The Milwaukee Post

16 • Milwaukee Post • September 6, 2013 Rep's musical salute to singer Tony Bennett will touch your hearts By JULIE MCHALE Post Theater Critic MILWAUKEE – There are few singers who can boast of the longevity and continuing popularity enjoyed by the incomparable Tony Bennett. He has broken many records in terms of the number of concerts he has given and the number of albums he has created. He has endeared himself to many adoring fans for more than 60 years. At 87, he is still going strong. The Milwaukee Rep's Stackner Cabaret Theatre opened its 2013-14 season with a delicious banquet of some of the musical delicacies popularized by Bennett in his long career. Three gifted tenors and one adept pianist have joined together to bring us 40 beautifully arranged Bennett favorites. Vince di Mura is responsible for the piano and vocal arrangements. Unlike some of the other Stackner shows that have featured a famous vocalist, most combining biography with music, this show spends little time on Bennett's life. "I Left My Heart: A Salute To The Music of Tony Bennett" created by David Grapes and Todd Olson (who also directed it), is all about the music. The trio of vocalists alternated solos with duets and trios. Each singer has some strengths – Eric Jon Mahlum, with the most poignant, purest voice, Rob Tucker, best on the bluesy numbers; and Andrew McMath, notable for his youthful enthusiasm. Whether they were featured as soloists or harmonizing together, they entranced us. Richard Carsey's rich accompaniment also enhanced their arrangements. At times, his impressive skills are featured in the mix At a glance "I Left My Heart" runs seven or eight times a week through Oct. 13 at the Stackner Cabaret at 108 E.Wells St., Milwaukee. If you appreciate the golden oldies, don't miss this one. Call 414224-9490 for show times and tickets or visit www.milwaukeerep.com. when they put the spotlight on him. Being a big fan of the American Classics Songbook, I recognized all the songs except for "You Must Believe in Spring" and "A Child is Born." The fact that most of the tunes were familiar ones is part of the charm of the show. People love to hear the songs that they associate with a given singer or band. A few of the numbers among the 30-plus that comprise the repertory include these dozen that are especially well-executed: "Boulevard of Broken Dreams," "Because of You," "Stranger in Paradise," "Lullaby of Broadway "I Got It Bad and that Ain't ," Good," "Puttin' on the Ritz," "The Days of Wine and Roses," "The Shadow of Your Smile," "How Do You Keep the Music Playing," "I Wanna Be Around," and, of course, the incomparable "I Left My Heart in San Francisco." They ended the splendid musical treat with a touching version of "Make Someone Happy They followed their own advice on ." that one. We left very happy with what we had experienced. I would have liked to find out more about Tony Bennett the person, but the music was so well-rendered that their choice in this regard was soon accepted. NEW PATIENT SPECIAL WHITENING * 233161052 Schedule Your Appointment For: •Comprehensive Exam •All necessary x-rays •Cleaning *Some restrictions may apply IMPLANT RESTORATIONS -Crowns, Bridges, Dentures, Partials-Headaches, Neck & Facial Pain Associated with TMJ-Speaks Rozmawia po Polsku- Margaret Bolek, D.D.S. 2603 West Rawson Avenue, #123 Oak Creek • 761-9902 Most Insurance Welcome ~ Convenient Day & Evening Hours From left, Eric Jon Mahlum, Richard Carsey, Andrew M. McMath and Rob Tucker perform a song in the Milwaukee Repertory Theater's production of "I Left My Heart: A Salute To The Music Of Tony Bennett." Time Warner Cable moving Milwaukee's City Channel We Make Healthy Smiles Affordable FREE Photo by Michael Brosilow Bound for provider's digital format Post Staff MILWAUKEE – Milwaukee's government-access programming channel that's part of Time Warner Cable's lineup will be moving to a location on the cable provider's digital format, the city clerk's office announced. The change means that programming will no longer be found on Channel 25 starting Sept. 11. While the disruption in service will be minimal for some Time Warner customers, others will need new equipment to continue to receive all of their basic cable programming, a city clerk's release said. Viewers with a Time Warner set-top digital cable box will be able to find the city channel at 15.25 or 15-25, depending on their television. Those who don't use a cable box but do own a newer, flat-screen television equipped to receive a digital signal will need to rescan for new channels in order to view the city channel at its new locaation on the dial. However, Milwaukee City Clerk Jim Owczarski, under whose supervision the city channel operates, said that viewers with older-model, analog devices who plug their cable directly into the television will not immediately be able to view the channel. To continue to receive it and the other channels that are being switched to digital, customers will need a digital-to-analog converter from Time Warner. If a customer requests it by Nov. 11, 2013, Time Warner will provide a converter box free of charge until December 2014. But after that, the converter box will cost cable customers an additional 99 cents a month. Viewers should visit www.twc.com/digitaladapter or call 855-286-1736 to sign up to receive a digital converter box. For questions or concerns, viewers should also contact Time Warner directly and not the city clerk's office or Channel 25. City channel programming will still be streamed free on the Internet at city .milwaukee.gov/citychannel, the clerk's office said.

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