If it's anyone's fault, it's the King's Singers' fault. They're the a cappella bug that bit me early in life (my mother reps them in North America) and I've been hooked ever since. Truth be told, music is in my genes but it was the KS singing I'm A Train that truly opened the floodgates. College work includes time with the all-male Pennchants, The Penn Singers (light opera), and The Penn Glee Club (a bit of everything), and reviewing performing arts for The Daily Pennsylvanian. Out of college and back in New York (born and raised in the Big Apple - woo hoo!), I joined the a cappella sextet Beat'achon with whom I spent 6 years and recorded 2 albums, including some original material written and/or arranged by yours truly.
For a living, I've spent most of my time since college managing Broadway shows -- what exactly that means is a bit long to go into here, but it keeps me darn busy. Right now, I'm blessed with a hit (for a change!): the Tony-winning Best Musical "Spamalot" (musical based on Monty Python and the Holy Grail) which has since spawned a National Tour, a production in London's West End and upcoming versions in Vegas (opening at the Wynn in March) and in Australia. Past productions include "Sixteen Wounded" with Judd Hirsch, "Anna in the Tropics" starring Jimmy Smits, the infamous "Dance of the Vampires" starring Michael Crawford, "The Elephant Man" starring Billy Crudup, "Hedda Gabler", "Kiss Me, Kate", "The Civil War", "Big" (based on the Tom Hanks film) and "Fool Moon".
I'm also one of 3 partners in an independent film and theatrical production company called Ergo Entertainment. Our theatre credits include the Tony-winning "Long Day's Journey Into Night" (Vanessa Redgrave, Brian Dennehy, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Robert Sean Leonard), and the recent Broadway revivals of "Steel Magnolias" starring Delta Burke, and Neil Simon's "Barefoot in the Park" starring Amanda Peet and Patrick Wilson, as well as multiple off-Broadway productions. Recent film credits include the award-winning and Emmy-nominated documentary film "Paper Clips" (shameless plug: avaiable at Blockbuster and via NetFlix!).
In my spare time (guffaw), I moonlight as a conductor for regional theatre productions - favorites include West Side Story, Fiddler on the Roof and my all-time fave (to conduct) City of Angels - and help out as an emergency fill-in for a few local choruses.
And now I have the chance to share my a cappella opinions with the world. Oh, the pressure! Well, whether you agree or disagree with me, thanks for "listening".
Elie Landau163 total reviews