‘Stars Come Out for Bob Veillette’ Nov. 16 at NVCC
Music loved by stricken newspaper editor will be showcased at celebration
WATERBURY (Oct. 10, 2006) — The last thing Bob Veillette did before he suffered a massive stroke in April was give a performance on the piano, something he had done almost every week for years at Waterbury area venues and events.
The stroke left Veillette, 61, an accomplished jazz pianist and longtime managing editor at the Republican-American newspaper, cognizant, but completely paralyzed. With this rare condition, known as “locked-in syndrome,” he can still see, hear, smell, feel and think, but cannot move and can communicate only with great difficulty using eye movements.
Bob Veillette, an accomplished jazz pianist and longtime managing editor at the Republican-American newspaper in Waterbury, suffered a massive stroke in April that left him cognizant, but completely paralyzed. On Nov. 16, “The Stars Come Out for Bob Veillette” at NVCC will celebrate Bob’s life and the music he loved.
To celebrate his life — and the music he loves — his friends and co-workers have organized a night of musical entertainment featuring an array of top-flight performers.
“The Stars Come Out for Bob Veillette” will be held Thursday, Nov. 16, with a 6:30 p.m. reception and performances that begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Mainstage theater at Naugatuck Valley Community College, 750 Chase Parkway Waterbury.
The evening will feature performances by several artists, including:
- Brooke Tansley, who recently became the first Waterbury actress to play a lead on Broadway since Rosalind Russell in 1953 when she appeared as Belle in “Beauty and the Beast.” Tansley will soon be appearing as alongside Hugh Grant in the upcoming feature film “Music & Lyrics By”;
- Michael Barakat, an award-winning baritone who made his debut with the New York City Opera Orchestra as a featured soloist in its "Showcasing American Composers";
- Semina De Laurentis, the artistic director for Seven Angels Theatre in Waterbury whose performing credits include the original off-Broadway cast of the musical comedy "Nunsense";
- Thirzah Bendokas, a concert cellist who has been a soloist with the Boston Pops Orchestra, as well as virtually every symphony in her native Connecticut.
Additionally, Tom Chute, who has starred in many local and professional stage productions and is a radio personality on WATR-1320 AM, will perform and be master of ceremonies.
The evening will also feature Carol O’Shaughnessy, a noted Boston cabaret singer, The Spiritual Souls gospel choir, and the Bob Mobilio Swing/Jazz Septet, led by Mobilio, a noted pianist and vibraharp player. And, because Veillette is a self-taught Shakespeare scholar, Shakesperience Productions, the Waterbury repertory troupe will also perform.
“It will be a night of good music and good cheer,” said Jonathan Kellogg, who is organizing the event and is executive editor at the Republican-American. “It will be a celebration of the music Bob loves and a chance to recognize the contributions that he’s made to the community by volunteering his talent to countless charitable events over the years.”
Tickets are $30 and are now on sale. Advanced purchase is encouraged.
To buy tickets over the phone, call the Seven Angels Theatre box office at (203) 757-4676. Credit card purchases through Seven Angels will be assessed a $2 surcharge. Tickets may also be purchased in person with cash or a check at the Republican-American newspaper at 389 Meadow St., Waterbury. Tickets will also be available at the door for cash or check. Donations made out to “The Stars Come Out” can be sent to the newspaper, care of Jonathan Kellogg.
To read a blog about Bob that is maintained by his brother-in-law, Earle Sanford, click here.
The Cast:
Michael Barakat
High Res Photo
A Naugatuck native and a graduate of The Juilliard School, Michael Barakat is an award-winning recitalist and singer/actor. He made his debut with the New York City Opera Orchestra as a featured soloist in their presentation, "Showcasing American Composers." On the operatic stage, he has played the roles in Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro, J. Strauss' Die Fledermaus and in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte. As a concert artist, he has sung in Japan, France, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Canada, and the United States.
Thirzah Bendokas
High Res Photo
Naugatuck resident Thirzah Bendokas is a concert cellist who has been soloist with the Boston Pops Orchestra, as well as with virtually every symphony in her native Connecticut. Since graduating from The Julliard School, she has performed at Tanglewood and throughout the United States, as well as in Austria, Mexico, Portugal, Italy, Canada Switzerland and Spain. She teaches privately at the Taft School in Watertown.
Tom Chute
High Res Photo
Tom Chute has appeared in numerous stage productions, including performances at Waterbury's Seven Angels Theatre and in many sold-out cabaret shows. His credits include: "Anything Goes," "Finian's Rainbow," "Fiddler," "Pippin" and many other productions. A successful broadcaster for 35 years, he is general manager at WATR 1320-AM in Waterbury where he hosts the No. 1 rated morning radio program in the Waterbury area, "Tom Chute and You."
Semina De Laurentis
High Res Photo
Semina De Laurentis is one of the founders of Seven Angels Theatre in Waterbury, where she is also artistic director. An actress with numerous stage and TV credits, she originated the role of Mary Phillips in "Have I Got a Girl" and Sr. Amnesia in "Nunsense," for which she received the New York Outer Critics Circle Award and was honored with an Al Hirschfeld caricature from the New York Times. She also received the Connecticut Critics Circle Award for Best Direction of a Musical for "My Way."
Carol O'Shaughnessy
High Res Photo
Dubbed "Boston's First Lady of Cabaret," Carol O'Shaughnessy has been named the city's "Cabaret Entertainer of the Year." Her one-woman shows were named in the "Top 10 Best Cabaret Shows" for 2002 and 2003. She has appeared with Joan Rivers and David Brenner, and is also an accomplished actress. Her daughter, Tracey O'Shaughnessy, is an award-winning columnist and writer at the Republican-American newspaper.
Bob Mobilio
High Res Photo
An accomplished pianist and vibraharp player, Bob Mobilio has enjoyed the honor of playing for three U.S. presidents. He played for President Jimmy Carter's inauguration and performed at events attended by President Ronald Reagan and President Bill Clinton. A U.S. Navy veteran, he is also secretary/treasurer of the American Federation of Musicians, Local 186 of the Greater Waterbury Area. His Swing/Jazz Septet includes John daSilva on trumpet, Joseph Meo on clarinet and saxophone, Ken Andresen on trombone, Joseph McWilliams on piano, Joseph Choomack on bass and Tony DiLonardo on drums.
Shakesperience Productions
High Res Photo
Shakesperience Productions Inc. was founded in 1996 as a nonprofit professional educational theater for youth. It serves schools across Connecticut and in neighboring states, aiming to foster in young people an appreciation of literature through live theatrical productions. The troupe relates the themes of classical literature, which transcend ethnic and economic distinctions, to the day-to-day life of today's young people in hopes of advancing the education of students from all cultural and social backgrounds.
Brooke Tansley
High Res Photo
When Brooke Tansley appeared as Belle in "Beauty and the Beast" in 2004-05, she became the first Waterbury actress to play a lead on Broadway since Rosalind Russell in 1953. She has also appeared on Broadway in "Hairspray" and, before she left Waterbury for New York, appeared at Seven Angels Theatre in Waterbury. She will soon be appearing alongside Hugh Grant in the upcoming feature film "Music & Lyrics By."
The Spiritual Souls
Led by director Patricia Morrison, this family gospel choir has been performing together for more than 20 years. It includes Morrison and her three sisters - Valerie, Vicky and Tammy Howard - and her daughters, Rema Morrison Fountain and Shawn Morrison. Morrison and her family began singing as children and have matured to deliver a repertoire of gospel music encompassing quartet, traditional and contemporary arrangements. The group's motto: "A family that prays together stays together."
|
Press Releases