And the CD reviews are coming in..."To all who love Broadway, Andrew Lloyd Webber, or just enjoy music, RUN to www.erickunze.com and get your own copy of his debut CD... it won't disappoint!

From Katherine:

I went straight to my apartment to pick up my Eric Kunze CD before I went to work and I LOVE IT! I've been listening to the album since this morning as I'm working.  It still gives me the same goosebumps as when I first heard his voice in Houston playing Chris in Miss Saigon. I'm so thrilled that "Why God, Why" is in his album because it's one of my favorite songs he performed.  And I love all of his songs in this album especially the ones I've never heard him perform before like "Fathers and Sons" and "Finishing the Hat". I can't stop smiling whenever he hits those high notes in the songs. It's so clear and crisp and beautifully that it melts my heart. Thank you Maggi and especially ERIC KUNZE! I'm going to listen to the album every day until he makes another album **wink wink**

From Donna:

I've been waiting for years for this moment. To actually hold a Eric Kunze CD in my hands.  To stroke it, and lovingly  and carefully open the case.  I got chills when the music started. And to hear Eric  start singing the first bars of "Any Dream will Do". It was wonderful. It made me happy. The song selections are great. He chose, my favorite songs from his stage shows. They 're all on this CD. And he sang them perfectly. I'm High Fying. And I adore this mix of songs.   And, I love the new song.  "Fathers and Sons". That's such a beautiful song.   And  Gethsemane  was again so wonderfully  sung.  I especially enjoyed "Love Changes Everything" I've heard Michael Ball sing this song many times. Eric sings it  beautifully.  He touched my heart and soul. I've listened to this CD at least 4 times through now. And will cherish it. I do hope it's just the first one. And more CD's to come. Thank you Eric and Maggie for making this  wonderful moment happen. Christmas 2010 belongs to Eric Kunze.
Thank you Maggie
Yours truly DonnaFournier

From Jeannine:

Ok, I tore open my CD and threw it into the CD player and JUST finished listening to it 3x through, and all I can say ---WOW!!! Beautiful, and awesome are also 2 adjectives I would use, but actually, I think, there are no words that will describe the music on this CD.. Thanks, Eric for listening to the chorus of people who jumped up and down, requesting this CD..I'm in awe about how one beautiful person, inside and out, can have such a beautiful voice and do such wonderful things with the arrangements! To all ... who love Broadway, Andrew Lloyd Webber, or just enjoy music, RUN to www.erickunze.com and get your own copy of his debut CD... it won't disappoint!

From Theresa:

 Maggi....I got the CD today, and please tell Eric I LOVE IT!!!!  Love Changes Everything is sooo beautiful.  I saw Aspects of Love years ago, and have Michael Ball's recording.  I love the CD sooo much. I am ordering a 2nd.  I want to send a copy to my dear friend Vera Goulet, wife of the late, wonderful, Robert Goulet.  Thanks so much for doing this, and please send holiday blessings to Eric. 

 

Eric Kunze CD Debuts

Finally, you can order your Eric Kunze Cds!  They are$17.99 each, which includes shipping in the continental U.S. (Alaska, Hawaii, Canada and international slightly higher.)  We have included a Paypal button in the right hand column. Upon receiving your order, the Cds will be sent out via first class mail. According to the post office, it should take 4-5 days to get to you. 

You do not need a Paypal account to use Paypal.  You can use your credit card without signing up.  If that is a problem, you can pay by check.  Email Maggi for the address maggiwun@yahoo.com   However, we won't be able to ship until the check is received by us.

The CD is a retrospective of Eric's musical career to date.  A sneak peek at some of the songs included are: 
Gethsemane, from Jesus Christ Superstar (Andrew Lloyd Webber)
Maria, from West Side Story (Leonard Bernstein)
High Flying Adored, from Evita (Andrew Lloyd Webber)
Empty Chairs at Empty Tables, from Les Miserables (Claude-Michel Schonberg)
Close Every Door, from Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Andrew Lloyd Webber)
Finishing the Hat, from Sunday in the Park with George, (Stephen Sondheim)
Why, God, Why, from Miss Saigon (Claude-Michel Schonberg)
.......and a few surprises you may not have yet heard Eric sing before!

Special thanks to Skywriter Music for the gorgeous orchestrations and to Tifany at Gourmet Invitations for the Cd's graphic design!

Here is a sample of Eric singing "Gethsemane" from his two year national tour in Jesus Christ Superstar:

CD Countdown: Questions and Answers

All of your questions and Eric's answers have been moved to a special page, where they were included in our previous Q & A session.  See the right hand column, "Questions and Answers from Eric".

I am trying to streamline the site.  As you can see, there are also now separate pages for reviews and for fan comments.  Clicking on the link will take you to that page and there is a link on those pages to return you to the fansite as well.  Have suggestions?  Let me know.  I'd be more than happy to hear them. 
Maggi

Brindlebeast Party in Wethersfield, Connecticut

After a week of rehearsals in anticipation of the readings in March, the writer and producer of Brindlebeast, Anita and her husband Roland hosted a small intimate gathering at their home in Wethersfield, Conn.  It is a lovely, historic town and their home was built in the 1700's.  They are only the third owners.  It was a cozy, warm evening, with delicious food, wonderful conversation, candles, fire in the fireplace and a professional pianist to provide musical ambiance.  We were able to hear more about the story and development of Brindlebeast from dream to reality.  It is a wonderful cast.  Each and every person involved is special and the group works together harmoniously.  Here is a photo album which includes photos of the party and of the area. Click on the photos to link to a large screen slideshow.

Brindlebeast Update

From Eric:  Thank you all for sticking through the transitions of Brindlebeast as we find our way through this project. This will be the first of many changes and transformations - which is very common in this business, particularly with a new work. Please keep your faith! We are all working very hard to make sure that nothing goes unexamined or critiqued, and that we will put our best foot forward when we are ready for the public to view the piece. Of course, you all will be the FIRST to know!

The readings originally scheduled for March, 2011 have been postponed until later in the year.  Stay tuned for updates.

Fanclub Dinner

A lovely time was had by all at our fanclub dinner at the Chase Hotel on Saturday, July 17th before the second to last performance of "Damn Yankees".  Some of had met before and some were new.  Two were from the St. Louis area and others came in from other states: New Jersey, Michigan, Minnesota and Iowa.  Everyone agreed their trips were worth it!  Not only were we blessed with Eric's company, but then we got to watch him in this old-fashioned romp.  What a treat!

Maggi's Review of "Damn Yankees"

Amidst cicadas chirping, ambulances whizzing by and airplanes buzzing overhead and despite the 95 degree heat and humidity, the cast of "Damn Yankees" presents an energetic, enthusiastic production at the 11,000 seat Muny amphitheather in St. Louis.  After viewing the 1958 movie, I wasn't sure I'd like the stage version, even though they are very similar.  But Director Paul Blake imbues the production with so much energy and color it hardly seems like the same story.  Blessed with a talented and professional cast, whose singing and dancing is top notch, the show is Broadway caliber.
 

Eric told me it would "make me smile" and it did, long after I left the theater.  Unlike other shows I've seen Eric in, i.e. Jesus Christ Superstar, Evita and Miss Saigon, this definitely is a feel-good romp.  Yet the type casting is still there:  Joe Boyd is a good, honest man, unwilling to cheat on his wife with the vamp Lola.  Eric is cast in these "hero" roles because he himself is a good man and it shines through him like a beacon, even in a huge venue like the Muny. 

Eric first appears onstage when he is transformed from the old to the young Joe.  His incredulity at his transformation is amusing and believable.  Eric builds his characterization slowly from naivite in his first encounter with Applegate to the smart and savvy real estate broker that he is at the end, outwitting his Faustian deal with the devil.  His tenderness with his wife (strongly portrayed by Linda Mugleston) is achingly touching.  It's fun to watch him squirm as he politely rebuffs the advances of Lola (a hilarious Angie L. Schworer). 

It takes a strong stage presence to hold his own against the more flashy role of Applegate (Lewis Stadlin) but Eric is a good foil for him when they are both on the stage.  Eric had good preparation for that when he starred in this show on Broadway in the 90's with Jerry Lewis.  It's a treat to see Eric participate in Bob Fosse's jazzy, stylized dance numbers, complete with bowler hats and chairs.  Is there nothing he can't do?   He looks wonderful, ladies. The costumes really suit his look and as a reviewer friend wrote to me recently, "You pick him out of a line-up of ballplayers VERY EASILY". 

I saw the show four nights in a row and each night was flawless.  Too bad these productions only run for a week.  What a waste!  I would travel to Broadway to see it again.


For photos of our trip to St. Louis and more of the fans and Eric see
http://picasaweb.google.com/maggiwun/DamnYankeesMunyStLouis2010?feat=directlink

Photos from Muny's "Damn Yankees"

(from Playbill.com)

Eric Kunze and Gina DeLuca performing at the Vista Conservancy Benefit on May 30, 2010

Eric singing "Why, God" from Miss Saigon:



Eric singing "Any Dream Will Do" from Joseph, with Gina DeLuca and the Calvary Chapel choir:

Vista Jamboree Music Festival, May 30th

Eric Kunze and Gina DeLuca, guest soloists at the Vista Jamboree Music Festival at the Moonlight Amphitheater, May 30th

May 22nd Celebration at the Detroit Symphony

I received more photos from fans at the DSO gathering. Check out the Facebook pages on Eric as well for video of the event!

 

Maggi's Report on "Music of the Night" with Eric Kunze and Betsy Wolfe

The evening started out with a delightful surprise visit from Eric at our fanclub dinner in the elegant Paradise Cafe at Orchestra Hall.  Twenty-three of us were gathered for a pre-theater meal and seven more were to join us at the concert.  Our entourage included fans who had traveled from Boston, New Jersey and Houston to catch this performance, as well as many of my family and friends who had heard me talk about Eric, but some of them had never seen him in action.  They were not disappointed! 

It just happened to be Eric's birthday that day and we had a cake for him and a surprise birthday present: a portrait of him in his role as "The Man" in "Whistle Down the Wind". The visit was short, but sweet, as Eric had to get to his dressing room to change into his tux and warm up. Luckily, we were able to see him afterward as well.

This was Eric's birthday gift:  A portrait from Whistle Down the Wind, done by French artist Ludovic Legros.

(If anyone is interested in their own portrait of Eric, or of another subject of your choice, contact Maggi for the email address of Ludovic Legros)

The concert was a tribute to Erich Kunzel, who passed away last year and who was supposed to direct on this night.  Eric and Betsy sang the following selections, most of which were in the first act:

I Don't Know How to Love Him (Betsy) (Jesus Christ Superstar)

Close Every Door (Eric) (Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat)

Don't Cry for Me Argentina (Betsy) (Evita)

All I Ask of You (Eric and Betsy) (Phantom of the Opera)

Music of the Night (Eric) (Phantom of the Opera)

God Bless America finale

Eric looked very dapper in his Hugo Boss tux and black bowtie.  Betsy had a different breathtakingly beautiful gown for each number.  They both sang their songs straight into the audience's hearts and upon completion of each number there were loud shouts of acclaim and thunderous applause.  After Eric's "Music of the Night", and halfway into the next orchestral selection, the elderly lady next to me piped up in a loud voice, "That guy can really SING!!"  Haha, I agree!  When he sings that high note on "Let your soul take you where you want to BE" it just took our breath away.  What I liked best was the dramatic way he delivered the songs.  It wasn't just music, it transported you to a different time and place.  That is a direct quote from a friend of mine.  Another girlfriend called me the next morning and sang "I don't know how to love him..." into the phone.  Everyone who meets Eric is bewitched and enchanted.  As an added bonus, we had a lovely time visiting afterward in the Green Room.