Summer Series Winds Down at Sands Point Preserve

The summer music series at Sands Point Preserve at Castle Gould’s Great Hall is coming to close. The series winds down with cabaret and opera on two separate nights in August.

Aug. 8 marks the return of “Broadway Showstoppers II,” the popular musical revue saluting the Great White Way, with pieces from “Chorus Line,” “West Side Story,” “Gypsy” and more. Produced by Joanne Fried and Helene Tiger, the performance features top-flight talent, backed by an orchestra – and a chance for audience members to sing along.

And on Aug. 15, The North Shore Music Festival brings us Giacomo Puccini’s “Gianni Schicchi” and “Il Tabarro” as a double bill. In the comedic “Schicchi,” rich old Buoso Donati dies, upsetting his family terribly when they discover he left his wealth to the church. In steps Gianni Schicchi to their apparent rescue. “Tabarro” is another “squarcio di vita” slice of life, in the verismo style, complete with an unhappy marriage, a cheating wife and a suspecting and rather violent husband.

Opera goers will recognize Eric McKeever – who first performed with the festival as Figaro in “Barber of Seville” – as he takes on the two roles of Gianni Schicchi and Michele in Tabarro. Adam Cromer, who sang Rodolfo with the festival in “La Boheme,” sings Rinuccio in “Schicchi” and Luigi in “Il Tabarro.” Julie Hamula, who sang Gilda last summer in “Rigoletto,” sings Lauretta in “Schicchi.” Hannah Spierman, who sang Mimi in “La Boheme,” sings Georgetta in “Il Tabarro.“ The operas are conducted by Anthony LaGruth. Daniel Klein is the festival’s executive director.

Tickets to each performance are $50. The evenings include the performance, wine, soft drinks and coffee and dessert.

Friends of the Sands Point Preserve is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization with the mission to protect and preserve the 216-acre waterfront grounds and historic mansions and to provide a range of cultural arts events and educational programs for families and schools in the Phil Dejana Learning Center and Outdoor Classroom. 


For information about the Sands Point Preserve and to purchase a 2014 Annual Pass see www.TheSandsPointPreserve.com, call 516-571-7901or visit the Gate House at 127 Middle Neck Road, Sands Point, NY, 11050, open daily in summer from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.