PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: "Romantic Atmosphere!" Alexandra Silber's Unseen Shots from Caramoor's All-Star She Loves Me | °ëµºÌåÓý

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PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: "Romantic Atmosphere!" Alexandra Silber's Unseen Shots from Caramoor's All-Star She Loves Me

"Hey Old Friend." Did you guys know Santino and I have known one another since we were teenagers at summer camp?<br><br> ...this would be *that* embarrassing reality... circa 1999.

PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: "Romantic Atmosphere!" Alexandra Silber's Unseen Shots from Caramoor's All-Star She Loves Me

The Caramoor Summer Festival presented She Loves Me in concert last month, marking the first musical seen in its 68 year history. Alexandra Silber, who starred as Amalia, takes us through the whirlwind rehearsal process and offers candid and scenic portraits of the all-star cast and gorgeous Mediterranean-style estate.
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"Hey Old Friend." Did you guys know Santino and I have known one another since we were teenagers at summer camp?<br><br> ...this would be *that* embarrassing reality... circa 1999.
Welcome to Caramoor! "Caramoor is the legacy of Walter and Lucie Rosen who built the luxurious Mediterranean-style villa and filled it with their treasures…"
"...Caramoor is a cornerstone of the cultural life of Westchester. Since 1945 visitors have delighted in the exceptional music—from classical to opera to jazz—and the enchanting garden setting that makes Caramoor such a unique and treasured resource."
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of <i>She Loves Me</i>, the artistic director assembled an all-star Broadway cast to perform with resident orchestra The Orchestra of St. Luke's, directed and conducted by Ted Sperling. [PS: ...What a dump.]
... NEVER, not in their entire history, has Caramoor ever done a MUSICAL. This historic event took place in Caramoor's beautiful outdoor amphitheater.
Rehearsing "Good Morning, Good Day" at 42nd Street Studios.
Brad Oscar and Montego Glover rehearsing "A Trip to the Library"
Ted Sperling conducting the magnificent Orchestra of St. Luke's at the sitzprobe. (You should have heard them!)
There I am! With Etai BenShlomo and Ryan Silverman
John Cullum and Ted Sperling rehearsing "Days Gone By"
HM: Hershberg, Oscar, BenShlomo and Silber... Which Bock & Harnick musical IS this?!
...is this <i>She Loves Me</i> or <i>Fiddler on the Roof</i>?
Rehearsing "Days Gone By"
If you are sitting there going "is that a REHEARSAL CELESTE?" ... you would be right. Ten Points for Griffindor.
Jonathan Freeman watching rehearsal.
The Orchestra of St. Luke's rehearsing the overture at their home in The Baryshnikov Arts Center.
Fontana panic. (No, but seriously, MAJOR professional double-duty going on here...we began rehearsing the MORNING AFTER THE TONY AWARDS for which Santino was nominated. Trooper.)
After rehearsals in town were complete we BOARDED THIS BUS. [*pause*] ...you heard me. WE BOARDED THIS VERY BUS LIKE WE WERE ON A SANDALS TOUR and they carpooled the cast and orchestra to and from New York City.
Then, we had one day to set the show on the actual stage...
"Christmas" in June.
John Cullum and Santino Fontana share a laugh.
Rehearsing "Romantic Atmosphere"
BWAHAHA! Maestro John Cullum usurps the throne...
This was a cast that LOVED a good photo op. Gavin Gregory, Montego Glover, Rebecca Eichenberger, Margot de la Barre, Barbara Marineau, John Cullum and Brad Oscar.
Ryan Silverman contemplates. "Now hooooow doooo I pronounce my character's naaaaame...?"
The view of the orchestra from Stage Left. Beautiful Mediterranean architecture.
All of us had our scripts and scores IN THE WINGS in case of emergency. We are clearly losing our minds as the evening of tech wears on.<br><br> [Also: YES. We ALL used those prop cosmetics... by Day 10 it was more repugnant than SEPHORA...]
Whilst rehearsing "Christmas," Santino and Brad contemplate the "box throwing" situation...
Gimme FACE, peeps.
Then before any of us it CONCEIVED TO TO BE POSSIBLE, it was time for mics and costumes. Check out some of our lovely customers Margot de la Barre, Rebecca Eichenberger, Carmen Ruby Floyd and Jessica Hershberg.
Ladies.
"Amalia" with John Cullum and Jonathan Freeman
Carmen Ruby Floyd giving us her "Pollyanna" face.
Dressing Room antics with Montego Glover. We were terrified of the air conditioner but needed it so badly... the heat made us loopy.<br><br>We laughed our faces off.<br><br> [**DISCLAIMER: Faceless-ness obviously occurred after this photo was taken...**]
Dapper men Bernard Dotson, Joseph Medeiros and Gavin Gregory.
Sooo maybe we had a few too many ladies per men in the ensemble and decided to have a more PROGRESSIVE "Romantic Atmosphere..." ... it was a HIT. Check out the looks of Jessica Hershberg and Margot de la Barre.
Ryan Silverman: CANADIAN PROFESSIONAL.
Santino Fontana may be Laura Osnes' "Prince Charming," and he may be my "Dear Friend," but the lady kind enough to share him with us all is his real life leading lady-- actress and singer Jessica Hershberg. What a beauty.
Ryan Silverman and a sensible boater...
QUICK CHANGE MADNESS!
"Hey Old Friend." Did you guys know Santino and I have known one another since we were teenagers at summer camp?<br><br> ...this would be *that* embarrassing reality... circa 1999.
...ANYWAY, a few years ago we did a benefit with Ted Sperling and discussed all doing <i>She Loves Me</i> together. A dream come true! (Plus: nothing like knowing one another since summer camp to help bring a fully-staged musical together in 10 days...)
Jonathan Freeman is a CLASSIC.
John Cullum prepares for Act 2.
WHOA. Bernard and Gavin mean BUSINESS.
John Cullum as Mr. Maraczek looks on as Santino Fontana's Georg and Montego Glover's Illona attempt to waltz...
You probably can't even imagine the stories we all ate up from the legendary John Cullum. Some of them included how he booked his first Broadway show (um, <i>Camelot</i>) by singing for strangers in a dark theater.
...or how about the time he missed his entrance in <i>1776</i> and he entered late as Senator Rutledge from the only viable entrance: THE ONSTAGE LATRINE...(with suitable pompous Congressional dignity OF COURSE.)
PRICELESS.
We're all so used to seeing Ryan Silverman break our hearts that NO ONE KNOWS HE IS not merely golden-throated, HE IS *HYSTERICALLY* FUNNY. His Kodaly was a treat on stage and off.
EVIDENCE.<br> I give you Exhibit A:<br> "Ilona"
Exhibit B:<br> Kodaly and Ilona Photo-booth...<br> [They clearly *HATED* each other...]<br>
Lemme. Tell. YOU:<br> Montego Glover RESOLVED.
Brad Oscar offering his "Perspective" with signature panache.
Jonathan Freeman revisits his Tony-Award winning portrayal of the Headwaiter. (PS: Etai Benshlomo took this during our dress/tech because multi-tasking is how we all started to roll...)
"Dear Friend"<br><br>(PS. ...UM: when The Orchestra of St. Luke's swelled at the end of Act 1? Yeah, it was pretty difficult not to feel your feelings...)
Etai's Arpad was so adorable some members of the audience went into a diabetic coma...
When I told Etai in a text message that he was going to be singing "Try Me" to one of his heroes John Cullum, his reply was one of these:<br><br>"…"<br> followed by "HOLY S***BALLS..."
I'm going to let the good readers of °ëµºÌåÓý provide the caption to this one…<br><br>[but all I can say is that expression is one Santino has been giving me for YEARS...]
Okay. So this was NOT the rehearsal where I nearly broke Santino's face. But there was one where I made him BLEED. What? I apologized to Laura Osnes.
Such as in the movie "Ghost," it's nice to know that a show has a "potters wheel" shot-- Amalia over Georg's shoulder in "Where's My Shoe?" is the <i>She Loves Me</i> version.
Never has there been:<br> 1. more profoundly melted lemon sorbet masquerading as "Ice Cream"<br> 2. Cuter pajamas.
Montego telling us all about her "Trip to the Library"
Ryan tells Brad it's been "Grand Knowing Him..." well.. at least for the last 9 days...
"Thank you, Madam."<br><br> Honesty box: Brad Oscar heard the doorbell chimes and walked into place like PAVLOV's DOG EVERY. TIME.... whether we were meant to sing it or not. Bless.
Are you wondering if we were sweltering in an outdoor amphitheater wearing winter coats in JULY...? 'Cuz yes. Yes we were.
There was a part of "Twelve Days of Christmas" in which all the clerks had to toss packages to one another. Poor Montego, she had to "catch" ALL of the ones that the rest of us PANIC THREW.
Ted Sperling conducting the Orchestra of St. Luke's in the original 1963 orchestrations-- to think that Broadway used to sound as rich and stunning as this all the time! What a treat for modern ears.
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