Past
Events
- "It's Only
Life", a musical revue of John's songs co-conceived and
Directed by Daisy Prince, was presented in a one-night concert
version at Lincoln Center's Allen Room on January 27th, 2006.
The show featured five extraordinary singers performing a powerfully
moving collection of both familiar and new compositions with
John at the piano.
- John was the winner
of the first annual Fred Ebb Award for musical theater songwriting.
The award ceremony was held on Nov. 29, 2005 at the Roundabout’s
American Airlines Theater on 42nd St. The award was presented
to John by Broadway legend Chita Rivera, and many other theater
luminaries were in attendance including John Kander, Harvey
Fierstein, Hal Prince, Sheldon Harnick, Rupert Holmes and Stephen
Flaherty.
- John performed an
evening of his songs at Unity in Chicago on Sunday Sept. 25,
2005.
- John
was one of 3 performers featured in a series called TRIOS at
The Duplex in New York City on Aug. 28, 2005.
- John appeared at
The Encore on Friday, July 8th, as part of
a musical theater education program called "Summer in The
City." John premiered some material from his new musical
"A Catered Affair" (book by Harvey Fierstein), performed
some of his more familiar songs, and answered audience questions.
- John performed a
set of his songs in the "Gay Valentine Music Celebration"
a Benefit for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids on Feb.
12, 2005 at Town Hall, 123 W. 43rd St. N.Y.C. Other
performers included The Paul Taylor Dance Company, The Gay Gotham
Chorus, The Ambassador Men's Chorus, The Canticum Novum Singers
and many wonderful cabaret artists. For more information, please
visit www.gayvalentine.com.
- John was honored
with The Duplex Cabaret Theatre Award for Composers
at the Hoboken Cabaret Festival on Saturday, February
26, 2005 at the DeBaun Auditorium. John and others
performed several of his songs, and the legendary writing team
of Maltby and Shire were also honored.
John's
CD "On Richard Rodgers' Piano" was recently chosen
by Show Business Weekly as the Best Instrumental Cabaret CD
of 2004. Here's what they said:
John Bucchino "On Richard Rodgers' Piano"
(Art Food Music): Just because the competition was
limited in this category doesn't make John Bucchino's achievement,
On Richard Rodgers' Piano, any less amazing. Recorded on Rodgers'
Steinway, Bucchino plays some of the master's classics with
a freshness and insight that will leave you breathless. Destined
to be a classic itself, On Richard Rodgers' Piano is one of
the best CDs of the year! (David Hurst).
Click
here to order
John's
song "I've Learned to Let Things Go" has been recorded
by Cris Williamson on the new CD entitled "Cris & Holly,"
which features John on piano. Please visit http://www.hollynear.com/themusic.html
to order.
- On November 6, 2004,
John participated in an ASCAP evening of cabaret performers
called "Songs of Our Time" in Chicago. He also performed
an evening of his songs at Chicago's Davenports Piano Bar on
November 7th and did a master class with the talented students
at Roosevelt University on November 8th.
On
Oct. 7, 2004 John performed his songs at New York City's Opia
cabaret with special guests Lucas Steele and Michael Arden.
- "It's
Only Life" - Very successful run from July 27th
- August 1st 2004.
John and noted director
Daisy Prince put together a revue of John’s songs called
“It’s Only Life” which was presented as part
of the Summer Play Festival in New York City. The show ran for
7 performances at the Samuel Beckett Theater on 42nd St. The
brilliant cast included Michael Arden, John Bolton, Andrea Burns,
Jessica Molaskey and Billy Porter, with John at the piano.

Back row: Amy Thompson (Stage Manager), Billy
Porter, Daisy Prince (Director), John Bucchino, Jessica Molaskey,
Andrea Burns.
Front row: Jonathan Verge (Production Intern), Kristin Hoesl
(Production Intern), John Bolton, Michael Arden, Matt Berman
(Sound Designer).
The show takes many
of John's songs, both favorites and unfamiliar, to the next
level by adding not only visual elements, but also rich new
vocal arrangements by Jason Robert Brown, Jeff Blumenkrantz
and John.
Plans are in
the works for a future NYC production of the show as well as
a recording!
One
June 26, 2004, John performed an evening of his music at the
Cinegrill in Los Angeles.
On
May 17, 2004, John won his 4th MAC (The Manhattan Association
of Cabarets) Award, this one as "Singer Songwriter."
The cabaret community's annual celebration filled New York City's
Symphony Space with great music, comedy and camaraderie.
On
April 24, 2004, John performed in two shows in Houston at Ovations
Night Club (located at 2536 Times Blvd. at Kirby Drive in the
Rice Village).
On
February 27th, 2004, a reading of a new revue of John’s
songs called “It’s Only Life, The Songs of John
Bucchino” was done at Musical Theater Works in New York
City. The piece was co-conceived and directed by Daisy Prince,
and the stellar cast for the reading included Brooks Ashmanskas,
Andrea Burns, Gavin Creel, Jessica Molaskey, and Clarke Thorell.
John was at the piano. Plans are in the works for an off-Broadway
production.
John
performed a solo show of his songs as a benefit for the Gay
and Lesbian Center in New York City on Sunday January 18th,
2004.
John
was a special guest at the 10/29/03 Carnegie Hall concert of
pals Michael Feinstein and Jimmy Webb. John performed Jimmy’s
song “If These Walls Could Speak” and his own “If
I Ever Say I’m Over You” (the lyric of which is
included in Jimmy’s book on songwriting: “Tunesmith:
Inside the Art of Songwriting.”)
John
performed a solo evening of his songs on Wednesdays in July
and August 2003 at the Duplex. Thanks to the wonderful audiences
who made this another great series of shows.
- John performed
his new solo cabaret show "ARCHIVES" at New York City's
Duplex throughout September 2002.
John
gave a master class and performed in a solo concert at the Clarke
Recital Hall at the University of Miami on January 18, 2002.
- John performed
a solo evening of his songs at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church
in Wilton, Connecticut on Sunday October 28th 2001.
John's
solo show, "IT'S ONLY LIFE" returned to The Firebird
Cafe for three more sold out performances September 1st, 8th,
and 15th 2001.
- John was
the guest of honor at the third annual Open Call Festival of
New Musicals in Boston, MA on June 30th 2001. John performed
his own work from 3HREE, Joseph, King of Dreams, Grateful and
more. He also emceed a performance of songs by Boston composers
and lyricists, served on a feedback panel in response to a new
theatre work, gave a master class, and mingled with guests at
a public reception in his honor. (Sponsored by the New Opera
& Musical Theatre Initiative in association with North Shore
Music Theatre, Boston Music Theatre Project at Suffolk University,
and The ASCAP Foundation.)
- John performed
his solo show, "IT'S ONLY LIFE," to sold out houses
at New York City's Firebird Cafe on June 9th, 16th and 23rd
2001.
- 3HREE had
a production at the Ahmanson Theater in Los Angeles. Previews
started on April 17th 2001, opening night was April 25th, and
performances continued through June 10th. The show, put together
by Broadway legend Harold Prince, consisted of three short musicals:
THE MICE, LAVENDER GIRL (with songs by John, book by playwright
James Waedekin and direction by Scott Schwartz) and THE FLIGHT
OF THE LAWNCHAIR MAN (directed By Mr. Prince.)The 3HREE CD is
available through this website (click here to order) and in
stores everywhere.
- John won
the prestigious Kleban Award for lyric writing. The award is
given once each year in memory of the late Ed Kleban (best known
as lyricist of "A Chorus Line").
- JOSEPH,
KING OF DREAMS (the Dreamworks sequel to PRINCE OF EGYPT) for
which John wrote the songs, won four Video Business Video Premiere
Awards: Best Animated Video, Best Song ("Better Than I"),
and Best Director and Best Screenplay.
- On February
8th 2001 at a luncheon at the Riga Royal Hotel in New York City,
John was one of the recipients of the Jonathan Larson Award.
The award is generously provided by the estate of the late Jonathan
Larson (best known for his musical, RENT) as financial assistance
to theater composers and lyricists.
- The one-act
musical "Lavender Girl" (one of the segments of URBAN
MYTHS, John's full length musical), with songs by John and a
book by Los Angeles playwright James Waedekin, has become a
part of a show called 3HREE. Put together by famed Broadway
director Harold Prince, the evening features 3 short musicals,
each by a different writing team and a different director (the
third piece is directed by Mr. Prince himself.) John's piece
is directed by Scott Schwartz, who has been involved with URBAN
MYTHS since its inception. 3HREE had its first production at
the Prince Theater in Philadelphia (John's birthplace) in the
fall of 2000 where it got rave reviews in both the local papers
and the New York Times. A cast album on DRG Records is now available
through this website and in stores.
- In December
of 2000, "TAKING THE WHEEL, an evening of Bucchino songs"
was presented in four performances at New York's Duplex as a
benefit for The Storefront, a new theater company. This was
the first time an evening of John's work was put together with
which he was not directly involved. (He did attend one evening
and perform a couple of numbers.) The show was directed by Phil
Geoffrey Bond and featured a cast of wonderful singers.
- The Dreamworks
animated video, JOSEPH, KING OF DREAMS, for which John wrote
the songs (including "Better Than I"), is now available
for purchase or rental in stores everywhere. Ben Affleck provides
the title character's speaking voice, while his singing voice
is that of longtime Bucchino collaborator and pal, David Campbell.
Other voices in the video include Maureen McGovern, Jodi Benson
("The Little Mermaid"), Mark Hamill and another dear
friend, Judith Light.
- On November
1st 2000, Dreamworks hosted an old-fashioned Hollywood Premiere
for JOSEPH for which they flew John out to Los Angeles. David
Campbell also flew in (from Australia!) The event took place
at the historic -- and appropriately named -- Egyptian Theater
on Hollywood Boulevard, complete with belly dancers, fire eaters,
camels, a red carpet and T.V. cameras. JOSEPH has already won
numerous awards and glowing reviews from all who've seen it.
- The November
2000 issue of "Opera News" magazine features an article
on John and his music, including a photo taken at the Hollywood
Bowl.
- On October
26th 2000, Patti LuPone performed "Unexpressed" on
the Rosie O'Donnell show.
- John performed
his songs in two solo concerts Sat. October 7th and Sun. October
8th 2000 at The Cabaret Connection at the Cambridge Center for
Adult Education, 56 Brattle St., Cambridge MA.
- On Sunday
July 23rd 2000 John performed his songs in a solo concert at
the Cinegrill in Los Angeles.
- On July
21st and 22nd 2000, John played piano with Michael Feinstein
and the L.A. Philharmonic when Michael premiered a new orchestral
arrangement of John's song "Grateful" at The Hollywood
Bowl.
- On June
3rd and 5th 2000, Patti LuPone sang John's song "Unexpressed"
in a duet with cellist Yo-Yo Ma with the Boston Pops Orchestra
conducted by John Williams. The June 5th performance was taped
by PBS for their show "An Evening With The Pops" and
aired on Boston on July 20th and in other cities around the
country on or near that date. It may air again, so be on the
lookout -- it's gorgeous! (And you'll notice Patti blow a kiss
to John, who was in the front row, at the end of the song.)
Be sure to check out Patti's CD, MATTERS OF THE HEART, on which
she sings 3 of John's songs: "Unexpressed", "Playbill"
and "This Moment" accompanied by piano and string
quartet.
- John was
featured on the cover of the May 2000 issue of Cabaret Scenes
Magazine. Peter Leavy wrote a wonderful 5-page article on John's
career, entitled "John Bucchino: A New American Songbook".
Website located at www.cabaretscenes.com
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