Shari Lynn is gearing up for “Mining for Cole,” her third musical revue of pioneering composers and the Great American Songbook, spotlighting the songs and legacy of Cole Porter.
The multimedia show opens a three-weekend run tomorrow at TAG’s Brad Powell Theatre in Iwilei.
Lynn regards Cole Porter as “a principal architect of the Great American Songbook.” Porter (1891-1964) was a major force on Broadway between the 1920s and ’40s and in film in the ’50s, and created a legendary catalog of tunes, popular then and considered classics now, including “Night and Day” and “I Get a Kick Out of You.”
“His wit, his clever use of the pen outsmarting the censors, his soaring melodies, sophistication. … He’s a citizen of the world who incorporated topical and international phrases that still hold up.”
Lynn dedicates months to her research when committing to a show like this, she said. Her “mining” extends to attending live performances and workshops in New York and digging into prime resources where she can find nuggets of insight.
Her theory: “When you research a song and/or writer, you, as the artist, have a great depth of understanding which then colors your performance in a different way,” she said.
During spring break from her teaching duties at Hawaii School for Girls at La Pietra earlier this year, Shari flew to New York to see the revival of “Kiss Me, Kate,” which features a goldmine of Porter gems including “So in Love,” “Another Op’ning, Another Show,” “Wunderbar” and “Too Darn Hot.” She also spent a few days doing research at the Lincoln Center Library.
”There’s no greater satisfaction than knowing you’ve done your best and then presenting it to an appreciative audience,” she said. “An audience that has been entertained and informed and stays around afterwards to thank you and chat — that’s the reward.”
IN 1999, Lynn staged “Hot for Cole” — also a Porter revue — with the late Jimmy Borges, who shared the same enthusiasm and respect for the composer. It was her initial foray into pumping up the music of a favorite composer with vignettes and tales to augment the melodies. Shari also has similarly showcased the tunes and times of George and Ira Gershwin.
For “Mining,” the expedition will tap such Porter immortals as “Night and Day,” “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” and “You’re the Top,” with anecdotes on how the songs emerged, when and where.
Her digging uncovered these quirks about Porter:
>> “During rehearsals, he’d wear a whistle around his neck, and if he didn’t hear a lyric, you’d hear the whistle.”
>> “In his Waldorf Astoria Suite, he had pillows embroidered with the motto: ‘Never complain, never explain.’”
>> “He was accused of plagiarizing the melody of ‘Night and Day,’ a claim based on the first eight notes of Schumann’s ‘The Lotus Flower,’ written in 1840. This accusation did little to harm Mr. Porter’s success.”
Lynn created the concept and libretto for “Mining,” which she co-directs with Brad Powell, a veteran of local theater.
Her pianist Jim Howard — she dubs him “a prince” — does all the arrangements and joins her on stage.
Kip Wilborn, a prolific opera and musical theater whiz, co-stars.
“He’s such a pro,” said Shari. “I turned to him after Jimmy died. Jimmy was a great fan of Kip as well. …
“Kip, like Jimmy, is a warm, generous man who brings his own brand of sophistication and humor along with his towering talent. He also is an educator, and we have that element in common as well.”
Lynn is a teacher at La Pietra: Hawaii School for Girls, and appears often in musical theater and cabaret performances.
“It’s getting harder to work ‘night and day,’” Lynn said. Next year, she has asked to be a part-time teacher, “and that will help,” she said. “The brain does have to rest on occasion.”
In the future, she’s eager to add neighbor island visits to her tour agenda.
“I’m interested in doing a Rosemary Clooney musical called ‘Tenderly’ and have even lined up a few investors,” she said. “I just have to find the right theater and the right time.”
“MINING FOR COLE”
Presented by The Actors’ Group
>> Where: The Brad Powell Theatre, 650 Iwilei Road, Suite 101
>> When: Opens 7:30 p.m. Friday; runs 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays, through June 30
>> Cost: $20-$30
>> Info: 722-6941, taghawaii.net
