Several Around Town Singers & Orchestra (ATS&O) audience favorites were featured in a grand show produced by Suffield’s former “Mr. Music,” Dan Kehoe, in his “Hymn Sing Spectacular” show July 21 in Clayton, N. C.
The show, which boasted nearly 400 attendees, featured great hymns, old-time gospel music and special solos by four of Kehoe’s original ATS&O stars: Jennifer Jarvis, Tyler Pearsons, Darlene Fabrizi and cellist Andrea Redfern. Jarvis is now the director of the follow-on singing group known as Around Town Two; and Pearsons, who came out of the Red Door Theatre in Feeding Hills, is currently performing in and around Broadway. Fabrizi was invited not only for her singing ability, but also to design the show set and decorate it. Redfern’s superb cello artistry was featured in a rendition of “The Lord’s Prayer” with Kehoe on grand piano.
The New England stars were joined on stage by newly discovered North Carolina talents, numbering 15 singers, and a 21-piece show orchestra. Kehoe, in addition to arranging the music and directing the show, performed a trumpet solo and an original rendition on grand piano of “There Is No Greater Love” mixed with a concerto theme by Rachmaninov, accompanied by his trademark orchestra.
As it was in New England, the newly reformed North Carolina ATS&O is unique in its delivery and mission. The hymn sing show, a reflection of Kehoe’s original “Spring Sing Extravaganza” ATS&O debut a decade earlier in Suffield, is his first North Carolina production. It will be followed by a Christmas show, and another in 2019. Once again, selected Around Town Singers from New England will be featured in those shows in keeping with Kehoe’s plan to share talents around the country between newly established franchises of his ATS&O organizations.