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Show Page B4 THE DAILY HERALD, Provo, I'tah, Sunday, December 3, 1995 'Leno' writer expected Church hosts Candlelight'annual 'Carols by to rejoin 'Letterman' The Friends of the Provo By ERIC MINK New York Daily News : - ic sensibility" on "Late Show." A "Tonight" spokeswoman : NEW YORK "Late Show with David Letterman" and CBS are expected to announce Wednesday that Joe Toplyn will return to the fold in late December as the show's head writer. This is a defection; until about two weeks writer of ago, Toplyn was NBC's "Tonight Show with Jay Leno." high-lev- late-nig- el ht co-he- But from 1983 to 1990, Toplyn was a writer on Letterman's "Late Night" staff Emmy-winnin- g at NBC. He left to write for Fox's "In Living Color" and then HBO's "Larry Sanders Show" before joining the Leno show in 1993. "Late Show" executive producer Robert Morton dismissed that his show was the to competition for reaching creative help. "This is a good fit for us because Toplyn understands David Letterman, and he understands the kind of comedy we do," Morton said. "I don't think that anybody with any sense is going to think that they'll start seeing Jay's com- a;ny suggestion said that the show would not change in the wake of Toplyn's departure. "The show's in good hands with Jay, Joe Medeiros and Jimmy Brogan," the show's other Advent event for the comDec. munity, 10, at 7 p.m. at the Community Congregational Church, 175 N. University Ave., Pro vo. Norman Dixon Tht AHvpnt celebration, done in preparation and anticipation of the coming of the Messiah, dates back to the 4th century A.D. The Advent head writers, she said. "He (Toplyn) was certainly part of the team that has been part of the turnaround, and we wish him the best," she said. "Tonight" was adrift creatively in 1993 when Toplyn, a Harvard Lampoon and Harvard business school graduate, was brought in to handle the writers. Insiders credit him with the creation and produc- tion of numerous comedy bits, including Leno's popular Mr. Brain character. Toplyn ultimately left the show, sources said, because he felt his contributions weren't getting the recognition they merited, either creatively or financially. Ratings for Leno's "Tonight" show, aided by a powerhouse NBC prime-tim- e lineup, have overtaken Letterman's "Late Show," which has been hamstrung by CBS' depressed performance in The Provo-Ore- Chapter of m Utah Music Teachers Association will meet for a Christmas social and musical evening Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at Ruby Beeston's recital hall, 180 E. 4320 North (off Canyon Road), Provo. A vocal rt will be presented by Metropolitan Opera coloratura Diana Walker from New York, and David Glen Hatch, accompanist. Walker has most recently completed a three-yeCanadian tour as Christine in Phantom of the Opera. Last summer she was a speaker and performer at Brigham Young University's Education Week. Walker has given numerous mini-conce- ar concerts and recitals in various places, including Carnegie Hall in New York. She has also won several awards and prizes for her singing, and has released two solo CD recordings. She has sung numerous roles both in musical theater and opera throughout the United States, Canada and Europe, including roles in Kismet, Merry Widow, Carousel, Student Prince, Rigoletto, Die Fleder-inau- s, Carmen, Casanova, Magic Flute, Manon, Lakme, The Crucible and The Tempest. Nonmembers of UMTA may contact Beeston for reservation 1 information at or or Hatch at 224-927225-542- 373-610- 7, 7. audience. The Community Congregational Choir, under the direction of Clark Swenson, is made up of volunteers. Dixon, is a native of Orem, received his bachelor's degree in 1989 from Brigham Young University where he studied musical theater. He has performed in a variety of plays and concerts, including "Man of LaMancha" By SANDY BAUERS Knight-Ridd- Newspapers Fortunately for those in the music world, Willie Nelson is undoubtedly a better singer and songwriter than he is a narrator. That hasn't stopped others even for spoken word audio than Nelson, however. So why should it stop him? Plus, the pairing of the country music star with the popular Western author, Louis L' Amour, makes sense at first glint. The new release from SoundeluxMind's Eye is "Willie Nelson: My Favorite Louis L'Amour Stories" (2 hours, $16.95). Nelson has been on the comeback trail lately; a few new albums in recent years have been But as a reader, he's not very expressive. And he can't even manage different voices for the different characters. What saves this recording of four stories is that ... well, dang ... it is, after all, Willie Nelson. He's got the gentle twang and dust of a million Western days and nights in well-receive- d. his voice, and that sure makes up for the lack of oomph. Country fans will probably want it no matter what. Besides, just when you think you've had enough of the reading, he inserts a few impromptu riffs on the guitar, and that makes everything seem a little better. After that, anyone really into country music might as well go ahead and get the companion tape, Nelson and his fellow Highwaymen Johnny Cash, Kris Kristof-ferso- n and Waylon Jennings in a dramatized reading of another L'Amour tale, "Riding for the Brand" (1 hour, $1 1.95), also from Soundelux. This one has sound effects. And although Kristofferson generally got dumped on for his singing with the Highwaymen, wouldn't you know he makes a mighty fine read- quality vocal instruction, teach uplifting inspirational music and offer a setting where "it's OK to be good." The program is made up of the o Choir, Beginning Choir, Prep Choir, and Concert Choir. After a candle light processional, all of the choirs will sing combined selections and then their own set of numbers. Selected members of the Concert Choir will Hi-L- Salt Lake City where he teaches private voice lessons. Bora in Canada, Mary Wood- ward has served in many capacities for the LDS Church. She has served on the General Primary Board and served several missions, most recently being with her husband in Nauvoo. Ralph Woodward was head of the choral department at BYU and director of the A cappella Choir for many years. He was also the founder of the Ralph Woodward Chorale. The Woodwards will be returning to Nauvoo in January, where Ralph will teach music and direct a choir as part of a BYU program. For more than 10 years, the Shults have been' playing the music oi uic lw"unusual instruments such as the, bodhran, bowed psaltery, penny. : whistle and hammer dulcimer. ( perform ; Many of the tunes they for hun-- ; down handed have been dreds of years. They have four albums. Tom is considered one of the best finger- -' in the state. style guitarists Advent service, the Following be served in" ' will refreshments the church social hall under the direction of the Friends of the ' Provo Library. Children under six should not attend and parents l. are requested to honor this policy, . because of the lighted candles, and the fire codes at the church. For more information, call 377-993- 5 4 from 5 p.m. or 379-664pro--duc- ed , 6. 1 -- enactment" of interviews, which has got to be a first in the audio world. Apparently, Soros was happy with some interviews he did, and he subsequently "reworked the material until it became like a Socratic dialogue." This became a book, and then a recording (6 hours, $22), from Bantam. In it, Soros tries "to explain who 1 am and what I stand for. The philosophy is not about money. It is about the human condition." It doesn't work too well on audio, however. The format makes the tape seem a bit stale. After all, Soros is simply reading his answers, not contemplating the questions and then formulating responses as he goes. Neverthe- less, he is charming and urbane, with a bewitching conglomeration of European accents stemming, no doubt, from his birth in Hungary, and his education in London. Gregory Hines reads "RL's Dream' the new novel by Walter Mosley (abndged to 3 hours, $16.95), from Audio Renaissance. Mo.-,elmade his name with his series of mysteries starring the African-America- n detective, Easy Rawlins. But this is a story of the blues, told through the eyes of blues-ma- n Soupspoon Wise, an aging who is alone, ill and dying. Hines dances, he's a movie star and now he shows he's a top narrator, too. If you want to catch up on the Easy Rawlins mysteries, Audio Renaissance also has four (3 hours, $16.95 each), the abridgments all. read by Paul Winfield. er. Come Home To The FAST FORWARD: "Ahead of the Curve," the new book by financial wiz George Soros, has been recorded as a "dramatized re- - Utah Valley Children's Choir to present Christmas concert The Utah Valley Children's Choir, under the direction of Beverly Thomas, will present its annual Christmas concert Monday at 7 p.m. in the Provo Tabernacle. Admission is $2. The vocal instruction program includes five choirs made up of children ages 4 to 18. The objectives of the program are to provide and "My Fair Lady" with Robert Peterson. He currently resides in w illie Nelson better sinaer than narrator less-suit- Music teachers group to meet munity Congregational Church, tenor Norman Dixon and the wreath ceremony begins four Sundays before Christmas with . prime time. the lighting of a candle, the reading of the appropriate scriptures from the Old and New Testaments and the singing of familiar hymns and carols. Ralph and Mary Woodward will read from the scriptures, accompanied by musical selections performed by Tom and Gael Shults, the Com- Library and the McCurdy Doll Museum will present the 15th annual "Carols Candleby an light," Soup Garden For A Delicious Variety of: Potato Bar Selections Delectable Desserts Fresh Homemade Soups Pasta & Salad Bar ALL YOU CAN EAT form flute, string, brass, and bell choirs to accompany the other vocal choirs. Choir tapes and CDs will also be on sale. Members of the Prep Choir will . lTn LUNCH ALL YOU CAN EAT DINNER . tfm Parties r also take part in the Festival of Children's Choirs at the Provo Tabernacle Dec. 21 at 7:30 p.m. The Concert Choir will also present a December Choirside Dec. 17 at 7 p.m. at the chapel at 4000 Foothill Drive, Provo. The concert will focus on Christmas and will include "Worship the King," "Magnify the Lord," "Gesu Bambino" and "We are Singing For the Lord is Our Light." There is no admission fee. The Concert Choir will also perform for LDS Church employees at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in Salt Lake City. mm, mum H'WWWlW'Hi i mi nt n uminff Formerly of the Claimjumper Restaurant Our Menu Features: Butter Fried Shrimp Baseball Steak Alaskan King Crab Legs Buffalo Steak Australian Lobster Tail Filet Mignon Teriyaki Chicken Breast And Much More Open Daily 4:30 p.m. - 10 p.m. Prime Rib Early Bird Specials $9-9- 5 Chicken & Shrimp Prlmavera Spaghetti with a Homemade Marinara Sauce Sunday Through Thursday 4:30 P.M. to 6:30 P.M. Prime Rib, Au Jus Trout Almandine 1488 S. State St., Orem 1428 N. State Mon.-Thur- 11 a.m.-- 9 s. 221-122- 2 - Orem - p.m. Fri. & Sat. 221-292- U by Gioacchino Rossini T word nfezzoforte inlk sentence." The wiiu town barber A H A greedu guardian Love's masquerades and escapades S One close shave after another Y M Sung in Italian with English Supertitles P H February 24-- , 0 2j6, 25, March 1 - 7:50 p.m. & March 5 - 2:00 p.m. N Y Tickets Available at Albertson's ArtTix or call de Jong Concert Hall BYU December 6, 7:30 p.m. Joseph Silverstein, Conductor Irene Peery, Piano Diane Owens, Soprano - Susan Huff, Soprano Robert Breault, Tenor Clayne Robison, Bass The Utah Symphony Chorus MOZART Piano Concerto No. 1 5 MOZART Mass in C minor For Tickets, Call 378-300- (1JS) -- 2 k; ft 9 11 a.m.-1- 0 The Utah Symphony Presents "An Evening of Mozart" I actuallyused the - p.m. |