It’s America’s birthday and a local nonprofit is making a wish: Arts Express wants its annual musical celebration of “Let Freedom Sing” to serve as an opportunity to bring the community together in a spirit of patriotism and healing.
“This production of ‘Let Freedom Sing’ isn’t about any one race but about the melting pot that is America,” said Enrique “Hank” Feldman, musical director and conductor of the production that has become a Tucson Fourth of July tradition over the past three decades. “We are excited that the concert will be a healing event for our community and an event that is completely apolitical.”
Feldman said that the event will celebrate the diverse cultures and population of Southern Arizona through music and song, featuring traditional patriotic tunes such as “America the Beautiful” and “Battle Hymn of the Republic” as well as a selection of classic American favorites such as “Sing, Sing, Sing” by Benny Goodman and “The House I Live In (That’s America to Me)” by Frank Sinatra.
“Frank was a huge fan of helping under-served youth and of the underdog. He wrote a song that essentially said, ‘This country is about the people — all the people. Everyone is a human being and everyone should be treated like one’ ... I was blown away by the depth of the lyrics,” said Feldman.
He said that Armen Dirtadian and other renowned soloists such as Ben Cline, Liz Cracchiolo, Jodi Darling, Delores Maddox, Kit Runge, Chach Snook and Dennis Tamblyn will “sing their hearts out” during the performance, backed up by the 70-member Arts Express Choir and the 65-piece Big Band Express. Tucson’s SuperGroup Quartet, the 4Gents, will also perform.
Also headlining this year is Ruben Moreno and his band, Mariachi Luz de Luna.
“Arts Express has always been — and continues to be — about celebrating our nation and our diversity and building on a positive past while creating a show and celebration that will honor all the people in this particular community. We are really excited to add the mariachi component, which is an important part of Southern Arizona culture,” said Feldman.
To honor the region’s vibrant military culture, the audience will be invited to participate in long-time crowd favorites such as the annual salute to the Armed Forces.
Additionally, the audience will enjoy tunes from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “Oklahoma!,” the Arts America Summer Stock Production that will be staged this week by young people through Arts Express. The iconic American musical about the romance between the cowboy Curley and the farm girl Laurey set in Oklahoma Territory has unique links to Arizona.
“‘Oklahoma!’ was filmed in Arizona, so there are lots of ties to local history. But what I really love about the show is the building of character that occurs throughout the production. We treat the students at a professional level, so it is a unique experience for a young kid to really grasp what it takes to be successful not only in the theater but in any field of study or aspect of life,” Feldman said.
Like all Arts Express programs and productions, “Oklahoma!” provides unique teaching moments, according to Executive Director Karen Wiese.
“I think the arts really provide a unique way to teach about our history and culture. The arts help provide linkages for students to look at their current lives and tie them back into the history of our area and our country in general,” Wiese said.
Delving into the complex character of Curly has been an incredible learning experience for Jeremy Meeker-Hackett, 19. A University of Arizona sophomore studying music education, Meeker-Hackett said that bringing Curly to life has been challenging and exciting.
“I have played a romantic lead before, but this is different because there is a twist with Jud. I feel so strongly for Laurey that I try to convince Jud to kill himself, which is pretty heavy. I have never had to perform in that twisted way ... that aspect of the character is different from anything that I have done before,” he said.
Elizah Knight, a 16-year-old junior at Ironwood Ridge High School who plays Laurey, reveled in the emotional depth of her character as well.
“The part itself is so much fun because there is so much room for interpretation ... I get to show such a wide range of emotions and be so expressive. It has been a great opportunity for growth,” she said.
Wiese said the audience can expect a world-class performances at both “Let Freedom Sing” and “Oklahoma!”
“When you bring this kind of talent together and they are able to focus in such a short period of time it helps to build energy and create something special,” Wiese said.
