The Catskill Chronicle

Story and photos by Carol Montana

You have two more chances to catch a wonderful walk down memory lane. The Sullivan County Bicentennial Committee and the D&H Canvas are presenting a tribute to former Sullivan County resident and songwriter extraordinaire Sammy Fain.

The show was recently presented at Lanza’s Country Inn on Shandelee to a sold-out audience. Narrated by Orange Country arts supporter Chris Farlekas and featuring baritone Tom Caltabellotta, mezzo-soprano Amanda Speer, tenor Mariano Vidal and soprano Julie Ziavras, the show is a compilation of some of Fain’s best known songs. Jake Lentz provides musical direction and piano accompaniment.

Fain moved to Sullivan County as a three year old. His father was one of the founders and the original cantor at the South Fallsburg Hebrew Association. At the same time, his family ran the Fain Lodge on what is now Route 42. After graduating from high school, Fain returned to New York City where he pursued a songwriting career. Along the way he teamed up with Artie Dunn, Irving Kahal and Paul Francis Webster. Fain had a hit with "Let a Smile be Your Umbrella” in 1927.

After achieving fame as a songwriter of such songs as Dear Hearts and Gentle People, Tender is the Night and I’ll Be Seeing You, Fain frequently returned to Sullivan County to visit with friends and entertain.

“The Many Splendored Songs of Sammy Fain” is a celebration of this multi-nominated and two-time Academy Award winner. The show is filled with such a wonderful variety of music: the sweet and lyrical melodies of Love is a Many-Splendored Thing (from the movie of the same name) and Secret Love (“Calamity Jane”) – the two songs for which Fain won his Oscars; the upbeat and fun Wedding Bells are Breaking Up That Old Gang of Mine; the heartfelt Someone’s Waiting for You (Disney’s “The Rescuers”); and the buoyant You Can Fly (Disney’s “Peter Pan”).

There’s something for everyone here including April Love, You Brought a New Kind of Love to Me, A Certain Smile and the little known but stunningly beautiful I Never Meant to Fall in Love from the Broadway show “Christine.”  

The next performance will take place on Sunday, August 9 at 3:00 p.m. at the Seelig Theatre of Sullivan County Community College (845-434-5750).

And the final performance will be hosted by the NACL Theatre on Saturday, September 12 at 8 p.m (845-557-0694).

You owe it to yourself to catch this one-of-a-kind show. Guaranteed you will exit the theatre with a smile on your face and a song on your lips.