director behind Studio Ghibli productions like My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, and many others. My Neighbor Totoro was my favorite childhood movie and I am very curious about the inspiration that brought forth the fanciful characters and uninhibited adventures that appear in Miyazaki's movies. I once heard that he draws characters and frames first and then creates a plot to link his animations together.

If you could turn into an animal, what would you turn into?
If I could turn into any animal (I am, of course assuming this include mythical creatures), I would be a dragon. Apart from being able to fly and breathe fire, the dragon is my Chinese zodiac sign and it's one that I feel a strong connection with. My nana, mother, and myself are actually all dragons (watch out...), but we are each a different element: fire, water, and earth. Dragons are known for being honest and passionate but weaknesses include quick-tempers and pride. Obviously zodiac signs are meant to interpret personality traits and cannot represent the entirety of a person's identity but I think they are very fun to read. Especially since my 4'11" nana is maybe the most fiery person I know.

Behind Our Blog Team: Graham Binder

Welcome to Part Three of the Behind Our Blog Team series where we give our readers all a chance to get to know our team a little better. Today Lee Anne Myslewski throws a few questions out to our Acting Director, Public Relations Graham Binder. Read his waxing poetically on Wilco, Spotify, golf and cheesy 80s tunes.

Where are you from?Central Massachusetts. I spent the majority of my childhood in Northboro and my teen years/college summers in Shrewsbury/Worcester. My dad still lives in Shrewsbury and my mom in Boston.


What is your favorite Wolf Trap memory?100% it was seeing Wilco in 2009 from the first row of the pit (Yes, I paid for the tickets and, no, we don't get special treatment as staffers!). During the song "Spiders" Jeff Tweedy came to the edge of the stage and had my friend Mike O'Neil strum/pluck while Tweedy fretted the notes. Mike played for close to 30 seconds, and we were all going completely bonkers. I've seen Wilco upwards of 15 times and I've never seen Tweedy do anything remotely like that.

What is your favorite song now or of all time? What speaks more strongly to you the music or the lyrics?
For whatever reason right now I can't stop listening to a song called "Hannah" by Freelance Whales. It's pretty emo and the song is a few years old, but the lyrics conjure up this hauntingly nostalgic feeling as it's all about enjoying your youth, being "partial to the night sky" and spending time with friends and crushes on rooftops. The whole album is actually really randomly fantastic which means I'm fully expecting the follow up to stink. Favorite song of all time is way too hard for anyone to cite in my opinion.

Do you have a musical guilty pleasure – something you don’t admit to liking in casual conversation?Oh yeah, big time. I love really cheesy, synthy late 80s/early 90s tunes. Ever heard "Waiting for a Star to Fall" by Boy Meets Girl? That about sums it up.

How do you consume recorded music? i.e. ipod, Spotify, Pandora, vinyl...
Spotify all the way. It's completely changed the way I consume music. The offline playlist mode is an amazing leap in technology.

If you could spend a day in the body of your favorite musician (recording session/concert – all talent conveys, but just for one day). Who would it be and why? What would that perfect day consist of?
I'd like to be Kurt Cobain circa 1990. I think it would be endlessly fascinating to be inside his head for just a day and no more. The massive ups and downs of his personality, the raw genius of his approach to music, his tumultuous relationship with Courtney Love...I'd love to experience it all and know exactly how to describe it when everyone talks about the riddle that is Kurt Cobain.

Our musical tastes are growing increasingly diverse, but big media controls 90% of popular content. How do you find our about new music? Whose opinions do you rely on?
I know what types of music I really enjoy and can semi-relate to the dictionary of buzzwords that sum them up (i.e. shoegaze, dream pop) so I basically read lots of record reviews each week from a variety of both print publications and blogs, plug the artists into Spotify and I'm off. Also I have a few friends whose tastes I really trust so I always indulge their suggestions. I'm honestly not that picky but definitely know what I love and also strongly dislike.

What's a good piece of advice that you were given, or a maxim that rings true?
Always treat others as you'd like to be treated. It's simple and cliched, but it's such sound advice.

What's so important to you about music that you've decided to make a career in it?I just wanted to be close to it in some capacity. My professional role has shifted somewhat since I started my career, but when I started as a publicist with Compass Records in Nashville I would get such a great high from helping musicians/artists achieve recognition and knowing I played even a small part in driving people to their performances. I still get that high, especially when it comes to publicizing and marketing artists at The Barns who tend to need a bit more exposure than those we present at the Filene Center.

Outside of the office, what do you do for kicks? Favorite restaurants, hobbies, books – all fair game.I play and watch a lot of golf, and see as many shows as I can afford provided there are funds left over from my golf habit. I play guitar, my girlfriend and I like to cook and sample new restaurants, and I love to travel when time allows. I've also been known to watch a lot of Seinfeld and painstakingly quote lines to people who couldn't care less about hearing them.

Behind our Blog Team: Lee Anne Myslewski

Part Two of our Behind Our Blog Team series! For today's entry, I interviewed the newest addition to our blog team Lee Anne Myslewski, Administrative Director, Wolf Trap Opera and Classical Programming.

Where are you from?

I'm a Pennsylvania girl!

I did most of my growing up in an idyllic small town in Bradford County, nestled between the Susquehanna and Chemung Rivers. It was the very best small-town upbringing: beautiful rolling hills and rivers, packs of neighborhood kids playing in treehouses, saving hard-earned allowance money to play pinball and buy candy at Covey's, or to get a raspberry twist ice-cream cone at Millard's Dairy.

In high school we moved to western PA, to a college town called Slippery Rock. I found a fantastic piano teacher, a kickin' alternative radio station and started to really get into playing and performing while in high school.

What is your favorite Wolf Trap memory?

Totally unfair question – there are too many.

I think it was Ben Folds' performance, when he divided the audience to sing the brass parts of "Army." I loved sitting on the lawn amidst friends and strangers, swaying and singing along with one of my favorite artists. It felt like one big happy community…in fact, heaven might in fact feel like that very night.

What is your favorite song now or of all time? What speaks more strongly to you the music or the lyrics?

Again, a totally unfair question. One song that I have loved consistently since it came out was Peter Gabriel's "In Your Eyes" - something about the lyrics, his gravelly voice, the drumming, has made this a tune that makes me happy on a regular basis.

Do you have a musical guilty pleasure – something you don’t admit to liking in casual conversation?

I may in fact be the only person who wonders (with genuine sadness) what ever happened to Air Supply.

How do you consume recorded music? i.e. ipod, Spotify, Pandora, vinyl...

Pandora. Spotify. Car radio. iPod. Phone. Web. I appreciate vinyl, but don't have any. I do still have a largely sentimental CD collection that I just can't quite part with, but it seems to get smaller each year.

If you hosted a dinner party and your guest list was restricted to 8 current or past Wolf Trap performers, who would you invite and why?

1. Ben Folds. Because I am a fan – and because maybe after a glass of wine I'd be able to get over the fact that BEN FOLDS WAS AT MY DINNER PARTY and actually be able to have a conversation with him.

2. Beverly Sills. The Grand Dame of City Opera! Plus, I have questions about some of her roles and casts…and I would LOVE to hear some backstage dish!

3. Ella Fitzgerald. One of my favorite tracks is her Berlin recording of Mack the Knife – when she forgets ALL THE WORDS, and still turns in an amazing performance.

4. Norah Jones.

5. Pink Martini. I'm a big fan of their retro-jazz polyglot recordings, and I think they sound even better in person. I'd love to get some inside scoop on their own pet projects, as well as inspiration for their next projects.

6. Guster. Their song "Either Way" saved my life when I was trying to circumnavigate the Beltway in the middle of a snowstorm after a late rehearsal. I'd love the chance to say "thank you" in person.

7. Jessye Norman. I saw her in a small hall in Pittsburgh, and her stage presence totally dwarfed the stage. I swear she was 17 feet tall! I would love to know if that presence is a constant, or if there's an on/off switch.

8. Air Supply. (See above.)

What is your professional motto?

I don't know that I've ever put this into words…but I believe in honesty, transparency, and positivity; in cultivating a community that builds people up and frees them to make strong, smart choices; in doing my best work on every given day, but not beating myself or anyone else up when their best days fall short.

What is the greatest pleasure in doing what you do?

Greatest pleasure is undoubtedly seeing the progress and pride on the faces of the young artists who work for the opera company…and seeing so many of them create successful careers out of whole cloth.

What’s the best piece of advice you have ever received?

From my dad: be honest and kind, and always give someone the benefit of the doubt.

If you were suddenly famous, what would you want to be famous for?

Actually, I don't really want to be famous. But if I could do something bigger-than-life and amazing, I'd love to be a big-money anonymous philanthropist. I've always dreamed of starting an artist colony for performers, and in many ways that's one of my big attractions to Wolf Trap; but to be able to give financial help and support to people whose work I admire without them knowing the where or how of it? Well, that sounds totally divine.

Behind Our Blog Team: Matt Martz

Welcome to the Behind Our Blog Team series! For the next few blog posts, we thought it would be fun to give you all a chance to get to know our team a little better. For today's entry, I interviewed blog team member Matt Martz, Wolf Trap's Communications and Marketing Assistant.

Where are you from?
You probably wouldn’t know it from talking to me, but I actually grew up on a horse farm a few hours from Wolf Trap, and was homeschooled my entire grade school education. It sounds a tad Little House on the Prairie (I think. I’ve never actually seen that show or read the books.), but I swear it was legit. Despite having no stoplights in the entire town, we did in fact have electricity and the general amenities of “regular” people. Except I did grow up listening to a lot of Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, Hank Williams, etc.  

What is your favorite Wolf Trap memory?
My first Filene Center show was my favorite. I had never been to Wolf Trap before I interned here, and I saw LeAnn Rimes with the NSO in 2009 for my first show. I’ve always been a big fan of hers but I've always had a love for classical music (especially the violin), so it was kind of the best of both worlds for me. Definitely a great way to start my Wolf Trap concert list.

What is your favorite song now or of all time? What speaks more strongly to you the music or the lyrics?
My favorite song changes on a weekly basis, but my all-time favorite artist has to be Sugarland, both in terms of music and the lyrics. Jennifer Nettles is a fantastic singer, and their songwriting is a great combination of clever lyrics while still being accessible and simple. Their live shows are great too—they do a lot of fun covers and joke around with the crowd.  

Do you have a musical guilty pleasure – something you don’t admit to liking in casual conversation? I went through a huge punk music phase when I was in high school. I wanted really badly to be disenfranchised, but didn’t really know what that meant, so I just listened to a lot of Good Charlotte, Simple Plan, Green Day, Dashboard Confessional, etc. for a solid three years or so. I still know most of the lyrics to the songs, and I even went to the 10th Anniversary Dashboard Confessional concert at the Recher Theatre last year. And it was amazing.

How do you consume recorded music? (i.e. ipod, Spotify, Pandora, vinyl...)
I actually get most of my new music from watching TV shows. I’ll be watching a show and hear a really great clip of a song being used, then I’ll either use Shazam on my phone or just Google the lyrics to find out what it is. I do however have terrible timing at discovering bands before they’re getting big. I’m constantly finding out about someone kind of up-and-coming and then the next day learning that their show in D.C. is next week and it sold out.  

Are you a cat or a dog person? Why? And how do animals wearing clothes make you feel?
Definitely a cat person. Cats are more conniving and know what it means to get back at you if you’re mean to them, and I’m really into that. If you’re gonna rip up my blanket, I can at least respect that you had motivation and planned it ahead of time. I’m generally not into animals being dressed up—I think it’s weird to force an animal to do human things—but I LOVE cat videos on YouTube. I’m not really sure why, but watching cats do anything funny gets me every time.  

What kind of a foodie are you; vegetarian, carnivore, omnivore, sweet tooth, or something else?
I’m willing to give anything a go. I was not into interesting food at ALL until last year when I went to Thailand. I had a really simple palate and if something even sounded weird, I was out. When I was in Thailand though, I figured it was as good a time as any to just go for it and eat crazy things. I’m still not sure what some of the things I ate were, but I’m much more willing to give something a go now. I still can’t guarantee I’ll like it, but I’m not too picky and it’s worth a shot.

If you could have three things on a deserted island (things you can’t live without) what would they be and why?
1. My iTunes library (in whatever form—computer, iPod, iPhone). I can’t get through the day without listening to music. Even in college, I wrote papers and studied and did everything with music in the background.
2. Running shoes/gear. If I’ve gone more than a few days without running, I get really restless and cranky; it’s not a happy place.
3. My sister. I guess she’s not really a “thing,” but I’m going with it. We’re essentially the same person and have the same opinions, but we still make each other laugh like it’s nobody’s business. I’d go through serious withdrawal without that.  

Have you ever been or wanted to be a performer?
I would give anything to be a good singer. If I could have any talent, it would be that, but I’m awful. I think I could make a small career if I sang in public places because people would pay me to stop. I am, however, learning to play the violin. It’s a slow process because I have unfortunately large fingers, but who knows. I could end up being decent. 

What are three things that you want to do or see before you die?
1. See the world (lofty, no?). I made it a point starting last year that I was going to visit a foreign country every year until I’ve decided I’ve seen enough, and so far it’s going well. I did Thailand in 2011, and I’m going to Iceland this fall and probably Croatia in 2013. After that, we’ll see!
2. Skydive. I’ve always said that I would never bungee jump, but I would skydive in a heartbeat. I have an irrational fear that the chord will break, but I’m perfectly confident my chute would open. Not sure why. So, I need to put my money where my mouth is at some point.
3. See Hall & Oates play live. I missed them when they were here in 2011, and it’s one of the biggest regrets of my adult life (I clearly have my priorities in order). I don’t think I could die happy without singing along to “Rich Girl” at a concert at least once.

On sale tomorrow!

The 2012 summer season is complete and our last batch of announced shows goes on sale tomorrow, Saturday, May 5 at 10 am! This summer will feature 92 performances in 108 days with 26 headlining artists making their Wolf Trap debut. Here's the latest:

Counting Crows
Wednesday, June 20
This San Francisco-born band first graced our stage for a sold-out show in 2010. The audience should expect to hear their hits "Mr. Jones," "Around Here," "Rain King," as well as songs from their April-released album of covers, Underwater Sunshine (or what we did on our summer vacation). The audience should also expect this show to sell out as well. You've been warned.

Demi Lovato
Hot Chelle Rae
Sunday, June 24
You may not remember Demi Lovato's starring role in Camp Rock or her supporting role as Joe Jonas's in-real-life girlfriend, but you will undoubtedly recognize her voice from non-stop rotation on pop radio in hits like "Give Your Heart a Break" and "Skyscraper." Demi will be joined by Hot Chelle Rae, the pop-rock band behind "Tonight, Tonight" and "I Like It Like That."

Matisyahu
Dirty Heads
Sunday, July 8
Looking for your fix of roots, rock and reggae? Look no further. His given name is Matthew Paul Miller, but he adopted the Hebrew Matisyahu when he adopted Hasidic Judaism. He no longer wears the long beard he became famous in, but he still delivers a high-energy combination of reggae dancehall, hip hop and rock with English, Yiddish and Hebrew lyrics. Matisyahu will be joined by SoCal natives the Dirty Heads and their Sublime-esque mix of rock, reggae, and hip-hop.

Wilco
Tuesday  & Wednesday, July 17 & 18
How do we top the 2-hour set at their sold-out 2009 Wolf Trap performance? Easy. With not just one show, but two! Wilco's tour is one of the most anticipated of the summer so we're delighted they are going to hang out for two nights. The Washington Post calls this a "hot ticket." That may prove to be the understatement of the summer.

Jackson Browne
Monday, July 23
Jackson Browne by the numbers: 17 million albums sold in the U.S. alone, five decades of music making, two previous Wolf Trap appearances. But who's counting? Browne will be joined by singer and fiddler Sara Watkins of Nickel Creek fame. At the risk of sounding like a broken record- this show is highly likely to sell out.

Rufus Wainwright
Ingrid Michaelson
Tuesday, July 24
The son of folk singers Kate McGarrigle and Loudoun Wainwright III (appearing as special guest to Mary Chapin Carpenter in August), Rufus Wainwright went into the family business, playing piano at 6 and touring at 13. His most recent record, Out of the Game, is only days old, released on May 1, and the LA Times calls it "one of the catchiest and most immediately accessible albums Wainwright has made." Appearing with Rufus will be Ingrid Michaelson who has gained attention with countless song placements in Grey's Anatomy, One Tree Hill, Army Wives and Old Navy commericals.

Joe Walsh
Monday, August 13
He has been a member of three successful bands, the James Gang, Barnstorm, and the Eagles; he is a noted session musician playing with the likes of B.B. King and Dan Folgelberg; but when Joe Walsh makes his Wolf Trap debut in August it will be as a solo artist touring in support of a yet-to-be released album titled Analog Man. Don't miss it.

Lyle Lovett
Tuesday, August 14
We consider Lyle Lovett to be a Wolf Trap favorite for many reasons. He first graced The Barns stage in 1987, moving to the Filene Center shortly after as a special guest to the likes of Merge Haggard, Reba McEntire, and Bonnie Raitt. This summer marks his 21st appearance at the Filene Center and he continues to draw a loyal following for his shows that often feature sets pushing 2 1/2 hours.

John Prine
Emmylou Harris
Wednesday, August 15
John Prine and Emmylou Harris both appeared on the Wolf Trap season in 2011, and the two duetted on Prine's 1999 album, In Spite of Ourselves, but they have never appeared on a co-bill here before. Take the gravelly voice of one of the most influential songwriters of his generation and add the pure, clear vocals of a Virginia native and the sum will be greater than its parts for this night.

Train
With Special Guests Mat Kearney and Andy Grammer
Tuesday, August 21
If Train's "Hey, Soul Sister" was last summer's jam then their new single "Drive By" is sure to take its place in summer 2012. With hits like "Meet Virginia," "Drops of Jupiter," and "Cab," there is no telling which song will be stuck in your head at the end of the night. Fortunately, you are more than welcome to sing along with the rest of the 7,000 patrons in the audience.

Speaking of sold-out shows.....

The following performances are lawn only:

A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor - Saturday, May 26
YANNI - Friday, June 8
Diana Krall - Thursday, June 21
Crosby, Stills & Nash - Tuesday, July 3
IL DIVO - Thursday, August 9
Alan Jackson - Sunday, August 19

The following performances are sold out:

Bonnie Raitt - Thursday, June 21
Norah Jones - Wednesday, June 27

Don't forget: The Box Office opens on Saturday at 10 am!

Celebrating 25 Years of Comedy at The Barns

Today's post is from Jeffrey Penn, CEO of Proper Entertainment, who hand selects the comics for the Evening of Comedy at The Barns at Wolf Trap.

The time is upon us again for another great Evening Of Comedy. To echo the words which shall be repeated in homes throughout the land this month on the Jewish Holiday of Passover, why is this night different from all other nights? Simply, this is the 25th Anniversary of the Evening of Comedy which marks somewhat of a milestone for The Barns of Wolf Trap. We’re nearing the point when we can claim that we’ve been presenting this show for as many years as Johnny Carson hosted The Tonight Show, and we’re able to present two artists who appeared with Johnny during his years at NBC, along with another rising talent in the industry. In short, this year’s show is a tribute to comedy past, present and future.

I’m especially excited by this year’s event, because it has special meaning to me as well. I’ve been working in the comedy business for 35 years, and over that time I’ve presented many of today’s top names in comedy when they were just starting out. We’ve had the chance to present on The Barns’ stage many of the country’s top comedy club headliners before they’ve reached the pinnacle of their careers. The hallmark of Evening Of Comedy is that you see these artists as co-headliners without the opening act filler you would see in clubs. Three major headline comedians, all together on one show. That is what makes Evening Of Comedy special, and this year it’s even more special with the incredible talent we’ve been able to assemble.


I am so thrilled to be able to include Kevin Meaney on this year’s bill. Kevin has always been one of my favorites, all the way back to the early 1980s when he appeared with Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show over a dozen times. He also made appearances on Saturday Night Live, Late Show with David Letterman, Live with Regis & Kathie Lee, Conan O’Brien, and just about every other television talk fest or variety show on the air. He continues to be one of the country’s top working stand-up comedians.


Rachel Feinstein is a real treat to have on our show. We first got to know her as a finalist on Season 7 of NBC’s Last Comic Standing, and she has since appeared in her own Comedy Central special, on Russell Simmon’s Presents Live at the El Ray, and several other VH-1 and Comedy Central shows. She has risen quickly due to her likeable stage presence and brilliant delivery and that has brought her to the attention of television executives who are now working to provide her with her own sitcom.

Finally, David Sayh. Wow, so much to say about David. I’ve known David since the mid 1970s when he was a regular on the stage at Catch A Rising Star in New York, one of the country’s top comedy showcase clubs. During one of his performances there, Johnny Carson himself came into the club to catch a show and was so impressed with David, he personally invited him to appear on The Tonight Show later that month. David’s first appearance was a smash, and Johnny had him back on his show 12 times. He’s toured the country as the featured guest with artists such as Paul Anka, Barry Manilow, Chicago, Frankie Valli, and Neil Sedaka. He even performed for President Bill Clinton at his 50th Birthday Celebration. David is a comedy gem – and he’ll shine for us once again this year.

So now you can see why this year’s edition of Evening Of Comedy is so special. We’ve always had great shows in the past and, although this year will be no different in that regard, being able to bring these three great talents together on one stage is especially gratifying. I’ve been proud to be a part of these shows for 25 years, and I can’t wait until we embark on our next 25 year journey.

The 25th Annual Evening of Comedy appears at The Barns on Friday and Saturday, May 4 and 5.