Do You Hear the People Sing - Oklahoma City - January 29-30

Eric Kunze, Kathy Voytko, Marie Zamora, Jennifer Paz, Ben Crawford with Alain Boublil

From the "Oklahoman" February 2, 2016:  Eric Kunze possesses a ringing tenor that was ideal for the powerful and stirring “I'm Martin Guerre,” and together with Paz, conveyed a passionate rendering of “Last Night of the World” from “Miss Saigon.”  Read More

OKC Civic Center Music HallThelma Gaylord Performing Arts Theatre

Presented by OKC Philharmonic Pops Series
January 29-30, 2016 

Over twenty-five years ago, the Les Miserables and Miss Saigon creative team changed the course of musical history. Alain Boubil and Claude-Michel Schonberg's multifaceted concert work comes together in one unforgettable evening. Experience I Dreamed a Dream, Bring Him Home, American Dream and more in a concert that will stir your soul.

100 Years of Frank

This weekend Eric will be joining Gina Feliccia in Jackson Hole, Wyoming singing in this tribute to Frank Sinatra. The show commemorates the years of the Rat Pack starring Tony O, Frank's longtime friend and road manager. There are just a few tickets left! Eric and Gina head up Big City Broadway, a team of amazing talent available for teaching and performance. Get tickets on their website.


A photo of Eric and Gina Feliccia from approx 2010, when they performed "My Way", their last tribute to Frank Sinatra. 

The Little Mermaid Tour

Eric's tour with The Little Mermaid will continue in 2016.  Below is a list of cities where it will be playing and links to tickets.

Sacramento - California Musical Theater: 2/2/16-2/7/16
http://www.californiamusicaltheatre.com/events/mermaid/

Dallas - Music Hall at Fair Park:  3/15/2016 - 3/27/2016
(Individual tickets not yet available)
http://dallassummermusicals.org/seasontickets.shtm

Fort Worth -  Bass Hall:  3/29/2016 - 4/3/2016
(Individual tickets not yet available)
http://www.basshall.com/eventsnew.jsp?selDate=3/29/2016

La Mirada, CA - La Mirada Theater for the Performing Arts
5/27/2016 - 6/26/2016
http://www.lamiradatheatre.com/littlemermaid.htm

Reviews:
BroadwayWorld Austin:  "The cast is fine as well, particularly Alison Woods, who is charming as Ariel and the dashing Eric Kunze as Prince Eric. Ms. Woods has the famous, signature "Part of Your World" to sing, and she delivers it beautifully. Mr. Kunze possesses a golden voice that expresses deep emotion and his rendition of "Her Voice" was a highlight of the evening. Their performances are, as it should be, the ones you will walk away remembering."


From John Garcia's "The Column: "Kunze actually looks quite like the film version of the prince. Kunze has a resplendent tenor voice that would have schools of mermaids swimming toward him! The belt is full and rich, while the vibrato is smooth as silk. He gets to sing two new songs that were composed for the stage version, “Her Voice” and “One Step Closer.” Kunze wraps his golden voice around both songs like sparkling gift-wrapped presents to give to the audience. He delivers a magical, fascinating performance..."

Austin's Little Mermaid Review

BroadwayWorld review of Austin's Little Mermaid:
"The cast is fine as well, particularly Alison Woods, who is charming as Ariel and the dashing Eric Kunze as Prince Eric. Ms. Woods has the famous, signature "Part of Your World" to sing, and she delivers it beautifully. Mr. Kunze possesses a golden voice that expresses deep emotion and his rendition of "Her Voice" was a highlight of the evening. Their performances are, as it should be, the ones you will walk away remembering." (Read more)

Little Mermaid Tour Continues

                               Bass Hall, Austin, Texas - 9/29 - 10/4

From Houston, New Orleans, San Antonio and now Austin The Little Mermaid is playing to near capacity in every city.  I love reading comments left by fans after the shows and will share a few of them with you:

~Last night the stage came to life with such a beautiful array of talent and rhythm as though this world 'Under the Sea' has always been, yet with the vibrance and passion of a story unfolding for the very first time! Very much in credit to the charisma of Prince Eric. However, perhaps the most shining review comes from a two year old who's imagination was captivated through the entire evening! Thank you for an amazing night enjoyed with three generations of Little Mermaid enthusiast - my goddaughter, my best friend and her mother!  All the very best...Valerie

~Saw it in NO last night! Spectacular production!!...Kay

~Eric is the perfect Prince!...Michelle

~Just saw tonight's performance at Bass Hall. Mr. Kunze was impeccable in every single song and scene.   I'm so grateful to be able to see him as Prince Eric...Eri

Little Mermaid in New Orleans

The tour of The Little Mermaid continued last week at the 2,700 seat Saenger Theatre in New Orleans.  The theater had been dormant since hurricane Katrina struck in 2005.  When the $52 million dollar restoration and tear-down began, the 1927 blueprints were found in an obscure closet and the theater has now been restored to its original glory.

The show has been selling out to near capacity in every city long before the show dates.  When we attended, the theater was filled with parents and their children, mainly little girls, quivering with excitement to see one of their favorite Disney heroines.  By the end of the show, many of them had decided they wanted to marry Prince Eric. (Perhaps some of the big girls did too...)

BroadwayWorld.com Review of Houston's "Little Mermaid"

"Alison Woods does a wonderful job as the lead in the show, and her singing and acting are up to par with memories of the original cartoon Ariel. She is matched in tone by Prince Eric played by Eric Kunze who has a fine voice and sense of comedy that serves him well."

Yes, this is a show that both kids and ADULTS can enjoy.  The costumes, sets, special effects and even the pathos of the story between Ariel and her father, King Triton, are enthralling.  I, (Maggi) have seen it over a dozen times in various venues and never tire of it.  I'll be in New Orleans soon for the run Sept. 16-20.  If anyone will be there for those shows and want to have a meet and greet with Eric, let me know at maggiwun@yahoo.com.  

Exciting News! Upcoming Appearances in Disney's "The Little Mermaid"

We are thrilled to announce that Eric will reprising his role as Prince Eric in the national tour of The Little Mermaid.  The sets, costumes, acting and singing are outstanding.  Eric steals Ariel's and our hearts and looks very dashing as the seafaring Prince.  There is a very cool special effect involving Eric as well, which will have you wondering "how did he do that?"  Young or old, male or female, this is a show not to be missed! Time Magazine calls Mermaid "one of the most ravishing shows ever seen on a Broadway stage," and audiences agree.

A review from John Garcia's "The Column":

"Kunze actually looks quite like the film version of the prince. Kunze has a resplendent tenor voice that would have schools of mermaids swimming toward him! The belt is full and rich, while the vibrato is smooth as silk. He gets to sing two new songs that were composed for the stage version, “Her Voice” and “One Step Closer.” Kunze wraps his golden voice around both songs like sparkling gift-wrapped presents to give to the audience. He delivers a magical, fascinating performance..."

Houston, TX Hobby Center: 9/10 – 9/13

New Orleans, LA Saenger Theatre: 9/15 – 9/20

San Antonio, TX Majestic Theatre: 9/22 – 9/27

Austin, TX Bass Hall: 9/29-10/4

Minneapolis, Minn, Orpheum,  October 8^th- 19^th

California Musical Theatre Sacramento: 1/29/16 – 2/8/16

Dallas, TX Music Hall at Fair Park 3/15 – 27, 2016

Fort Worth TX: Bass Hall 3/29 – 4/3/16

La Mirada, CA La Mirada Theatre For The Performing Arts: 5/27/16-6/26

Do You Hear the People Sing, Kennedy Center, Washington DC, March 27-28, 2015

A review from Maggi

A concert celebrating the work of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schoenberg

National Symphony Orchestra

Steven Reineke, Conductor

featuring vocalists:

Lea Salonga

Eric Kunze

Terrence Mann

Kathy Voytko

Marie Zamora

with

the University of Maryland Concert Choir and the Children's Choir of Washington

It was a full house at the Kennedy Center on Friday night, March 27^th. The atmosphere was electric as orchestra members tuned their instruments and choir members took their seats above them. This was my second time seeing Eric perform at the Kennedy Center, the first being New Year's Eve, 2008, one of the most thrilling nights of my life. Then, he was doing the music of Andrew Lloyd Webber. This time it was the music of Boublil and Schoenberg, composer and lyricist of some of the most beautiful music on Broadway: Les Miserables and Miss Saigon, as well as The Pirate Queen and The Return of Martin Guerre.

The concert opened with an overture by the symphony, consisting of excerpts of all of the above musicals, cleverly intertwined into a fluid piece of music. Vocal selections from Miss Saigon followed, including Terrance Mann in "Bui Doi", accompanied by the wonderful University of Maryland concert choir, Lea Salonga in "I'd Give My Life for You" and Lea and Eric singing "Last Night of the World" with it's sexy saxophone accompaniment. As each artist sang, they related an amusing story about their connection to the music and afterward introduced the next artist.

 Each performer kept the audience spellbound.  There was not a dull moment in the whole evening.  Lea Salonga chatted with the audience as though we were in her living room and her voice was stronger than ever, especially in "On My Own."  Kathy Voytko revealed her comedic side in "Master of the House" and we could picture her strength in the role of the Irish Pirate Queen.  Eric, Lea and Kathy thrilled us with the trio, "In My Life - A Heart Full of Love".  Terrence Mann was dynamic as the Engineer and hilarious in "Master of the House".  Maria Zamora, wife of Alain Boublil and the very first Cosette in Les Miserables in France sang beautifully in "Au Petit Matin" as well as her duet with Eric in "Live With Someone You Love", from Martin Guerre.  I would love to see Eric in that role.  That musical is made for him!

But of course, the highlight of the evening for me was Eric singing “Bring Him Home” from Les Miserables. I'd heard him sing it before in other venues, but this surpassed all others. It was filled with emotion and pitch perfect. When Eric sings he is in character and the whole musical plays in your mind. You could sense that the audience could hardly wait for the last few seconds to unleash wild applause and cheers. The same thing happened at the end of the concert. The audience was standing, clapping and cheering and then became even louder when the composers Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schoenberg came out on stage. I could sense the happy mood in the animated conversation around me as we departed the auditorium.

Eric, Lea Salonga, Kathy Votyko 

backstage before the concert

"Do You Hear the People Sing" Concerts

"Do You Hear the People Sing" with the Plano Symphony and the Plano Civic Chorus was sold out last weekend. The cast consisted of Eric Kunze, Jennifer Paz (who were both in the first national tour of Miss Saigon), Jeff McCarthy, Kathy Voytko (who is working with Eric in New York on the private reading of Brindlebeast, and Maria Zamora, wife of Alain Boublil, (composer of Les Miserables, Miss Saigon, Martin Guerre, The Pirate Queen.)

 One of the rave reviews received from one of Eric's fans who traveled three hours to attend:

"Well Eric shines again. The concert was PHENOMINAL!! The concert was amazing. Eric's talent astounds me every single time. And he and Jennifer?? The original Chris and Kim from Ms. Saigon?? What a team they made!! Eric stopped and talked to fans after the show. Gracious as always. Please thank Eric for his constant graciousness and for sharing his wonderful talent with us!! I swear.....he takes your heart from the first note, and then hands it back in pieces after the show. But what a ride it is!!!

Up next, a private reading of Brindlebeast with new director Glenn Casale, writer Anita Riggio and the cast and creative staff in New York City. Then the "Do You Hear the People Sing" concerts continue in Milwaukee and Washington DC (at the Kennedy Center) at the end of March. See post below for more details.

Feb 22-24th - New York City

Glenn Casale (PETER PAN with Cathy Rigby; Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID; BEAUTY AND THE BEAST; CHILDREN OF A LESSER GOD with Linda Bove) will direct a private reading of BRINDLEBEAST, a new musical in voice and American Sign Language in NYC, February 22-24. The reading cast includes: Eric Kunze (MISS SAIGON); Alexandria Wailes (BIG RIVER); Frenie Acoba (MATILDA); Terese Genecco; John McGinty (TRIBES); Daniel Jenkins (BILLY ELLIOT); Kathy Votyko (A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER). Read more at http://brindlebeastmusical.com/Cast/Cast.html

"Do You Hear the People Sing" - The Dream Concert

Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C.

March 27th and 28th

Eric will be a featured soloist in Do You Hear the People Sing, performing in several cities this spring:

25 years ago, the creative team of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schoenberg changed the history of musical theater with their masterpiece, Les Miserables.  Do You Hear the People Sing celebrates music of two of the world's most prolific writers of musical theater in one unforgettable concert with music from Les Miz, Miss Saigon and much more, plue moments never heard and many surprises.  This extraordinary new concert is brought to you by BOUBERG PRODUCTIONS and IMG artists.

Plano Symphony Orchestra
Saturday, February 21, 2015, 8:00p,
http://www.planosymphony.org/concerts/14-15/6-doyouhear.asp


Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra
Friday, March 6, 2015, 8:00pm
Saturday, March 7, 2015, 8:00pm
Sunday, March 8, 2015, 2:30pm
http://www.mso.org/tickets/detail/do-you-hear-the-people-sing


National Symphony Orchestra- Kennedy Center
Saturday, March 27, 2015, 8:00pm
Sunday, March 28, 2015, 8:00pm
https://www.kennedy-center.org/events/?event=NPPSE

*If you would like to attend a fanclub dinner in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, March 28th at 5:00pm, please contact Maggi at maggiwun@yahoo.com to get on the list.

These are pictures I took after the concert in Ottawa a few years ago:

 Eric with cast members Lea Salonga, Terrence Mann, Kathy Votyko, Maggi and Karen

 Eric and Lea Salonga

Alain Boublil, composer of Les Miserables, Miss Saigon, The Pirate Queen, Martin Guerre.