PhotosPHOTO EXCLUSIVE: Ben Fankhauser Shares a Day in the Life, Rehearsing for I Am Harvey Milk Andrew Lippa, Kristin Chenoweth and young actor Noah Marlowe will star in the Oct. 6 New York premiere of Andrew Lippa's oratorio I Am Harvey Milk at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall. Company member Ben Fankhauser (Newsies) documented an afternoon rehearsal for the big event.
By
Matthew Blank
October 02, 2014
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PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: Ben Fankhauser Shares a Day in the Life, Rehearsing for I Am Harvey Milk
PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: Ben Fankhauser Shares a Day in the Life, Rehearsing for I Am Harvey Milk
Andrew Lippa, Kristin Chenoweth and young actor Noah Marlowe will star in the Oct. 6 New York premiere of Andrew Lippa's oratorio I Am Harvey Milk at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall. Company member Ben Fankhauser (Newsies) documented an afternoon rehearsal for the big event.
20 PHOTOS
Follow me through a "day in the life” rehearsing for I Am Harvey Milk. I have the pleasure of singing in the 120 all-male chorus of Andrew Lippa’s incredible 12 movement oratorio starring Kristin Chenoweth and Andrew himself. It’s on Monday, October 6th at Lincoln Center and is truly not to be missed. Visit www.iamharveymilknyc.com for tickets.
Ben Fankhauser
Starting off the day right with a coffee and a breakfast sandwich AKA brain food. (Eating breakfast is one of my favorite past times.)
Ben Fankhauser
A tall glass of milk before I head out the door. The dairy really helps keep the mucus on my cords. Perfect for a long day of choral singing.
Ben Fankhauser
On my way to rehearsal I ran into Greg Kamp, a fellow cast member, who lives across the hall. Hey Greg!
Ben Fankhauser
One of the great joys of rehearsing in the very convenient and easy to get to Upper East Side, is the cross town bus. Here is a picture of the cross town bus.
Ben Fankhauser
I made it to rehearsal and I wasn’t late! It’s gonna be a great day.
Ben Fankhauser
Before we sat down to rehearse, I scored a selfie with world famous quarterback George Salazar
Ben Fankhauser
Sitting in the back row has its benefits and drawbacks. Benefits: Great spot to Instagram. Drawbacks: Drawbacks?! I’m still working on my time steps!
Ben Fankhauser
Our conductor Joel Fram is an inspirational leader and an astounding musician. Watching him interpret the music is worth the price of admission.
Antwaun Holley and I are celebrating the beginning of our 20 minute break with a selfie. And a costume change.
Ben Fankhauser
Andrew Lippa (left) sounds fantastic as Harvey Milk. Noah Himmelstein (right) is our fabulous director. And that's me in the middle. #me
Ben Fankhauser
I won another selfie, this time with Paul Staroba, one of the most incredible pianists I’ve met.
Ben Fankhauser
Here’s a glimpse of the conductor's score. Can you imagine being in charge of all of this?!
Ben Fankhauser
Definitely getting my daily dose of high C.
Ben Fankhauser
Did I mention there's choral-ography? Eat your heart out "Glee."
Ben Fankhauser
At the end of the day I caught Andrew, Paul, and Joel rehearsing one of Andrew’s solos. This concert is going to be spectacular.
Ben Fankhauser
After rehearsal I ended my day by seeing On The Town. It’s a helluva good time.
Ben Fankhauser
A little post show Shake Shack snack (say that 5 five times fast) to celebrate the flawless Jay Armstrong Johnson. Pictured from R-L: Barrett Wilbert Weed, Jay, Mike Millan, my chocolate shake, fries, and that ketchup.
Ben Fankhauser
Come to Avery Fisher Hall to see this amazing work. Monday, October 6th. www.iamharveymilknyc.com. The proceeds will be used to create the Harvey Milk Arts Fund at the Hetrick-Martin Institute. See you on the 6th!
As previously reported, Lippa will play Harvey Milk opposite Tony and Emmy Award winner Kristin Chenoweth as the soprano soloist. I Am Harvey Milk will feature the Orchestra of St. Luke's and introduce the 120-member All Star Broadway Men's Chorus.
Marlowe created the role of Young Harvey Milk in the 2013 San Francisco world premiere of the work that featured Lippa and Laura Benanti. Part choral work, part theatre piece, I Am Harvey Milk, according to press notes, "is an emotional celebration of an American hero. It weaves the story of Harvey Milk's life – from boyhood to his rise as the first openly gay man to hold public office in California to his assassination."
Directed by Noah Himmelstein, the creative team also includes Joel Fram (musical director, conductor), Michele Lynch (choreography), Andrew Lazarow (projection design), Scott Lehrer (sound design), Wilson Chin (scenic consultation) and August Eriksmoen (orchestrations).
Proceeds from the one-night-only event will be used to create the Harvey Milk Arts Fund at the Hetrick-Martin Institute (HMI). The Fund will "provide much-needed arts education and resources to students at Harvey Milk High School and other at-risk youth that benefit from HMI's services."
Founded in 1979, HMI has grown to become the oldest and largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and other at-risk youth services organization in the country.
I Am Harvey Milk had its world premiere last summer as part of the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus' 35th Anniversary Celebration concert, "Harvey Milk 2013." A live recording of the premiere was released last year and rose to No. 2 on the iTunes classical charts. The concert was commissioned by the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus, along with Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus, Dayton Gay Men’s Chorus, Denver Gay Men’s Chorus, Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles, Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus and Heartland Men's Chorus. Since its premiere, the piece has been made available to choruses to perform from coast to coast.
Tickets for the New York premiere of I Am Harvey Milk are available at IAmHarveyMilk.com. Tickets start at $40. Premium seats, including access to a VIP reception, start at $500.
