mandala music production

Geniuses of the American Musical Theatre
SHOW

Accompanying the anthology Geniuses of the American Musical Theatre is a performance/lecture series exploring the fascinating, eccentric, and often troubled artists who wrote and performed the enduring songs which have earned the right to be called American standards.

Each series segment features author and popular storyteller  Herbert Keyser detailing the lives and struggles of two selected artists, along with performances by award-winning jazz songwriter Bett Butler of some of their greatest songs. Their third exciting season begins with a preview at San Antonio's McNay Art Museum on October 2, 2011, and continues with performances at the Josephine Theatre and Florida's Bonita Springs Center for the Arts. Click here for complete series details, dates, and ticket information.

photo by Peter Millican
cc.some rights reserved 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Author, lecturer, performer, activist, humorist, philanthropist, and practicing physician Dr. Herbert Keyser has enjoyed a passionate love affair with the American musical theatre for over half a century. Growing up in a loving but impoverished family with two deaf parents, he embarked on a career in show business as a senior in high school, a path later derailed by his acceptance into med school. With a passion for social justice equaling his passion for theatre, he wrote Women Under the Knife: A Gynecologist's Report on Hazardous Medicine and Prescription for Disaster: Healthcare in America, as well as several books on his other interests, world travel and fine cuisine. He has been interviewed by Regis Philbin and Ted Koppel and appeared on CNN, HBO, and scores of local radio and television programs. He and his wife Barbara have homes in San Antonio, New York City and the Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, New York. Proud father of six children and grandfather of ten, he has delivered over 8000 babies.

ABOUT THE MUSICAL DIRECTOR

Jazz pianist/vocalist/songwriter Bett Butler (www.bettbutler.com) worked in professional theater as a scriptwriter, composer, musical director, and actor before embracing a full-time career in music. She has two critically-acclaimed albums of original music: Short Stories and Myths & Fables. Her song “When Love Has Left the Room” placed first in the Jazz category of the International Songwriting Competition out of over 10,000 entries worldwide. A recipient of grants from the San Antonio Artist Foundation and Texas Music Coalition, she was named a Woman of Influence in the Arts by the San Antonio Business Journal and Artist of the Month by the City of San Antonio and was inducted into the San Antonio Women's Hall of Fame. Recent albums include Boleros, with Trio Azul; and A New World,  with her spouse, bassist/composer/producer Joël Dilley. She co-owns Mandala Music Production (www.mandalamusic.com), a studio specializing in the creation of quality original music for licensing; and Dragon Lady Records, an independent co-op label. Her upcoming album of selections from the Great American Songbook, An American Sampler, is currently in production.