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Light Rain Take me out to the ballgame...at Hofstra
'Baseball Swings' in a musical glimpse of the boys of summer
The crack of the bat, the whoosh of the ball, the melody of Take Me Out to the Ballgame … baseball is certainly the great American pastime, and, a rich legacy of baseball-inspired music has grown up around it.
That musical history is explored in “Baseball Swings!” the latest production to come from Bob Spiotto, Hofstra University’s artistic director of community arts programs and executive producer of Hofstra Entertainment, who produced and performs in this loving tribute to baseball’s musical heritage, premiering at Hofstra this weekend.
The show, which opens April 26 and concludes with a doubleheader on April 28, features an all-star musical ‘team’ of vocalists with the Base Hits Quintet. From marches to ragtime, waltzes to two-steps, polkas, jazz, and show tunes, the songs of baseball are descriptive, humorous and inspirational, and their lyrics mirror the imagery of their time.
“This is truly something unique and special,” says Spiotto, who is assisted by co-producer Len Triola, who consulted on this production. “There’s so much music out there that deals with baseball that it really lends itself to a musical tribute.”
The concert is presented in conjunction with Hofstra Cultural Center’s latest conference, celebrating “50 Years of the New York Mets,” which also takes place April 26-28. “We wanted to do something theatrically to showcase the conference and the 50th anniversary of the Mets,” says Spiotto, “and we decided a concert around baseball would be a lot fun. And it is.”
Audiences will be taken out to the ballgame with some of baseball’s greatest musical hits sung by acclaimed vocalists Frank Lamphere, Rose Bonanza, Marilyn Zavidow, Lynn DiMenna, and Sarah Partridge, with Hofstra University senior Alex Schirling and 9-year-old Rainer DeLalio. The Base Hits Quintet – featuring Kevin Duffy, Tom Reese, Laurie Haines Reese, Eddie Montalvo, Mitchell Lloyd Schechter, Lou Caputo, Calvin Hill, Vinnie Cutro, and Sal Mazzola – lends their unique rythms to bring an added dimension to these classic songs.
“They are a great group of talented musicians who play across the musical board,” says Spiotto. “We are thrilled to have them with us.”
The vocalists will put their distinctive spin on this treasure trove of music. “We’ve got all the bases covered, from music to gender to age,” says Spiotto.
Indeed, the program covers decades and genres of music, including “Opening Day,” “Take Me Out to the Ball Game,” “And The Mets Win,” “There Used to Be A Ball Park,” “Baby Elephant Walk,” “Heart,” “Meet the Mets,” “In The Cards,” “God Bless America,” The D-O-D-G-E-R-S Song” (Danny Kaye),” “Jake! Jake! The Yiddisher Ball Player,” It Happens Every Spring,” “Centerfield,” “Van Lingle Mungo,” along with, of course, “New York, New York,” and “God Bless America.” Also on the program is a song by singer-songwriter Marilyn Zavidow, “I’m A Baseball Gal.” Many of these tunes will be familiar to audiences, but some will not. “They are all entertaining, of course,” says Spiotto, noting that “they are all hits.”
“We have such a wide variety of talent,” says Spiotto, “that we needed a wide variety of songs for this extraordinary group of performers.”
The range of songs also reflects the impact of baseball on American culture, according to Spiotto. “To me baseball is not just about the professional experience, not just about rooting for your favorite team,” he says. “Ultimately it brings back a certain nostalgia, echoing elements that are examined in the conference, “50 Years of the New York Mets.” People have recollections from childhood and it seemed natural to have that youthful element presented as well.”
That’s where young Rainer DeLalio, of Valley Stream, fits in. A third grader at the Progressive School of Long Island, DeLalio is making his second appearance this year on the Hofstra stage. He recently played Sonny in Hofstra Drama Department’s production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and now lends his voice to “In The Cards.” In this song by Alan Menken and David Zippel, a Little Leaguer recounts the thrills of collecting baseball cards.
“It’s a fun experience to do this,” he says, despite not being a baseball fan. “I prefer fencing,” he told the Herald, but “I am trying to build up my potential and I am excited to sing in this show. I like being on stage and like to sing, and I also like acting a lot.”
DeLalio comes from a theatrical family: his mother opera singer Tammy Hensrud, teaches at Hofstra; his father Luke DeLalio, is a director and photographer; his sister 16-year-old Morgen DeLalio, is an actress. DeLalio has appeared in numerous community theater productions, including Plaza Theatrical Productions’ recent staging of “I Want to Be a Pirate,” and welcomes the prospect of appearing in future productions at Hofstra. “I’d like to do something else at Hofstra and I probably will,” he says.
The show, which takes place in two acts, also includes Abbott and Costello’s classic comic routine, “Who’s On First,” featuring Spiotto and Triola. “I couldn’t put together a show about baseball without that wonderful and memorable routine,” says Spiotto. “Come join us. Everyone will be a winner.”
Baseball Swings!
When: Thursday and Friday, April 26-27, 8 p.m. Saturday, April 28, 2 and 8 p.m.
Tickets: $20, $18 seniors, $15 students.
Where: Hofstra University’s Helene Fortunoff Theater, Monroe Lecture Center Theater, South Campus, Hempstead. (516) 463-6644 or www.hofstra.edu/hofstraentertainment.
