SATCHMO AT THE WALDORF is a one-man, three-character play in which the same actor portrays Louis Armstrong, the greatest of all jazz trumpeters; Joe Glaser, his white manager; and Miles Davis, who admired Armstrong's playing but disliked his onstage manner. It takes place in 1971 in a dressing room backstage at the Empire Room of New York's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, where Armstrong performed in public for the last time four months before his death. Reminiscing into a tape recorder about his life and work, Armstrong seeks to come to terms with his longstanding relationship with Glaser, whom he once loved like a father but now believes to have betrayed him. In alternating scenes, Glaser defends his controversial decision to promote Armstrong's career (with the help of the Chicago mob) by encouraging him to simplify his musical style, while Davis attacks Armstrong for pandering to white audiences.
"The Stage is ecstatic to be presenting Terry Teachout's SATCHMO AT THE WALDORF featuring L. Peter Callender* - the Bay Area's own force of nature on both sides of the fourth wall - portraying Jazz legends Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, and manager Joe Glaser, telling their story in their own words," say Randall King, Artistic Director. "Our excitement elevates as this production is guided by a legend in his own right, the acclaimed director/actor of stage and screen, Ted Lange. We are honored to have these extremely talented artists in the house!"
"The life of a music innovator is revealed in this telling one-man story," says Director Ted Lange. "Terry Teachout has adapted his biography so that it fits neatly in the format of theatre. There are stories and musical history that are often unknown, forgotten, or overlooked. This script reminds us of what a genius Satchmo was and the rough road he traveled. L.Peter Callender is the perfect actor to bring Satchmo to life. He is spot on in his interpretation of Louis Armstrong and the demons he had to fight to do what he loved... make music."
RUNNING TIME: 90 minutes with no intermission.
show less
"The Stage is ecstatic to be presenting Terry Teachout's SATCHMO AT THE WALDORF featuring L. Peter Callender* - the Bay Area's own force of nature on both sides of the fourth wall - portraying Jazz legends Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, and manager Joe Glaser, telling their story in their own words," say Randall King, Artistic Director. "Our excitement elevates as this production is guided by a legend in his own right, the acclaimed director/actor of stage and screen, Ted Lange. We are honored to have these extremely talented artists in the house!"
"The life of a music innovator is revealed in this telling one-man story," says Director Ted Lange. "Terry Teachout has adapted his biography so that it fits neatly in the format of theatre. There are stories and musical history that are often unknown, forgotten, or overlooked. This script reminds us of what a genius Satchmo was and the rough road he traveled. L.Peter Callender is the perfect actor to bring Satchmo to life. He is spot on in his interpretation of Louis Armstrong and the demons he had to fight to do what he loved... make music."
RUNNING TIME: 90 minutes with no intermission.
SATCHMO AT THE WALDORF is a one-man, three-character play in which the same actor portrays Louis Armstrong, the greatest of all jazz trumpeters; Joe Glaser, his white manager; and Miles Davis, who admired Armstrong's playing but disliked his onstage manner. It takes place in 1971 in a dressing room backstage at the Empire Room of New York's Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, where Armstrong performed in public for the last time four months before his death. Reminiscing into a tape recorder about his life and work, Armstrong seeks to come to terms with his longstanding relationship with Glaser, whom he once loved like a father but now believes to have betrayed him. In alternating scenes, Glaser defends his controversial decision to promote Armstrong's career (with the help of the Chicago mob) by encouraging him to simplify his musical style, while Davis attacks Armstrong for pandering to white audiences.
"The Stage is ecstatic to be presenting Terry Teachout's SATCHMO AT THE WALDORF featuring L. Peter Callender* - the Bay Area's own force of nature on both sides of the fourth wall - portraying Jazz legends Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, and manager Joe Glaser, telling their story in their own words," say Randall King, Artistic Director. "Our excitement elevates as this production is guided by a legend in his own right, the acclaimed director/actor of stage and screen, Ted Lange. We are honored to have these extremely talented artists in the house!"
"The life of a music innovator is revealed in this telling one-man story," says Director Ted Lange. "Terry Teachout has adapted his biography so that it fits neatly in the format of theatre. There are stories and musical history that are often unknown, forgotten, or overlooked. This script reminds us of what a genius Satchmo was and the rough road he traveled. L.Peter Callender is the perfect actor to bring Satchmo to life. He is spot on in his interpretation of Louis Armstrong and the demons he had to fight to do what he loved... make music."
RUNNING TIME: 90 minutes with no intermission.
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"The Stage is ecstatic to be presenting Terry Teachout's SATCHMO AT THE WALDORF featuring L. Peter Callender* - the Bay Area's own force of nature on both sides of the fourth wall - portraying Jazz legends Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, and manager Joe Glaser, telling their story in their own words," say Randall King, Artistic Director. "Our excitement elevates as this production is guided by a legend in his own right, the acclaimed director/actor of stage and screen, Ted Lange. We are honored to have these extremely talented artists in the house!"
"The life of a music innovator is revealed in this telling one-man story," says Director Ted Lange. "Terry Teachout has adapted his biography so that it fits neatly in the format of theatre. There are stories and musical history that are often unknown, forgotten, or overlooked. This script reminds us of what a genius Satchmo was and the rough road he traveled. L.Peter Callender is the perfect actor to bring Satchmo to life. He is spot on in his interpretation of Louis Armstrong and the demons he had to fight to do what he loved... make music."
RUNNING TIME: 90 minutes with no intermission.
show less
Date/Times:
490 S 1st Street, San Jose, CA 95113
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