DAC Stage Brings Paris to Darien

Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris to be Produced by Darien Arts Center Stage

The famous French singer-songwriter Jacques Brel would have been 86 years old this month.  To celebrate his life and talent, Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, a show described as a cabaret style revue, is being produced by Darien Arts Center Stage and will be performed for two weekends in the DAC Weatherstone Studio in May.  This special show, “the first libretto-less musical” is a compilation of material by a prolific craftsman whose work speaks to audiences.  Each song is a story unto itself and woven together to shape the fabric of the human experience and a full range of emotions. Some songs will make you laugh; some will make you cry and all will make you think. The Belgian born, French resident, Jacques Brel, wrote the original music and lyrics and they were translated and adapted for English speaking audiences by Eric Blau and Mort Shuman.  It is being presented with special permission by Dramatists Play Service, Inc.

Peter Green will direct the show with music direction by Keith Levenson. Green received his degree from Purchase University’s acting conservatory and has been performing, directing and teaching theatre for nearly 20 years.  Levenson is an educator, conductor and arranger for theatre, concert and television stages – including concerts for The Who, Kiss, Alice Cooper and Peter Frampton as well as Broadway and National touring productions for Grease, Jesus Christ Superstar and Dreamgirls, among others.  Peter and Keith’s life-long love of Brel’s music comes through in their enthusiasm and passion for Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris.  The seven performers who remind us that the human voice is an instrument that can convey beauty while tapping into deep emotional truth will delight audiences. All were professionally trained as actors or singers and are excited to have the opportunity to perform in this iconic show. With a step back to another place and time, the only thing missing will be the haze of cigarette smoke that one would expect from a cabaret performance in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.

Tickets are available for May 2, 3, 9 and 10 at 8 pm with a matinee performance on Sunday, May 4 at 2 pm at the Darien Arts Center located at 2 Renshaw Road, under the blue awning behind Town Hall.  Tickets are $25 and can be purchased by calling the box office at 203-655-5414 and leaving a message or by going to the website and purchasing them online at darienarts.org.

Founded in 1975, the Darien Arts Center (DAC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing visual and performing arts programs and events for the community. The DAC offers educational programs in Dance, Visual Arts, Music & Theatre, & special events & live theatre performances by DAC Stage. Private donations, grants, tuition fees & ticket sales fund the DAC, which is located at 2 Renshaw Road, behind the Town Hall. For further information, call (203) 655-8683 or visit darienarts.org.