Launching the famed Hollywood Bowl Orchestra's 86th season, Broadway and film stars including Kristin Chenoweth and Jason Alexander were on hand for the summer evening celebration, where two legendary artists were inducted into the Bowl's Hall of Fame.
John Mauceri, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra Founding Director, was first to be honored as screen star Kirk Douglas sang then introduced the conductor, later joined by Alexander who did a medley of songs from seven Broadway shows in seven minutes, covering musicals Mauceri has done at the Bowl over the years - Carousel, Show Boat, The Music Man, My Fair Lady, Mame, Camelot and The Sound of Music.
Another legendary performer who turned out to honor Mauceri was West Side Story's original Maria, Carol Lawrence, introducing the Overture to Leonard Bernstein's musical. Actor and musician Jack Black made a humorous appearance riffing through a Led Zeppelin performance before going into "Classico" and later ushering on stage 20 young musicians from various Los Angeles orchestras promoting Music Matters.
Rounding out the star-studded evening was a tribute to Plácido Domingo, which included an introduction from actor Joe Mantegna before the tenor sang "No Puede Ser" and "El Dia Que Me Quieras." Adding a bit of sugar to the event was Chenoweth, joining Domingo to sing "What Makes Me Love Him" and "Only Make Believe."
For more information on the Hollywood Bowl, and a complete list of upcoming performances at the Los Angeles venue, visit www.hollywoodbowl.com. Upcoming Broadway related shows range from a Sing-A-Long "Sound of Music" event on June 30th to a three performance staging of South Pacific with Reba McEntire and Brian Stokes Mitchell beginning August 3.
John Mauceri and Kristin Chenoweth
John Mauceri and Jason Alexander
Plácido Domingo and Kristin Chenoweth
Plácido Domingo and John Mauceri
