THE CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS Official Newsletter WINTER 2014applauseAn Interview With Jim Belushi PAGE 2

Great American Songbook Vocal Academy & CompetitionPAGE 4

Volunteers of the Year: Paul & Betty SwartzPAGE 7

20142015 Great American

Songbook Film Series

GET YOUR TICKETS

The Great American Songbook Foundation is partnering once again with Heartland Film to present the third annual Great American Songbook Film Series. The series brings Award-winning movies to the big screen on the Palladiums stage. In addition to the movies, pieces from the Songbook Foundations Archive will be available for attendees to view one hour prior to the movies start time.

Tickets are $10 and are on sale through the Palladium Box Office at 317.843.3800 or TheCenterPresents.org.

This years movie dates: January 9: Annie 7:30pm February 13: The King and I 7:30pm March 13: The Wizard of Oz 7:30pm

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You were part of The Second City in Chicago and then on Saturday Night Live for several years, two legendary training grounds for up and coming comedic actors. What were those years like and how did they shape you as a performer?

Second City taught me everything there is to know about character comedy, social satire, comic rhythms, what it's like to study the

craft of doing eight shows a week. When I was 16, I went to Second City and saw my brother John and Harold Ramis perform with their group. When that first act was over, I said to myself, "I've never seen anything like this in my life. I want a piece of this." When I got my first laugh on that stage, the adrenaline kicked in. I was dizzy, seeing colors almost. I was hooked. Second City is the foundation of all my work. Saturday Night Live taught me how to maintain under immense pressure. It was like learning to be a surgeon in a mash unit in Vietnam. It was the most difficult experience I ever had. Everything has been easy since then, including divorce. The only thing I'm frightened of now is when my wife drives.

You have performed in so many genres TV, movies, theatre, improv, and musically with your Blues bands, The Sacred Hearts and The Blues Brothers. Where are you most comfortable and what do you enjoy doing most?

I love all genres and I never put any of them in conflict with each other. There is something challenging in each one of them and overcoming the challenge is the joy. But I have to say that I enjoy the live performance genre, whether it's Broadway, improvisation, the band, and of course "According to Jim" because it was shot in front of a live audience. I enjoy the instant gratifications, the exchange

of energies with the audience, and the high jeopardy of "you've got to get it right, right now." That's joyful. That's fun. Movies are a different joy, done piece by piece, with no audience. It's just a different kind of thinking and acting style. But I love when it comes together. It was so satisfying to watch "About Last Night" with of an audience at the movie theater.

Are you naturally musically inclined, did you have to take any kind of lessons, or do you just wing it when you perform with The Blues Brothers and The Sacred Hearts? And what was it like being the opening act for the Rolling Stones?

I've always been a little musical. I did musicals in high school and sang in the choir and sang in the choir at College of Du Page. I did "Pirates of Penzance" on Broadway. The band thing was different learning all together. Danny Akyroyd wanted me to do The Blues Brothers, so I had to re- train everything in me. It's the most fun I've had, really. Being in a band and singing on stage these great classic R&B songs, it's like singing gospel music. Its opened my chest. I feel lighter and more joyful than I ever have in my life. It was a great gift that Danny gave me. Opening for the Rolling Stones at Soldier Field was a TRIP! A real trip. Danny and I were on stage singing and we looked to the side and there were Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, and Ronnie Wood watching us. That was an out of body experience. The Stones were smiling and laughing and were really sweet to us. It was really, really cool.

In performing with the Board of Comedy, you are, in many respects, returning to your Second City and Saturday Night Live roots. What do you enjoy most about sketch comedy and improv?

Oh man, Im having a ball! Every performance is different and unique, plus these improvisational actors on stage with me are geniuses. They crack me up every night. Im just chasing the magic. Everyone, including the audience, is fully engaged and participating and when theres success

in the scenes, theres nothing like it. And it feels safe when youre up there with an ensemble as your safety net. Whats great about this show is that it reunites me with Larry Joe Campbell. Hes the best partner Ive ever had in my career. The problem with improv is that its life or death. You either come off stage going, Im going back to being an apprentice printer or become a journeyman and do graphic arts because Im terrible. You go right into deep depression. Or you come off that stage going, I am God. I am a gift to all. And thats the best part!

What can people coming to your show expect from you and the cast?

Magic! Theyre going to see magic created in front of their eyes. We have no idea what were going to do. We do about nine different short form improvisational games. We take suggestions from the audience and we make stuff up on the spot. This is not like watching TV or a movie or a regular theatre performance, where youre a voyeur. Youre a participant in the audience here. We are as good as the audiences suggestions. When we have a good audience, its a great show, and we capture some magic that people will remember for a long time.

How much will you be doing yourself and what role do you take with the show?

We are in the show together. It is a true ensemble. I do take on the leadership of the group, I introduce the evening and explain what were going to do. But once we start improvising, Im in the thick of it. The thick of the danger, the thick of the risk, and the thick of the fun.

Say a few words about your supporting cast for this show.

Larry Joe Campbell is a stud, a true star. I believe that he truly was the star of According to Jim. Hes the funniest man I know and he is effortless on stage to work with. I adore him. He makes me cry on stage, hes so funny. Josh Funk is

on the same caliber as Larry Joe Campbell: heartbreakingly funny, and hes got a beautiful voice. We improvise a lot of songs and he is the master at it. Megan Grano is the coolest woman Ive ever worked with. She totally gets our male energy and still keeps the feminine power in these scenes. Shes physical, with an elastic face, and smarter than all of us put together. Brad Morris is wicked sharp, plays many characters, and hes fast. When he wants to, he can riddle you and leave you feeling like a lump on the stage. So you have to be nice to Brad or hell cream you with his wit. The great thing about Trey Stone, our musical director, is that you dont notice him. But he plays his piano the whole time, supporting jokes, and hes a master at the improvised musical and the make- a- songs. I love him and its not an easy job to improvise music behind improvised acting.

Your fans would love to see you back on episodic TV. Anything in the fire on this front?

Ive got a lot of projects in the pipeline! Im always working on stuff for TV: developing numerous scripts, looking at others. I love TV, but it has to be the right show. Im working on a multitude of television projects. Regardless, Im having a ball. Ive done everything I wanted and Im doing everything I want to. But more specifically, Im currently on the road with Dan Aykroyd doing The Blues Brothers and on the road with the Board of Comedy. I just finished a film called A Change of Heart, directed by Kenny Ortega. I shot two small independent movies called Undrafted and North of Hell. And Im trying to get to all the basketball and flag football games my son is in and all the plays my daughter is in. Im IN the next, Im IN the magic. Im loving it.

See Jim Belushi & the Board of Comedy at the Palladium February 8, 2015! Tickets available now online at TheCenterPresents.org or call the Box Office, 317.843.3800.

Jim Belushi & the Board of Comedy at the Palladium February 2015 Learn more about Belushi as he opens up about past projects and plans for the future.

2 applause WINTER 2014

Describe your background in fundraising and how you arrived at the Center for the Performing Arts. I have always gathered support for the arts. As a child growing up singing in my school and church choir, as a middle school choir teacher, professional singer, and arts administrator I knew the only way the arts thrive is through connection and relationship. My

past work as the Executive Vice President for the Oregon Symphony, CEO for Oregon Ballet Theatre, Portland Youth Philharmonic, and as Director of Education for the Portland Opera provided a rich background in multiple art forms. Art is for everyone and it is such a joy to get to know audience members. Everyone has a story about how the arts connect them to a person, place, memory, or an idea. Our stories are rich in artistic expression. Fundraising is about listening and connecting the dots. I came to the Center to be part of the vision of the city and to work with the team to build a program that is an economic and artistic model for the rest of the country. There is so much potential here. Do you have any training in the arts? I grew up singing in church and then in choir all the way through high school. I doubl