www.facebook.com/groups/160024457441608/permalink/1902108266566543/Click the link to see a lot of pictures ...
Big Credit to Len RauschJackie Concert Review01/10/19 - Fox Theatre - Tucson, AZ
Introduction:My review of Jackie's 01/10/19, Tucson, AZ concert! Enjoy!
Jackie's return to the Tucson Fox Theatre, following her performances last Saturday, at the APA Brunch, Sony Hall, NYC, marked her first full concert of 2019, and Jackie did not disappoint the near capacity audience that came out to hear her beautiful voice. The post holidays crowd appeared to be more than ready for the venue’s first concert of their 2019 season. It was primarily a mature audience in attendance, with just a smattering of youngsters, but it was also a school night.
Regarding the children in attendance, it was a special night for one young fan, when Jackie saw her sitting with her Jackie doll and commented about it from the stage; even offering to autograph the doll at the end of the concert. I hope that many of you have now seen my separate posting of Jackie’s precious interaction with Lily during her signing of the doll, but I have included it here again, if not.
The format for this concert was consistent with most of Jackie’s recent concerts, with Jackie positioned at center stage and then working the stage, both left and right, during each performance, Peter anchored at the piano to both direct and perform, and the beautifully incorporated string accompaniment of 4 violins, 1 viola and 1 cello arranged in a semi-circle at the rear of the stage. Peter’s musical mastery pulled it all together, with the level of absolute perfection that we have come to regularly expect.
Theatre History
The Fox Tucson Theatre opened on April 11, 1930, as a dual vaudeville/movie house. Opening night proved to be the biggest party the small community of Tucson had ever seen. So began the Fox Tucson’s 40-year reign as the “crown jewel” of downtown Tucson’s entertainment world. Not unlike the fate of similar theaters of the time, competition from new theaters, and the decline of downtown shopping, led to the theatre’s closing in 1974.
RestorationAfter sitting empty for 25 years, the theater was nearly beyond restoration. However, following a two-year negotiation process, the non-profit Fox Tucson Theatre Foundation—was able to purchase the building in 1999 for $250,000.
RehabilitationFollowing a six-year, $14+ million rehabilitation, the theatre reopened on New Year’s Eve 2006. The 1,164 seat audience capacity is big enough to attract national and international talent, yet small enough to boast an intimate entertainment experience.
Dresses:
> 1st set – A sparkly black, knee length dress w/ a full length zippered back. Black, angle high boots were a very nice, and according to Jackie, comfortable addition.
> 2nd set – The dazzling silver, full length gown, with left and right leg slits, which Jackie debuted at her Sony Hall appearance in NYC on 01/05/19. It generated "ooh's" and "awes” from throughout the audience. The accompanying silver high heels were a dazzling choice, but Jackie noted that they were very uncomfortable. (As a side note, Jackie replaced them with far more comfortable ankle high sock-boots the next night at Palm Desert.)
Attendance:> ~ 95+% of the 1,164 capacity.
Notes and Observations:Following her opening performance of "Lovers", Jackie sincerely thanked everyone for attending, and then announced that she would be including favorite selections from her current, and past, CD's in tonight’s concert. She also noted that her new CD would be coming out around mid-March, which sparked a nice round of applause. Along with the new CD announcement, she teased the audience with telling us that she would be performing a few of the new songs tonight; more applause followed.
Jackie, once again, provided very nice introductions to almost every one of her songs, along with the very touching dedications of "The Impossible Dream" to her Mom and "How Great Thou Art" to her Great Grandmother.
1st Set Song List:- Lovers
- The Way We Were
- Mentions of her memories of watching this movie with her Mom and the desire to perform the song.
- Think of Me
- Noted that this is the big moment in POTO when Christine demonstrates that she has a beautiful voice of her own.
- Medley
> O Mio Babbino Caro
- Comments about the AGT performance and that this is where many of her current fans first found her.
> Con te partiro
- Noted that this is also known as “Time to Say Goodbye”, but “CTP” is how she learned this song, and therefore, is how she prefers to pronounce it.
> Somewhere
- The background story of how David Foster enabled her to share this performance with Barbra Streisand on her CD.
> When You Wish Upon a Star
- Jackie formally introduced Peter to the audience, and then Peter introduced the song with the cute background story that it was a 1939 Academy Award recipient and that it was, ironically, performed by a "cartoon cricket". 😂
> The Prayer
- Creds to David Foster and his role in her early career. His own NJ talent contest, pre-AGT, also resulted in a 2nd place finish for Jackie, but that’s OK because, “It definitely works for me!” 😀
- Peter Kiesewalter Orchestral piece:
> Overture from Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro"
Comments from Jackie regarding the new CD.
- Once Upon A December (A song that will be on the new CD and is from “Anastasia”)
- Jackie noted that she had performed this song at an earlier concert, awhile back, but now this version has her own special touch added to it.
- All of the Stars
- Jackie credited Ed Sheeran as an inspirational songwriter of the modern generation whom she respects and loves his works.
- The Impossible Dream
- The dedication to her Mom and the recognition that she wouldn’t be standing there on that stage today if it hadn’t been for her Mom’s support and encouragement from the very beginning.
(A huge SO at the end of the 1st set)
2nd Set Song List:
- Burn (A song that will be on the new CD and is from “Hamilton”)
- Jackie provided some background information on the song and that it was sung by Hamilton’s wife, Liza (Elizabeth Schuyler Hamilton).
- Somewhere Over the Rainbow
- A big intro on how much she loved watching “The Wizard of Oz”, and just had to perform this song. IMHO, no one does it better.
- Your Love
- Peter Kiesewalter Orchestral piece:
> Interlude from Bizet's "Carmen"
- How Great Thou Art (SO)
- Of course, the touching story of Jackie’s great grandmother and this emotional dedication to her memory, and how Jackie will always try to include this song in every performance possible. Chill bumps all around for this one, and an elongated SO, everytime.
- Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again
- A brief description of how this is Christine (POTO) singing to her departed father.
- Starry Starry Night (Vincent)
- Referenced to not only loving Don McClean’s version of this song from the 70’s, but also that it is about one of her most favorite artists, Vincent Van Gogh.
- Music of the Night (SO)
- Reference to Jackie’s love of POTO and her recognition that even though this song is typically performed by the phantom, she just had to perform it herself.
Another huge SO at the end of the concert and the anticipation of Jackie returning to the stage for an encore performance.
Encore:- Nessun Dorma (SO)
- Just pure elegance and perfection! And, the big ending that always brings the house down, without exception.
This is when Jackie saw that Lily was there with her Jackie doll to be signed, and the attached video says the rest. Jackie was beyond amazing in her interactions with this adorable young fan.
At the risk of repeating myself, it was another memorable Jackie concert, one that can never arrive soon enough, and always ends far too quickly.
- Len