Music Conductors
and Directors

To his already international renown, Robert Zeller, famed, young conductor, added new laurels as musical director of the Music Circus. At the request of Mr. Evans and Miss Foster, leads in the 1949 season's "The Merry Widow," "The Chocolate Soldier," and Naughty Marietta," he came from a notable season as conductor of the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera Company to organize and conduct the first musical group of its kind in theatrical history, for the first musical arena theater, the Lambertville Music Circus. His work during that first season greatly increased his enthusiastic public he had won in previous engagements as conductor with such organizations as the Ballet Russe, New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D. C., Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Orquesta Sinfonica de Mexico and others.

New York Time 1982 obituary

Music Director of the Mutual Broadcasting System from 1945, Sylvan Levin, made his Music Circus debut at Lambertville in 1953. A graduate of the Curtis School of Music in Philadelphia as well as the Peabody Conservatory of Music, he was appointed assistant to Leopold Stokowski, then head of the Philadelphia Orchestra when he was only in his early twenties.

By 1933 Sylvan advanced to Associate Conductor to Stokowski. Some years later he organized the Philadelphia Opera Company which he headed for six years as conductor and artistic director. Because of World War II this project had to close down though it had developed into both an artistic and financial success.

He then went to New York as Associate Conductor of the New York City Center Opera Company and then to WOR radio and the Mutual Broadcasting System where he developed "The Sylvan Levin Opera Concert," one of the most popular good music programs on the air at that time.

He was the Musical Director for the World Premier production of "To Hell with Orpheus" at the Music Circus.

A recognized musician, he has written the ballet music for the revival of "Pal Joey," "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn," and "Hazel Flagg" on Broadway, and he has written, arranged and conducted for such well known performers as Ray Bolger, Peter Lind Hayes and Mary Healy, Hildegarde, and Ethel Smith. In 1953 he was the conductor for "Hazel Flagg" in New York.

Internet Broadway Database

Mr. Pippin wrote to us:
"I have the fondest memories of Lambertville. As I recall, I came to the Music Circus in 1955 as an assistant to Oscar Kosarin (Wonderfully talented man). He trained me and pushed me quickly into conducting the matinees. The next year I became the musical director. My first show on the Podium was the last show of the 1955 Season, "Kismet." I gave Robert Goulet his first theatre job in this show. He was one of my baritones in the chorus and I made him the understudy to the male leading role. He almost went on.

"The fabulous Ron Field was the dance director straight from the B'way production of that show and his years of being a Jack Cole dancer. Ron became the successful director of B'way's "Applause" (starring Lauren Bacall) [1970]. He hired me as Musical Director because of our working relationship on "Kismet" at Lambertville. Yes, that many years later. I conducted John Kander's Broadway show, "Woman of the Year"—again with Lauren Bacall. Yes, I have survived two musicals with the great lady.

"Amazingly, the 1957 Music Circus production of "On The Town" was made into an ice skating show for the famous Dick Button. He was the star, of course. He sang and acted. I have a remote recording of that show. I re-orchestrated the entire show for two pianos (I played one of them with Tony Cristofaro on the other) plus our small other 8 piece orchestra. I scored in my singers for all of the ballet music—it sounded rather amazing for a summer stock theatre production. Many years later I played a bit of the recording for Maestro Leonard Bernstein. He was quite pleased! Perhaps only polite, but he was very warm with his praise.

"I conducted Joyce Randolph in "Plain and Fancy" at the Circus in 1956. We are dear friends and both belong to the Lambs Club.

"Lambertville played a most important place in my career. I really trained there and gathered the skills to launch a successful Broadway career. I am honored to be a part of this important bit of history that The Lambertville Circus represents. Three years ago I visited New Hope and Lambertville. It was so sad to see the old site without the tent.

Mr. Pippin was the original conductor and/or musical director and/or vocal arranger for these Broadway shows among many others:

"Applause" - Musical Director: Donald Pippin - Vocal arrangements by Donald Pippin
"Dear World" (Feb 06, 1969 - May 31, 1969) - Musical Director: Donald Pippin - Vocal arrangements by Donald Pippin
"Mame" (May 24, 1966 - Jan 03, 1970) - Musical Director: Donald Pippin - Conducted by Donald Pippin - Vocal arrangements by Donald Pippin
"Ben Franklin in Paris" (Oct 27, 1964 - May 01, 1965) - Musical Director: Donald Pippin - Vocal arrangements by Donald Pippin
"Foxy" (Feb 16, 1964 - Apr 18, 1964) - Musical Director: Donald Pippin - Vocal arrangements by Donald Pippin
"110 in the Shade" (Oct 24, 1963 - Aug 08, 1964) - Musical Director: Donald Pippin
"Oliver!" (Jan 06, 1963 - Nov 14, 1964) - Musical Director: Donald Pippin
"Irma La Douce" (Sep 29, 1960 - Dec 31, 1961) - Assistant Conducted by Don Pippin

Source: ParkerArtists
Source: Internet Broadway Database.)

The youngest of 10 musical children, Al Evans was already studying piano at age of five. Not too long after, he was conducting his own orchestras in London, Paris, and Monte Carlo.

Mr. Evans has bandied the arranging and musical direction for such varied organizations as the Fred Waring and Ben Bernie bands, London Films, Ltd., and the Shubert Musicals. For the latter group he conducted such shows as "Rose Marie," "Blossom Time," and "The Student Prince." His tent experience includes stints with the Allentown Melody Circle, the Detroit Music Circus, and Mr. Terrell's own Neptune Music Circus. The talented Mr. Evans then engaged in composing original music for both a television series and a sacred oratorio.

See footnote1 about the Neptune Music Circus.

Phil Ingalls divided his time between the musical comedy stage and television. In 1951-53 he served as musical director for the Broadway and touring companies of "Call Me Madam," and the national company of "South Pacific" shortly thereafter. He was also musical director for "Pajama Game," on Broadway during its two year run, and "Cranks."

In the interim, Mr. Ingalls conducted for a number of large scale television shows including Phiko Playhouse, the Colgate Comedy Hour, and the Packard Motor Show. This gifted Bostonian was also a composer and organist of note.

See footnote1 about the Music Circus theater circuit.

Hal Beckett was the assistant conductor and choral director at the Music Circus for three years prior to 1958. He has conducted road productions of "Brigadoon," "Annie Get Your Gun," and "Vagabond King," and was also associated with the national company of "Paint Your Wagon." Mr. Beckett, who started his career as a vaudeville conductor, was solo organist at New York's Roxy Theatre for eighteen years.

See footnote1 about the Music Circus theater circuit.

Mr. Meth came to the United States from Austria as a child and was a self- taught musician. He was 17 when he got his first job on Broadway as a violinist, and the first Broadway show he conducted was ''Artists and Models,'' in the mid-1920's. He won Antoinette Perry (Tony) awards for his work in ''As The Girls Go'' (1949) and ''Pal Joey'' (1952).

Mr. Meth was also the musical director for ''Ziegfeld Follies,'' ''Revenge With Music,'' ''Roberta,'' '' The Band Wagon,'' ''Gentlemen Prefer Blondes'' and ''Judy Garland at the Palace.'' In the 1950's, Mr. Meth led orchestras in industrial shows but returned to Broadway in the 1960's for shows that included ''The Unsinkable Molly Brown.'' He also led his own orchestra, the Meth Symphonette, in classical concerts at Town Hall.

The New York Times

Arthur Frank taught for 7 years as Fine Arts Department Head at Rider University. He then taught 27 years at Temple University in Philadelphia (where he earned his doctorate) retiring as professor emeritus in 1997. In his career at Temple U. he was responsible for the development of more than 1000 music educators.

For many happy years, Frank was the musical director at the famed Lambertville Music Circus and served in the same capacity at the Bucks County Playhouse, Burlington's Foundation Theatre, McCarter Theatre, and Trenton's Theatre-In-The-Park. He was a member of the Trenton Symphony Orchestra and the Princeton Symphony Orchestra.

He has appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show and performed in 37 states and on four continents. In 1964 his Rider College Theatre '59 was chosen to tour Europe for ten weeks, entertaining troops with "Bye, Bye Birdie." And then in 1966 with "Li'l Abner."

After his stint at the Music Circus, on top of playing with the Trenton Symphony Orchestra, Art did over 100 local equity musicals, moonlighted at Bucks County Community College, taught summer workshops in musical theatre at Westminster and Temple, had a commercial "wedding" band (that included Dick Averre and Bob Reikosky), and also played a lot of dixieland jazz with his own ensemble of top players.

Mr. Frank was married to Roberta, a fabulous elementary school teacher and mother, and had three sons, Mitchell (who is a very fine music educator in the Council Rock school system), Bruce, and Gregory; all married and have given Art and Roberta 9 terrific grandchildren.

Source: Art Frank
Read some of Art's memories.
Article from The Trenton Times, Friday, October 26, 2001