Wyoming Valley's Oratorio's `christmas' A Mixture Of Lush Sounds 
Standing-room-only Audience Got A Lift For The Holiday Season Through 
Saturday's Concert At St. Stephen's Episcopal Church

Antoinette Pisano 
November 21, 1997 
Antoinette Marie Pisano Of Rock Street, Pittston Township, Died Friday At Her 
Home.

Sunday, November 23, 1997 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 9G 





`Capeman' could be hit for Simon &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In two long-forgotten murders that grabbed headlines in the 1950s, Paul
Simon found a musicalAnd from the tantalizing samples offered by Simon so far,
"The Capeman" has the potential to be one of the most compelling products
offered on Broadway this season. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The concept album "Songs from the Capeman," was released this week, and
tonight Simon appears on television's VH1 series "Storytellers" to perform
four songs from "The Capeman" as well as an assortment of his hits. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The musical, which previews on Broadway next week and opens in January, is
the story of Salvador Agron, a teenage Puerto Rican gang member who killed two
boys and was sentenced to death at age 16. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "The Songs from the Capeman" selections are powerful, rich glimpses into
the story, even outside the narrative of the play. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 And the music is a seductive blend of gospel, '50s pop and salsa that
serves the barrio setting more than "West Side Story" even tried to do. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Adios Hermanos," which appears on the CD and the VH1 show, starts out
sounding like a love song with a doo-wop chorus reminiscent of "In the Still
of the Night." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But the lyrics, in which Agron is headed to the courthouse to receive his
death sentence, are unmistakably unromantic: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Just another spic they scrubbed off the sidewalk. Guilty by my dress;
guilty in the press. Let `The Capeman' burn for the murders." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The press called Agron "The Capeman" because, as a member of the gang The
Vampires, he wore a black cape with red satin lining on the night of the
murders. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 His death sentence was later commuted, and while in prison, Agron earned a
college degree and was released after 20 years. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 His redemption is a theme of Simon's musical, which stars Reuben Blades as
the older Agron, who serves as a narrator, and striking newcomer Mark Anthony
as the young Agron. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 On tonight's "Storytellers," a reluctant Anthony is called by Simon to the
stage, where the two sing "Bernadette," a romantic piece which Simon has said
is his favorite of all the "Capeman" songs. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 This writer's personal pick is "The Vampires," in which Agron is drawn into
the gang that would become his undoing. A haunting piano riff leads into a
half-spoken intro, backed by stark percussion. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Like much of the music on "Songs from the Capeman," it creates a lasting
impression. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The songs are soulful and moving. The story, even in its most fleeting
telling, intrigues. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Simon may have found more than a musical in "The Capeman." He may have
found a hit. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Ticket sales don't pay all the bills in the world of regional theater, so
Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble has all sorts of ways to raise money. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 One of them has become an annual holiday tradition. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Tree Fest" is a two-weekend event that features more than 100 live trees,
donated by local growers and decorated by hundreds of people from the
community, including youth groups and local florists and garden clubs. Each
tree is sponsored by an area business, and later donated to a needy area
family. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Local music and dance groups will perform, and local artisans will display
wares, both for sale and for an auction on Dec. 6 at 3 p.m. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Tree Fest" occupies the Caldwell Consistory at Main and Market streets in
Bloomsburg, and admission is $3. For the first time, children 12 and under
will be admitted free. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 For more information, call BTE at 784-5530. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Big," the musical based on the Tom Hanks movie, earned a place in history
as a monumental Broadway flop a few years back. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But those who have seen the reworked national tour say "Big" is much
improved over the version that crashed and burned in New York. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The tour has several Pennsylvania dates scheduled, but the closest stop to
the Wyoming Valley is just about a week away. "Big" plays the Hershey Theatre
in Hershey next week, Dec. 2-5. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 WHAT'S PLAYING &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 A guide to local theater in Northeastern Pennsylvania (for detailed
listings, including show times and ticket prices, see the Weekend section each
Friday): &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 PROFESSIONAL/TOURS &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble, Alvina Krause Theatre, 226 Center St.,
Bloomsburg. (800) 282-0283. UPCOMING: "A Christmas Carol," Dec. 4-21. Previews
Nov. 28-29. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Broadway Series at the F.M. Kirby Center, Public Square, Wilkes-Barre.
826-1100. UPCOMING: "Miracle on 34th Street," Dec. 16. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Broadway Series of Northeastern Pennsylvania, Scranton Cultural Center,
North Washington Avenue, Scranton. (800) 243-9500. UPCOMING: "A Swell Party:
The Cole Porter Songbook," featuring Melba Moore, Dec. 4-7. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Children's Series at the F.M. Kirby Center, Public Square, Wilkes-Barre.
826-1100. UPCOMING: "A Christmas Carol," Dec. 9. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Public Theatre of Pennsylvania, F.M. Kirby Center, Public Square,
Wilkes-Barre. 826-1100. UPCOMING: "Nobody Hears a Broken Drum," by Jason
Miller, April. 2-4. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Northeastern Theatre Ensemble, Shopland Hall, Scranton Cultural Center
Fourth Floor, North Washington Avenue, Scranton. 969-1770. UPCOMING: "Who's
Afraid of Virginia Woolf?," Jan. 30-Feb. 15. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 COMMUNITY &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Act, The Daily Grind, North Church Street, Carbondale. 282-0821. NOW
PLAYING: "I Love My Wife," Cy Coleman musical, through today. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Bracken Theatre Company, Castlefondo, Genetti's Best Western, Wilkes-Barre.
654-0247. UPCOMING: tba. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Corner Bistro Dinner Theatre, South Main Street, Carbondale. 282-7499.
UPCOMING: tba. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Diva Theatre, North Adams Avenue, Scranton. UPCOMING: tba. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Little Theatre of Wilkes-Barre, North Main Street, Wilkes-Barre. 823-1875.
NOW PLAYING: "Annie Warbucks," musical. Through today. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Music Box Dinner Playhouse, Hughes Street, Swoyersville. 283-2195 or (800)
698-7529. UPCOMING: "It's a Wonderful Life," holiday musical. Through Dec. 14. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Nuremberg Community Players, American Legion, Nuremberg. UPCOMING: tba. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Showcase Theatre, Tunkhannock Avenue, Exeter. 654-2555. UPCOMING: "The Gift
of the Magi," one-act Christmas story, Dec. 12-14. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Wilkes-Barre Artistic Theatre Ensemble, Black Box Theatre, Wilkes
University, Wilkes-Barre. 823-8220. UPCOMING: Evening of one-acts, Jan. 8-17. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 COLLEGES &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 College Misericordia, Walsh Auditorium, Dallas. 674-6719. UPCOMING:
"Nunsense," March 26-29. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 King's College, Administration Building Auditorium, Wilkes-Barre. 208-5825.
UPCOMING: tba. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Marywood University, Performing Arts Center, Scranton. 348-6211 ext. 2469.
UPCOMING: Senior Theatre Workshop, featuring Megan Markus. Dec. 12-13.
348-6209. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Penn State Hazleton, Campus Commons Building, Hazleton. 450-3054. UPCOMING:
tba. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 University of Scranton, McDade Center, Scranton. 941-4318. UPCOMING: tba. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Wilkes University, Dorothy Dickson Darte Center, Wilkes-Barre. 408-4540.
NOW PLAYING: "War and Peace," based on the Tolstoy novel. Through today. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Bob Nocek covers theater for The Times Leader. His column is published each
Sunday in the Arts &amp; Leisure section. Information can be sent to
bobnocek@tl.infi.net or faxed to 829-5537. He can be reached at 829-7250. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

`capeman' Could Be Hit For Simon In Two Long-forgotten Murders That Grabbed Headlines In The 1950s, Paul Simon Found A Musical.