Cameo Productions to bring Abe Lincoln's music to life

| 29 Sep 2011 | 08:31

Sparta - Jacqueline Kroschell, artistic director of Sparta-based Cameo Productions, Ltd., is bringing Abraham Lincoln’s music to life for today’s audiences in a series of performances by her non-profit company of professional singers. Kroschell notes that despite many recent TV programs about Lincoln, his passionate love of many kinds of music has been overlooked. Her program, “Abraham Lincoln’s Music,” will be performed at 7 p.m. on Thursday, May 4, to benefit the Soldiers’ Sailors’ Marines’ and Airmen’s Club at 283 Lexington Ave. at 37th Street in Manhattan. The evening will begin at 6 p.m. for conversation and refreshments. Kroschell will lead a cast that includes internationally known entertainer Steve DePass, sopranos Carmen Artis and Karen Lundry, tenor John Hammel, baritone Domenic Guastaferro and pianist Carol Middleton in an eclectic program reflecting President Lincoln’s musical taste. Lincoln’s taste ranged from minstrel songs and simple hymns to sentimental popular songs and even to opera. The carefully researched program includes some historic and rarely heard Civil War songs, in addition to such favorites as “Home, Sweet Home,” “Tenting Tonight” and Stephen Foster’s “Gentle Annie” and “Old Black Joe.” General admission is $50 per person; $30 for military personnel. For information and reservations, call 212-683-4353 or send e-mail to jacqueline@cameoproductions.org.