WIZARD: The Musical Journey of Oz Composer Harold Arlen

WIZARD: The Musical Journey of Oz Composer Harold Arlen makes its Las Vegas debut at the Star Theatre at the Greek Isles Hotel & Casino with a one-month engagement beginning Saturday, June 14th. WIZARD runs Tuesday – Sunday at 9:00PM and tickets are $46.95 and are available by calling 702-737-5540. There is also a VIP show package that includes a glass of champagne, line pass, signed cast photo, meet & greet and a special gift for $69.95.

Under the musical supervision of Nigel Wright, who was the music producer for “American Idol” and Executive music producer for Joel Schumacher’s “Phantom of the Opera,” WIZARD revisits the Oscar-winning Arlen’s life through song, production numbers and film clips.

WIZARD is hosted by Arlen’s son, jazz saxophonist Sam Arlen, who provides a narrative and anecdotes about his father’s life. The show stars George Bugatti’s Three Crooners who perform an array of songs from Arlen’s prolific songbook and launches them into the 21st century with an attitude and flair that has been applauded during their recent nationwide tour.

Harold Arlen has been cited as one of the most significant songwriters of the 20th Century. Some of his most instantly recognizable songs, include: I’ve Got the World on a String,” “Stormy Weather,” “Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive,” “Old Black Magic,” “Blues In The Night,” “One For My Baby,” “A Star is Born,” “Lets Fall in Love” and “Come Rain Or Come Shine.”

And who can forget his Academy Award-winning “Over The Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz, which has been recognized as the “Number One Song of the Century” by the Recording Industry Association of America, the National Endowment for the Arts and most recently by the American Film Institute. For the AFI’s “Top 100 Movie Songs” poll, Arlen was featured with five songs, more than any other composer.

Corralled by jazz/pop singer/pianist George Buggati, The Three Crooners are: Alistair Tober, Johnny K and Bugatti. The protégé of Steve Allen, Bugatti went on a worldwide search looking for “All American” singers to celebrate the only two are forms that are indigenous to this country – Jazz and Crooning.

Singer and actor Alistair Tober has been featured on “The O.C.”, “Dexter” and the film Spiderman 2 as well many regional theater productions including Jesus Christ Superstar and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Johnny K. has sung with the Los Angeles Opera Company, California Boys Choir and has performed extensively in the U.S. and abroad since the age of 4. He has also produced and engineered albums for the likes of Rod Stewart and Steve Tyrell.

While their stage chemistry and vitality is indeed reminiscent of the Rat Pack, their singing shines with sex appeal and stunning three part harmonies only to be complimented by each crooner’s good looks, humorous banter and unbeatable charisma.

Besides being entertained by the music of Harold Arlen, the audience will be captivated by watching rare behind the scenes film footage from The Wizard of Oz, and an array of original ten foot movie posters. WIZARD also features a special video taped performance by Tony Bennett that was recorded exclusively for the show.

“Anyone who could write Stormy Weather is alright in my book…and young people today should look up the Arlen songbook and have the time of their life with the greatest songs that were ever written,” said Bennett of Arlen’s work.

“My fathers songs have been recorded by every great artist of the 20th Century,” says Sam Arlen who himself is a not only a musician but As the son of the legendary American composer Harold Arlen, promotes his father’s compositions through his publishing company, S.A. Music Co. “His songs have become among the best known anywhere, but now the time has come to pay much needed attention to the name of one of the most significant songwriter’s of the modern era, as the music itself has received for decades”.

WIZARD is presented by Damone Entertainment Global, headed by Perry Damone, son of legendary singer Vic Damone.

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www.wizardthemusical.com

Last Night on American Idol:

Simon Says Rainbow is “Fantastic”

Composer Harold Arlen Does it, Again.

That’s Why They Call Them Standards!

Las Vegas, Nevada - April 9, 2008 - Oscar winning composer of last night’s hit, “Over The Rainbow”, Harold Arlen is no stranger to American Idol. Sung by Idol contestant Jason Castro, in a rendition he found on the internet, “Rainbow” is proof of Arlen’s universal and timeless talent, and Simon says... “Fantastic”.

Arlen’s music has been covered almost every season on Idol. Most noted, were Katherine McPhee’s version of Come Rain or Come Shine in Season 5 and Lakisha Jone’s Stormy Weather in Season 6 .

Arlen wrote with lyricists like Jonny Mercer and Ira Gershwin. His name is not as known as his music, but if his son Sam has his way, he hopes, that in time, “Harold’s name will become as celebrated as his music.”

Arlen’s son Sam, who is publisher of his father’s catalogue, adds “ You can’t go wrong with a timeless Arlen song. I am so proud that my father’s music is still cherished by people young and old.” As a musician, Sam knows just how important his father’s music is to the heart and soul of America, and has made it his life’s mission to get his father’s name out there.

As such, Sam is currently co-producing and co-starring in a new musical review of his father’s work called WIZARD, which has just come off an 20 city tour with co- stars George Bugatti’s Three Crooners. The show includes songs like Stormy Weather, I’ve Got The World On A String, One For My Baby, Come Rain or Come Shine and Paper Moon.

Ironically, WIZARD was co-created by American Idol’s original Music Producer Nigel Wright. It seems American Idol and Harold Arlen are destined to keep “the American Pop standards” standard in America.

For more information on Harold Arlen, Sam Arlen and WIZARD, please visit www.wizardthemusical.com

George Bugatti’s Three Crooners:

“American Divos”

Bring A Fresh Look And Feel To The Standards You Know By Heart

WIZARD, The Musical Journey of Oz Composer Harold Arlen

As Simon Cowell's ll Divo is striking a chord with The "Desperate Housewives" across America and selling out arenas, former “American Idol” producer and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical partner Nigel Wright has now co-created a new show, which stars the latest incarnation of the "male supergroup," George Bugatti’s Three Crooners.

Bringing a fresh, updated look and sound to the most classic standards of all time, this all American trio make their world premiere in this tribute to the great American composer of The Wizard of OZ.

The Three Crooners have revived some of Arlen’s greatest songs, launching them into the 21st century with an attitude and flair that already has industry insiders talking.

Corralled by jazz singer/pianist, George Bugatti the Three Crooners are; Alistair Tober , Johnny K and Bugatti.

The protégé of the late Steve Allen and Tony Bennett, Bugatti went on a worldwide search for the two best, undiscovered crooners in the biz. Little did he know, he would find them right in his back yard. Just as Steve Allen and Tony Bennett took him under their wing, he is now doing the same for Tober and Johnny K.

Bugatti was looking for " All American" singers to celebrate the only two art forms that are indigenous to America. Jazz and Crooning. With Alistar having been a longshoreman, Johnny a surfer from LA and Bugatti himself a Brooklyn boy, he seems to have accomplished that.

Singer and actor Alistair Tober has been featured on “The O.C.,” in the film Spiderman 2 as well many regional theater productions including Jesus Christ Superstar and Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Johnny K, who along with Tober is a Southern California native, has sung with the Los Angeles Opera Company, California Boys Choir and has performed extensively in the U.S. and abroad since the age of 4. He has also produced and engineered albums for the likes of Rod Stewart, Steve Tyrell along with many others.

While their stage chemistry and vitality is indeed reminiscent of the Rat Pack, their singing is almost as pure as old blue eyes himself. In the coming tribute at the Ford, which will also tour nationally later this year, Arlen-penned songs like “That Old Black Magic,” “One For My Baby One More For The Road,” “Stormy Weather” shine with sex appeal and stunning three part harmonies only to be complimented by each crooner’s Hollywood good looks, humorous banter and unbeatable charisma.

The tribute includes an onscreen tribute by Tony Bennett, the talents of Arlen’s son, Sam Arlen, and co-producer of “WIZARD” The Three Crooners Bookended by stories that take the audience from the Cotton Club in Harlem through Arlen’s Hollywood years to the Broadway stage, the show will feature more than 20 of Arlen’s most treasured songs including “Over the Rainbow,” “Let’s Fall In Love,” “The Man That Got Away,” “Come Rain or Come Shine,” “Get Happy,” “I’ve Got The World On A String” and many, many more.

The stage will be adorned by 6 by 8 foot revolving movie posters from the original motion pictures, Let’s Fall In Love, A Star Is Born and of course, The Wizard of Oz. Also featuring never before seen manuscripts, memorabilia and footage provided courtesy of Sam Arlen, the tribute is a must see for lovers of Broadway, Film and classic, timeless music.