From my Grandmother’s Grandmother Unto Me
Art Station Theatre
through March 6, 2016

Thirty years ago, Clarinda Ross and David Thomas collaborated to draft a presentation about the life stories of Clarinda’s family and her days growing up in Appalachia. They didn’t have a clue that this work would be a career mover; having played in many venues, including some overseas.

Now in 2016 we find Clarinda Ross Gress on stage at the Art Station, which was started by David Thomas who has directed this production. It is a story about stories.

Clarinda moves effortlessly from being Fannie (1870-1938) to Clara (1892-1969) to Willie Sue (1913-2007) to Charlotte, born in 1941, then herself, born 1961. As she moves from one persona to another there are very slight appearance changes but obvious voice and accent changes to portray each of the generations which span more than a century.

The show runs about 90 minutes in one act, and it always amazes me when an actor can remember all those lines, while I have trouble remembering what day of the week it may be. But, she’s a professional Equity actor with years of experience onstage and before the cameras.

The days when a boy grew up, married a girl who lived on an adjacent property and they built their home right near one, or both, of their parents, has long gone. Since the expansion of air travel after WWII, families have become geographically spread out. So the essence of the tale is to inspire the rest of us to try to keep in touch, with one another and with our past.

For tickets and more info: ArtStation.org

The Sound of Music
Fox Theatre
through March 6, 2016

Rodgers and Hammerstein fashioned The Sound of Music from the memoir of Maria von Trapp, and a film about the life of the von Trapp family which came out in 1956. While of the play may not be totally factual, it is still a compelling production in some respects and second generation von Trapps are still taking to the stage. The story line is loosely based on the story of the von Trapp family of Austria, and their exit from their Austrian mountain village in the face of the Nazi occupation.

This final opus from Rodgers and Hammerstein was first staged 50+ years ago and was a box office smash. But, Mary Martin and Theodore Bikel had the leads and they could make anything fly. You know The Sound of Music and Do-Re-Mi; and if you saw the movie you have in your mind’s eye Maria twirling around on the mountain side as she belts out The Sound of Music.

This production, directed by Jack O’Brien, features a full orchestra in the pit, and some fantastic sets which take you to the Captain’s mansion in the hills of Österreich. Mother Abbess’ (Ashley Brown) rendition of Climb Ev’ry Mountain brings down the curtain in Act I. Ben Davis plays Captain von Trapp, and Maria is played by Kerstin Anderson. Merwin Foard as the egocentric Max Detweiler provides the comic relief in the show, while the seven young performers delight the audience with their presence and singing.

As an old geezer, I always seem to take some offense at seeing the Nazi uniforms and symbols in Act II. But then, I never much cared for Springtime for Hitler, either. The audience did have some youngsters in it, but it was a school night. Not sure how easily one explains WWII to the kids of today. But, if you liked the show and/or the film then you’ll enjoy this performance.

For more info and tickets visit FoxTheatre.org And if you can figure out how to Marta to North Avenue, it surely beats getting “had” by the NYC parking fees.

Joe Gransden and his Big Band
Georgia Ensemble Theatre

The third concert in this season’s 4-concert schedule for Joe Gransden and his 16 piece Big Band, blew the house down last night in Roswell. The show was appropriately named Sing, Sing, Sing! And, of course that was the number they played off with, just as Benny Goodman had done at Carnegie Hall in 1938 when his swing concert was an incredible hit. The number, by Louis Prima, stated in NOLA and has been a hit ever since.

Joe was joined by Allan Vache, a noted clarinetist who has had a long and lustrous career. Vache and Gransden even did some double solo riffs and the sold-out house was really bouncing.

The final big band concert for this season will take the stage on April 11, with Francine Reed singing the blues.

And if you can’t make the date, you can find Joe and his band at Café 290 in Sandy Springs on the first and third Mondays of each month.

More info and tickets at GET.org