Jarrod Bennett tells us about the upcoming performances of The Way We Were at The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC at Atlas Performing Arts Center’s Lang Theatre on February 12th at 8 PM and on February 13th at 5 PM (ASL) and 8 PM.
Joel: Please introduce yourself and tell us ow long have you been in GMCW, and in the Rock Creek Singers?
Jarrod: My Name is Jarrod Bennett and I have been singing with GMCW for 7 years. I joined the Rock Creek Singers a little over a year ago.
What are some of your favorite memories of the performances you have been part of?
My most memorable set of performances with GMCW has to be the ones we did this past summer in Cuba. We performed 21 time in 7 days to amazing audiences all over Havana. We got the chance to talk with some of the audience members and the stories were heard were so moving.
What will audiences be seeing and hearing when they attend The Way We Were?
A wide array of music -everything from pop to spirituals. I really think there’s a little something for everybody in the show.
What has been the most fun so far in rehearsal?
The most fun has been putting together “Nearer My God To Thee” as it is beautifully arranged with an intensity that moves you every time you sing it. It also has one of the consistently low bass lines that I have ever sung which has been fun to learn.
What themes run through this evening of songs?
Our set contains songs that express the longing to be home and songs about love.
What have been the most positive changes in your life from’ the way you were’ to now-‘the way you are’?
The biggest change that I’ve noticed in my life is the level of confidence. I used to be somewhat insecure about many things, including my performances, but having the chance to work with this chorus and with the Rock Creek singers as helped build my confidence.
Which song really describes the ‘way you were’ and then ‘the way you are now’-and why and how?
“Send in the Clowns” definitely would be the song that would best characterize the way I was as I used to live in a world of regret. I was the kind of person who would not participate in activities with friends because I was self-conscious. Later, I would start seeing pictures and hearing stories which only made me regret the fact that I sat out when everyone was having such a fun time.
“Make them Hear You” (from Ragtime) would best describe me now. To me the song is about being confident and telling your truth. I would like to think that I am now a person who can believe in myself and live in my truth.
What do you want the audience to take with them after seeing you and your fellow singers perform in The Way We Were?
I would love for the audience to leave the show feeling touched by a familiar song. Maybe even trying to sing it as they walk out the door. There is nothing like hearing a song you may have not heard in years and having it spark a distant memory.
The Way We Were plays on Friday, February 12, 2016 at 8 PM and on Saturday, February 13, 2016 at 5 PM (ASL performance) and 8 PM at Atlas Performing Arts Center’s Lang Theatre -1333 H Street, NE, in Washington, DC. For tickets, purchase them at the door or online.
