The Majestic Unplugged 

The Majestic Unplugged: TheaterJones review

Remember When

Lyric Stage and special guest Cynthia Clawson celebrate the Majestic Theatre’s history with an un-miked concert.

by Martha Heimberg
published Saturday, November 17, 2018

Dallas — Stepping into the lobby of the beautifully restored Majestic Theatre, with its gilded ceilings, huge mirrors and glittering chandeliers is a trip into downtown Dallas’s most glamorous history. This weekend you can boost that experience with a terrific lineup of singers and musicians taking the stage to take you back to the songs and comedy acts of this plush venue in its golden performance days.

Lyric Stage founder and producer Steven Jones celebrates the award-winning company’s shift of venues last year from Irving to the Majestic with Majestic Unplugged, a classy all-acoustic concert of songs dating from the theater’s opening in 1921 as a vaudeville house through its closing as a movie palace in 1973.

Eight stylish singers familiar to Lyric Stage audiences appear, together with guest vocal artist Cynthia Clawson, a 1981 Grammy Award-winning gospel singer whose rendition of “Softly and Tenderly” enhanced the soundtrack for the 1985 film The Trip to Bountiful. We hear them all sing in over 30 solos, duets and as a rich-voiced company, directed by Bruce Greer (spiffy in sharp spats at the piano), conductor of the eight-person orchestra in formal dress seated on risers behind the performers.

Popular musical theater tenor Max J. Swarner sets a warm, festive tone for the evening, opening the concert with “Pure Imagination,” from the 1970 film, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Surprising and delightful, Swarmer’s voice and personality radiate more intimately from the stage to the audience with the electronic fence removed. All evening, and with all the singers, we hear the inflections and tones of the voices so directly it feels they are singing to each of us, and we’re all enjoying the connection.

A steamy or funny mood for the duets from musicals and movies are created on the spot by these pros, who walk on the stage, cue quickly to Greer’s excellent orchestration, and launch into a love song. Christopher J. Deaton and Kristen Lassiter are shy, then passionate singing “Only Make Believe” from Hammerstein and Kern’s 1927 Show Boat. In the second act, Swarner and full-voiced mezzo Felecia Benton turn up the heat in “Baby It’s Cold Outside” from Frank Loesser’s 1948 Neptune’s Daughter.

Andy Baldwin, a strong singer and endearing comic, had the audience cheering and applauding with his hip-swiveling, soft-shoe rendition of “Ballin’ the Jack” from Burris and Smith’s Ziegfeld Follies (1913). Later, Baldwin, in black and white saddle oxfords and a striped suit, winks at an audience member in a front row seat and sings “Yessir, That’s My Baby,” a Kahn and Donaldson hit from 1925. Baldwin cracks old jokes about criminal in-laws and sudden telegrams from 1920s radio shows with a fresh, smarty-pants delivery. Both romantic songs and comedy numbers remind us of how innocent we were in that era. Children, flirting with our honeys and laughing at sweet, silly jokes.

Flexing girl power and a svelte, alluring figure is Daron Cockerell in a silver lamé gown ringing memory bells with “The Trolley Song” from Martin and Blane’s 1944 Meet Me in St. Louis. Lassiter is a rapture to behold in her delicately phrased “Alice Blue Gown” from McCarthy and Tierney’s 1927 Broadway hit Irene. Christine Cornish Smith sings a seductive “Always True to You” from Cole Porter’s 1948 Kiss Me, Kate. Her lithe, high-kicking dancing gets mid-performance applause and hoozahs.

Featured star Clawson’s voice was clear but thin singing “Over the Rainbow “(Harburg and Arlen’s 1939 The Wizard of Oz) and “You’ll Never Walk Alone” (Rodgers and Hammerstein’s 1945 Carousel). The gospel artist was most compelling in her rapt and touching rendition of “Nearer My God to Thee,” accompanied by Greer on accordion and joining her as alto in a moving duet.

Swarner and company close the first act with a joyous “Let’s Go Fly a Kite,” from Sherman and Sherman’s 1964 Mary Poppins. Two dozen songs later, everybody gathers round the piano and sings a cheery Christmas medley.

For the closing finale, audience-pet Andy Baldwin leads the company with a wistful “Thanks for the Memory,” from Robin and Rainger’s 1938 The Big Broadcast.

Right back atcha, you sweet, sentimental, wildly talented bunch, you.

The Majestic Unplugged: Katy Trail Weekly review

‘Majestic Unplugged’ Celebrates Historic Landmark

Shari Goldstein Stern
published November 2, 2018

Since 1905, downtown Dallas’ Majestic Theatre was relocated several times before settling in for decades, yet the legendary theatre withstood the test of time and motion with grace. The theatre’s current location since 1921 was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. 

In February 1920, Dallas businessman and philanthropist Karl Hoblitzelle commissioned architect John Eberson to design The Majestic Theatre at 1925 Elm St., its current location. Constructed as Hoblitzelle’s Interstate Amusement Company’s flagship theatre, the $2 million Renaissance Revival style structure opened in 1921. A gala benefit featuring actress Olga Petrova was held on April 11 that year. The theatre’s exterior is a stately reminder of days gone by. Its interior remains one of Dallas’ grandest showcases. The early theatre was the preeminent vaudeville house of the Southwest. 

Now more than a century later (113 years), The Majestic Theatre’s colorful history will be celebrated when Lyric Stage, recently welcomed as the Majestic’s resident acting company, opens with “The Majestic Unplugged,” Friday, Nov. 16 through Sunday, Nov. 18 with four performances. 

In June 1921, “Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse,” one of the earliest “motion pictures” was the first to open at the Majestic Theatre following years of Vaudeville. Many films premiered there throughout the years. In the 1950s, Fess Parker appeared with the opening of his movie, “Davy Crockett.” Baby Boomers may have vivid memories of wearing your Davy Crockett hats while the organ rose from beneath the floor with an organist playing before the show opened.

The final film screened was “Live and Let Die” in 1973. Baby Boomers may also recall being introduced to the legendary James Bond movies at the Majestic during the 1960s. 

Multiple business and financial decisions kept the theatre out of operation until 1975. On Jan. 31, 1976 the Hoblitzelle Foundation formally gave the Majestic Theatre as a gift to the people of Dallas to transform into a center for performing arts. Private funds and a city bond allowed the theatre to undergo a $5 million renovation of the striking venue.

On Jan. 28, 1983, the Dallas Ballet held the first live, public performance in the Majestic Theatre. In March of that year, Liza Minnelli was featured in concert for the gala opening benefiting the theatre.

Conceived and music selection by Steven Jones, Lyric Theatre’s founder, “The Majestic Unplugged” includes a revue of numbers representing the golden age of movies from the theatre’s opening in 1921 to its closing in 1973. Will there be some vaudeville thrown into the mix? That’s a “just you wait and see.” 

The range of musical styles is as broad as the theatre’s history, spanning 1905 through 1972. Fans of Oscar Hammerstein and Jerome Kern will recognize the exquisite ballad, “Only Make Believe” from 1927’s “Show Boat,” when performed by Kristen Lassiter and Christopher J. Deaton. Other movie soundtracks represented are 1972’s “The Poseidon Adventure;” 1945’s “Ziegfeld Follies;” 1949’s “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,” and Cole Porter’s 1948 classic, “Kiss Me Kate.” The performance is being touted as “The purity of the human voice in its natural state, enhanced only by the acclaimed acoustics of The Majestic Theatre.”

One of Dallas’ most valued and versatile talents, Max Swarner will open with “Pure Imagination” from Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse’s 1970 “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.” Swarner is known for countless shows throughout the area’s proliferation of theaters, including Theatre Too, Contemporary Theater of Dallas, and Garland Summer Musicals, to name a few. Swarner’s other Lyric Stage performances have included “Anything Goes,” “1776,” “The Most Happy Fella” and more. 

This is not the award-winning actor’s first experience on the Majestic stage. From 1998 through 2002 as a very young, budding actor he appeared in “It’s a Wonderful Life – the Musical” at the Majestic. Swarner said, “I am thrilled to return to the historic Majestic Theatre for the first time in 20 years doing what I love the most — singing. The theatre is so rich in history, and its acoustics were designed for unamplified singing. I am overjoyed to share the stage with this immensely talented group of artists, and I cannot wait for our audiences to experience the natural acoustical beauty of the space.”

Featured guest artist, Grammy Award-winning Cynthia Clawson, is referred to by many as the “singer’s singer” and called “The most awesome voice in gospel music” by Billboard Magazine. Clawson has received a Grammy and five Dove awards for her work as a songwriter, vocal artist and musician. Her career has spanned over four decades with 22 recordings to her credit. Her rendition of “Softly and Tenderly” set the evocative tone for the soundtrack of the Academy Award-winning movie, “The Trip to Bountiful.” According to her publicist, “Her talents bridge the arts of music, theater and cabaret. Her eclectic style allows her artistry full expression.”

Clawson will put her spin on “Over the Rainbow” from 1939’s “Wizard of Oz.” She will offer the audience a lovely souvenir with her solo of the classic “You’ll Never Walk Alone” from Oscar Hammerstein and Richard Rodgers’ 1945 “Carousel.” She has another opportunity to dazzle with Johnny Mercer and Henry Mancini’s “Moon River” from 1961’s “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” Clawson will further entertain with “A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes” from 1950’s “Cinderella.”

The audience will remember Disney’s “When You Wish Upon a Star” as performed by Daron Cockerell, Christopher J. Deaton, Catherine Carpenter Cox and the ensemble. The cast also includes, Kristen Lassiter, Feleceia Benton, Christine Cornish Smith and Andy Baldwin.

The revue-style show will also include songs from “Show Boat” and “The Poseidon Adventure,” like “Make Believe,” “My Man,” “The Trolley Song” and “The Morning After.” 

Steven Jones, who created Lyric Theatre, epitomizes “Follow your dreams.” The native Dallasite and Irving MacArthur alumnus went after his BS and DDS from Baylor University and Baylor College of Dentistry, only to change plans and take off for New York without cleaning a single tooth. He followed his dreams to act professionally. Dr. Jones produced his first show Off-Broadway in 1992.

Jones had honed his craft earlier with Dallas Repertory Theatre in NorthPark Center on-stage and off for two seasons. Dallas Rep closed, so Jones founded Lyric Stage. “I wanted a place for local Dallas professional actors, directors, choreographers, designers and musicians to create great musical theater,” he said.

According to Jones, Lyric Stage opened its first production in 1993 and has produced over 120 shows to date, hiring over 1,000 artists. Under his leadership, Lyric Stage has won 35 Dallas Theatre League Leon Rabin Awards and three special citations for excellence and innovation from the Dallas Theatre Critics Forum. Jones has been nominated twice by The Dallas Morning News for Texan of the Year for his contributions to musical theater. Jones said, “My vision for a nationally recognized musical theater devoted to the development and preservation of the American musical in North Texas is now a reality. I have selected and produced 21 world premiere musicals.”

Following rave reviews of a Lyric Stage production of “Carousel,” Ted Chapin, Chairman of the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization, selected Jones and Lyric Stage to produce the premiere of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s restoration of the original “The King and I.” 

Bruce Greer, Director/Orchestrator, is glad to be returning to Lyric Stage after providing Music Direction for “Newsies” at the Majestic. Other Lyric Stage credits include “Of Thee I Sing,” “Anything Goes” and “Mame.”

His commanding solo piano artistry, as well as his artistic collaboration with Clawson, has taken him around the world, performing in churches, conferences and leading concert halls. As a Baylor University graduate in music theory/composition, he spent six years with Word Records and Music. He collaborated with lyricist Keith Ferguson on popular musical adaptations of “It’s a Wonderful Life” and John Grisham’s novel Skipping Christmas.