2006-2007 Season: ELLA
Book by Jeffrey Hatcher
Conceived by Rob Ruggiero and Dyke Garrison
Musical arrangements by Danny Holgate
Based on the play by Dyke Garrison
Directed by Rob Ruggiero
June 23–July 22, 2007
A Musical Event That Captures A Legend
A theatrical event that weaves myth and memory, comedy and drama, mystery and music, ELLA will take you inside the heart and soul of one of the world’s greatest jazz singers. The time is July, 1966, the place, a concert stage in Nice on the French Riviera. Ella Fitzgerald, “The First Lady of Song,” rehearses for an upcoming concert to be taped for posterity. Her producer requests that she add more “patter” about her life to the show. With this daunting task before her she begins to reminisce, uncovering a past the public never knew.
Starring Tina Fabrique as Ella, this spectacular show features 14 of her hits, including, “That Old Black Magic,” “A Tiskit, A Tasket,” “How High The Moon” and “They Can’t Take That Away From Me.” Ella Fitzgerald holds the title of the most popular female jazz singer in the United States. During her remarkable career, she won 13 Grammy awards and sold over 40 million albums. Her velvet voice was flexible, wide-ranging, accurate and ageless. She could sing sultry ballads, sweet jazz and imitate every instrument in an orchestra.
Join San Jose Rep in an evening of celebration as we pay tribute to “The First Lady of Song!”
"[Tina] Fabrique evokes the maternal musical spirit of Miss Ella with remarkable skill and finesse; her must-see performance has audiences grooving throughout the show's two dozen numbers." - Variety
A co-production with Arizona Theatre Company, The Cleveland Play House & Asolo Theatre Company. Appx. Performance Run Time: 125 min. plus 15 min. Intermission
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Keep Your Groove On After Seeing ELLA! Enjoy lively jazz music outdoors at the “Jazz on the Row” every Tuesday evening from 6 – 8:30 p.m. at Santana Row.
