The Wichita Falls Symphony
TONIGHT’S GUEST ARTIST
presents
Rhapsody and Rhythm
Tonight’s Guest artist is no stranger to the performing arts stage in Wichita Falls. Rich Affannato, a native Wichitan and 1987 graduate of Wichita Falls High School, got his start in acting on the stage of Wichita Falls’ own Backdoor Theatre where his first appearance was in Anything Goes at the tender age of eleven! The son of WFSO string bassist Richard Affannato and his wife, La’Daele, Rich is making his debut appearance with the Wichita Falls Symphony Orchestra in tonight’s performance and marking another milestone as well - this will be the first time that father and son have appeared on stage together in their hometown.
Following young Rich’s debut on the Backdoor stage, subsequent performances included the role of Tony in West Side Story, the artful dodger in Oliver! and Clifford in Deathtrap. He has also performed in various local productions for the Texas Children’s Theatre and Red River Lyric Theatre. The "performance bug" apparently bit Rich at a very young age because his family tells the story of his request for an agent as a birthday gift when he was only five! Instead of an agent, however, he received tap lessons with instructor Bobby Houston with whom he studied for the next ten years. Rich received his formal education in Wichita Falls - first as a student at Crockett Elementary School and then at Zundy Junior High where he studied cello and played in the school orchestra. While a student at WFHS, he played in the band, the orchestra, and sang in the choir. In both 1986 and ‘87 he was selected to be a member of the Texas Music Educator’s Association All-State Choir. He also studied clarinet during his school years with the late Jesse Youngblood, principal clarinetist of the WFSO for over thirty years until his death in March of this year. Upon graduating from WFHS, Rich attended Midwestern State University where he was a vocal student of Dr. Don Maxwell.
Upon leaving Wichita Falls for New York, Rich worked with Stephen Schwartz of Pippin, Godspell, and Pocohontas on several recording projects for Walt Disney Productions. He also appeared in the new theatrical version of Footloose, which was conceived by Dean Pitchford as well as the world premiere of Picture of Dorian Gray in which he played the title role.
For the past two years, Rich has played the role of Marius Pontmercy, the young revolutionary, in the highly acclaimed 3rd National Touring Company of Cameron Mackintosh’s Les Miserables. This role has afforded him the opportunity to play leading man to such notable leading ladies as Lea Salonga (who won Tony Awards for both Miss Saigon and for her role as Eponine on the PBS 10th Anniversary Concert of Les Miserables) and Andrea McArdle (the original Annie in the musical of the same name). Earlier this year, Rich made his Broadway debut as Marius in Les Miserables and had the privilege of rehearsing the show with its original director John Caird as well as composer Claude-Michel Schoenberg.
While best know for his work in theatre, Rich’s career doesn’t end at the footlights. He has an impressive resume of both television and film credits including an animated children’s series entitled Francesco’s Friendly World in which he plays Francesco as well as a film entitled Clown White which has won several awards including best picture at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival. His work also includes both independent feature films and numerous national commercials. As a solo artist Rich has worked as the opening act for rhythm and blues’ group Tower of Power and jazz artist Najee at Fort Worth’s impressive Caravan of Dreams. He has also performed with his own band at Dallas jazz club Sambuca.
It is Rich’s desire to extend a very special thank you tonight to Alma Grace Richardson and Brynn Bristol for believing in a child’s dream; and he dedicates his performance tonight to his loving and supportive family, father Richard and mother La’Daele Affannato and to his immensely talented younger sister, Ri’chaele.
Affannato dazzles hometown crowd
Monday, December 15, 1997
Broadway performer and Wichita Falls native Rich Affannato said he’d be home for Christmas and it wasn’t only in his dreams. He joined his Wichita Falls Symphony Orchestra family, including his father, bassist Richard Affannato, for its annual Family-Style Christmas Concert Saturday night at Memorial Auditorium.
The evening of mostly bright, joyful seasonal tunes included wintry symphony pieces to spark the imagination; a section of Broadway songs to make Affannato feel at home on stage; holiday standards delivered in a package of nontraditional arrangements by the Midwestern Singers; and a Christmas pop sing-along with a surprise visit from Santa.
The symphony, conducted by Dr. Candler Schaffer, opened the evening with "The Feast of Lights," a tribute to Hanukkah and the lighting of the menorah candles. Appropriately, the piece culminated in thunderous drums and the lighting of the stage’s Christmas tree. It was followed by Alexandre Glazounow's "Kinter" from "The Seasons," short vignettes in which Schaffer said, "You don’t even have to go outside. You’ll hear a little bit of hail, snow, frost, and ice, I think, too." The piece was highlighted with a flute that carried the audience on the ups and downs of winter flurries.
The Midwestern Singers, under the direction of Dr. Dan White, joined the symphony for "Ave Verum Corpus (Jesu, Word of God Incarnate)" by Mozart. They followed the sacred tune with the celebratory "African Noel," which, in the African tradition, challenged the singers to sing against the beat.
After a song from "Hansel and Gretel," a receptive hometown audience welcomed Affannato to the stage. His voice was showcased in the Broadway solos "Being Alive" from "Company" and "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables" from "Les Miserables," the Cameron Mackintosh musical Affannato is touring with.
The pace of the concert slowed considerably for the poignant song, about the loss of friends. Affannato dedicated the tune to a former teacher of his, Jesse Youngblood, who died this year. Affannato broke up the emotional piece with "White Christmas," an entree into the rest of the evening’s seasonal tunes — the symphony’s performance of "Les Patineurs" and the Midwestern Singers’ renditions of "Adeste Fidelis (O Come All Ye Faithful),""Merry Christmas, Darling," "Deck the Halls" and "The Christmas Song."
The highlight of the concert was Affannato’s comical performance of "The Twelve Days of Christmas," in which a reluctant Affannato was forced on stage to belt out a tune he said he wasn’t familiar with. The bumbling Affannato lost his place on his endless string of sheet music, messed up the words, even stopped the symphony at one point to ask Schaffer which day of the "Twelve Days" they were on.
A sing-along of Christmas carols ended the concert, which also included a performance of "Sleigh Ride" led by guest conductor David Bias. Bias won the guest conductor spot, which was one of the prizes offered at the Symphony League's recent Faberge Ball.
The Symphony chose a wonderful mix of music that kept the evening dynamic instead of monotonous. Their placement in the show also kept the pace of the evening flowing smoothly so that the audience could imbibe the near 2 1/2-hour concert with ease.
The only song that slowed the pace was "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables," but it was a touching piece nonetheless that really showcased the range of Affannato’s voice and introduced the audience to the work he’s been doing as a cast member with "Les Miserables." He sang the song even better than he did when the show made a stop in Dallas this summer.
Affannato showed his versatility as a performer, as well, with the somber "Empty Chairs at Empty Tables" and the humorous "The Twelve Days of‘ Christmas."
The Midwestern Singers should be commended for taking a chance with the challenging arrangements White chose for the chorus. The unique arrangements and choice of tunes, like "African Noel," kept the evening lively and interesting.
The symphony succeeded in bringing the spirit of the season to life with this holiday concert, and Affannato was a warm addition to the group. It was nice to have him home.