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Arab Times
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab Times
Meet Corenswet, cinema's new Superman
LOS ANGELES, July 9, (AP): In true Clark Kent form, the new Superman would like to correct the record. David Corenswet gave an interview to Entertainment Weekly in 2019 where he said his 'pie in the sky ambition' was to play Superman. At that point, the role was not on the market. And Corenswet, a Julliard graduate and Philadelphia native, was just making a name for himself in the industry, with plum breakout roles in two Ryan Murphy Netflix series: 'The Politician' and 'Hollywood.' Tall, dark, and you know, handsome, people had told him that he looked like Superman for a long time. He did not, he told The Associated Press in a recent interview, think that he was going to get the chance to play him. But a few years later, he was actually cast to lead James Gunn's 'Superman' which will begin a new, hopefully high-flying, era for the DC universe of films when it hits theaters on July 11. And that once innocent quote took on a life of its own. Many headlines and stories misinterpreted the phrase and wrote that he said it was his dream role, as though he'd manifested it into existence. 'I said it was my pie in the sky ambition, which I meant to mean that there was no (expletive) way it was ever going to happen,' Corenswet, 31, said. 'I sort of was thinking of it as, 'Oh, who wouldn't love to get to play an iconic role like that? Wouldn't it be amazing and impossible if we lived in a universe where that could even be considered?'' Right around the time when Gunn was starting to think about casting his new Superman movie, he decided to watch his friend Ti West's movie 'Pearl.' In that darkly comedic horror, Corenswet stood out to him as an interesting and charismatic presence. He played a projectionist at a local movie theater who catches Pearl's attention (and, later, faces her wrath). West had nice things to say about him too. 'David was one of the very first auditions that I got,' Gunn said. 'Instantly, it was a relief because he had a playful charm about him that was not evident in 'Pearl.' He had a sense of humor. That made me go, 'Ooh, this might be a really good match.'' That was just the beginning of the long casting process. Even Nicholas Hoult, who was ultimately cast as Lex Luthor, was up for the part. And though it was 'extensive,' Corenswet said it was one of the most 'satisfying audition processes' he's ever gone through - not because he booked the role, but because he felt he got the opportunity to show them what he had to offer. Gunn laughed that Corenswet actually has a lot of Superman in him. 'Superman is a square and David is a square,' Gunn said. 'He listens to American Songbook. Like Dean Martin and Cole Porter. That's what he listens to on his iPad. That's weird. But oh, so Superman.' When Gunn called him with the good news, the first person he told was his wife. The second was his sister, who couldn't pick up the phone because she was on a golf course. 'She texted, 'Is it possible that was a phone call with super good news?'' he said. 'I said, 'Yes. Super good news.'' It may be something of a Superman tradition to try on your predecessor's costume during a screen test. Henry Cavill did it with Christopher Reeve's, and Corenswet did it with Cavill's, which he called a 'marvel of engineering.' But the first time Corenswet put on his own Superman costume was not some magical, transportive moment. He said, it was 'wonderfully mundane.' The suit was still in its beginning stages, not totally put together and even a little small, as he'd already started putting on weight for the role. 'I remember the feeling of kind of growing into the suit and the suit growing around me fitting by fitting,' Corenswet said. 'We had such an amazing costume team and they built the suit around me over the course of many weeks and months and it started to feel just a little bit like home for me.' The first time he felt the impact of it was through the eyes of other people. To him, it was old hat, but when he walked onto set the first time in the suit he noticed something different from the cast and crew. 'I saw their faces sort of light up and I went, 'Wait a minute, these people aren't that fond of me,'' he laughed. 'That's when it hits you.' There are almost three roles involved in playing Superman. There's the person he is with his parents and the people he grew up with. There's Clark Kent of the Daily Planet. And then there's Superman. 'He's a public-facing character, he's a symbol,' Corenswet said. 'There's a presentational element to it, because he does want to present an image of calm and authority. While he doesn't always feel that way, he always wants to make other people feel that way as Superman.' To prepare for Clark Kent, Corenswet looked at the All-Star Superman comic and how Christopher Reeve changed his posture when Lois left the room, but he also drew inspiration for the voice and demeanor way outside of the canon: His brother-in-law, who is 6'8' and 270 pounds, but is the 'quietest, most wonderful man.' 'That's where I sort of took the spirit of Clark,' Corenswet said. 'He's this big presence, but he's desperately trying to be as small as possible and as quiet as possible.' Gunn has promised that the film is 'a personal journey for Superman that's entirely new.' He's a character who is 'pretty damn good, but fl awed.' And anyone who has seen the trailer knows there will be romance with Rachel Brosnahan's Lois Lane - but there's even a different spin on that. 'He's in love with her,' Gunn said. 'She's the one that needs the convincing in the relationship. It's not him. You really see where he needs her in his life.' Corenswet said that in addition to the action and thrills, the movie also has a Preston Sturges quality to it with 'longing romance and witty comedy.' Fitting for their reporter characters, 'His Girl Friday' was also a big reference with 'the rhythm, the patter and the feeling of two people in love who really are an equal match for the other.' The movie is the start of a new era for DC films, and will raise Corenswet's profile immeasurably. He's been in big movies before, including 'Twisters.' But being Superman is different. 'The thing that it changed about my life immediately was that I had this amazing mission that I got to go on of playing the part and getting to be a piece of making this awesome film,' he said. 'I have so many new friends now. James brings together such a familial cast and crew. And shooting the film is sort of like an extended summer camp.' Adding to the summer camp vibes: On the last day they even gathered to watch a little blooper reel that Gunn had put together. But what will happen come release is not really something he can fathom at this point. 'I expect some things will change when the film comes out,' he said. 'But you know, one still has to wake up and eat breakfast.'
San Francisco Chronicle
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- San Francisco Chronicle
Meet David Corenswet, cinema's new Superman
In true Clark Kent form, the new Superman would like to correct the record. David Corenswet gave an interview to Entertainment Weekly in 2019 where he said his 'pie in the sky ambition' was to play Superman. At that point, the role was not on the market. And Corenswet, a Julliard graduate and Philadelphia native, was just making a name for himself in the industry, with plum breakout roles in two Ryan Murphy Netflix series: 'The Politician' and 'Hollywood.' Tall, dark and handsome, people had told him that he looked like Superman for a long time. He did not, he told the Associated Press in a recent interview, think that he was going to get the chance to play him. But a few years later he was actually cast to lead James Gunn's ' Superman,' which will begin a new, hopefully high-flying, era for the DC universe of films when it hits theaters on Friday, July 11. And that once innocent quote took on a life of its own. Many headlines and stories misinterpreted the phrase and wrote that he said it was his dream role, as though he'd manifested it into existence. 'I said it was my pie in the sky ambition, which I meant to mean that there was no f— way it was ever going to happen,' Corenswet, 31, said. 'I sort of was thinking of it as, 'Oh, who wouldn't love to get to play an iconic role like that? Wouldn't it be amazing and impossible if we lived in a universe where that could even be considered?'' Right around the time when Gunn was starting to think about casting his new Superman movie, he decided to watch his friend Ti West's movie ' Pearl.' In that darkly comedic horror, Corenswet stood out to him as an interesting and charismatic presence. He played a projectionist at a local movie theater who catches Pearl's attention (and, later, faces her wrath). West had nice things to say about him too. 'David was one of the very first auditions that I got,' Gunn said. 'Instantly, it was a relief because he had a playful charm about him that was not evident in 'Pearl.' He had a sense of humor. That made me go, 'Ooh, this might be a really good match.'' That was just the beginning of the long casting process. Even Nicholas Hoult, who was ultimately cast as Lex Luthor, was up for the part. And though it was 'extensive,' Corenswet said it was one of the most 'satisfying audition processes' he's ever gone through — not because he booked the role, but because he felt he got the opportunity to show them what he had to offer. Gunn laughed that Corenswet actually has a lot of Superman in him. 'Superman is a square and David is a square,' Gunn said. 'He listens to American Songbook — like Dean Martin and Cole Porter. That's what he listens to on his iPad. That's weird. But oh, so Superman.' It may be something of a Superman tradition to try on your predecessor's costume during a screen test. Henry Cavill did it with Christopher Reeve's, and Corenswet did it with Cavill's, which he called a 'marvel of engineering.' But the first time Corenswet put on his own Superman costume was not some magical, transportive moment. In fact, he said, it was 'wonderfully mundane.' The suit was still in its beginning stages, not totally put together and even a little small, as he'd already started putting on weight for the role. 'I remember the feeling of kind of growing into the suit and the suit growing around me fitting by fitting,' Corenswet said. 'We had such an amazing costume team and they built the suit around me over the course of many weeks and months and it started to feel just a little bit like home for me.' The first time he felt the impact of it was through the eyes of other people. When he walked onto set the first time in the suit he noticed something different from the cast and crew. 'I saw their faces sort of light up and I went, 'Wait a minute, these people aren't that fond of me,'' he recalled with a laugh. 'That's when it hits you.' To prepare for Clark Kent, Corenswet looked at the All-Star Superman comic and how Reeve changed his posture when Lois left the room. But he also drew inspiration for the voice and demeanor way outside of the canon: His brother-in-law, who is 6-foot-8 and 270 pounds, but is the 'quietest, most wonderful man.' 'That's where I sort of took the spirit of Clark,' Corenswet said. 'He's this big presence, but he's desperately trying to be as small as possible and as quiet as possible.' Gunn has promised that the film is 'a personal journey for Superman that's entirely new.' He's a character who is 'pretty damn good, but flawed.' And anyone who has seen the trailer knows there will be romance with Rachel Brosnahan's Lois Lane — but there's even a different spin on that. The movie has a Preston Sturges quality to it with 'longing romance and witty comedy,' Corenswet said. Fitting for their reporter characters, 'His Girl Friday' was also a big reference with 'the rhythm, the patter and the feeling of two people in love who really are an equal match for the other.' The movie is the start of a new era for DC films, and will raise Corenswet's profile immeasurably. Sure, he's been in big movies before — including ' Twisters ' — but being Superman is different. 'The thing that it changed about my life immediately was that I had this amazing mission that I got to go on of playing the part and getting to be a piece of making this awesome film,' he said. 'I have so many new friends now. James brings together such a familial cast and crew. ... shooting the film is sort of like an extended summer camp.' Adding to the summer camp vibes: On the last day they even gathered to watch a little blooper reel that Gunn had put together. But what will happen come release is not really something he can fathom at this point. 'I expect some things will change when the film comes out,' he said. 'But you know, one still has to wake up and eat breakfast.'
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Adams concert series offers music for all tastes
Jun. 13—ADAMS — The Adams Community Concert Series presents its 10th season this summer. Attendance has been consistent over the years on Wednesday evenings in July and August as the series has featured a variety of quality music free of charge to the public. This season is no exception, organizers say. On the bill are Big Band tunes, Broadway songs, rock 'n roll, country-western guitar picking, barbershop chorus music and the stirring sounds of the 10th Mountain Division Army Band. The concerts are on six consecutive Wednesday evenings from July 9 to Aug. 13 at the Adams Fire Department pavilion behind the fire hall on Main Street. All concerts start at 6:30 p.m. and end at 8 with no intermission. Concert-goers should bring a lawn chair except for one show, scheduled for the Sixtown Meeting House, 27 East Church St., across from Mirabito convenience store in Adams. The meeting house is also the rain venue in the event of inclement weather. The concerts are sponsored by South Jefferson area businesses and individuals, and donations from passing the hat at each show. The series features local talent which the north country has in abundance. Arrhythmias bring a special brand of Big Band music. Formed by a group of Watertown doctors, the Arrhythmias has entertained audiences since 1977. The ensemble brings a repertoire of swing music that transports audiences to earlier eras but which is also timeless and vibrant. The dance floor will be open on July 9. Back by popular demand, on July 16, is tenor Jordan Davidson, accompanied on piano by Toni Grieco Zygadlo, his former music teacher at Indian River High School. This show will be at the Sixtown Meeting Hall where the duo performed a brilliant concert last year. The performance will feature numbers from the American Songbook, Broadway musicals and opera. A high-school music teacher himself, Davidson performs in operas, musical theater, concerts and recitals throughout the country. Popular local musician Ben Wisner and the Full Circle band will share their style of rock and roll with the Adams audience on July 23. Wisner has played at many venues locally through the years and will be joined by Jay Barrett and Tim Robinson, for what promises to be a lively, entertaining show. Next are Loren and L.J. Barrigar. The father-son guitar duo from Central New York play a variety of country, blues, rock and popular music. Loren has performed throughout the world with other virtuoso guitarists such as Tommy Emmanuel and Mark Mazengarb. L.J. has become a fabulous guitarist in his own right. The July 30 show will feature intricate acoustic guitar work from both players and some fine singing. The Adams Concert Series will welcome the Northern Blend Chorus on Aug. 6. This a capella female barbershop group based in Watertown is affiliated with Harmony, Inc. Northern Blend won the International Chorus Competition in 2024 and is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year. This is the first time the chorus has performed on the Adams stage. Rounding out the summer in Adams will be the 10th Mountain Division Army Band. The band performs a range of music including marches, Broadway tunes, jazz standards, classical pieces and popular music. The schedule: July 9: Arrhythmias. July 16: Jordan Davidson and Toni Grieco Zygadlo. July 23: Ben Wisner and Full Circle. July 30: Loren and L.J. Barrigar. Aug. 6: Northern Blend Chorus. Aug. 13: 10th Mountain Division Band
Chicago Tribune
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Northbrook Symphony leans toward classical, with some contemporary, as it celebrates 45 years
Music will fill the Sunset Ridge Country Club in Northfield on June 19 when the Northbrook Symphony Orchestra celebrates the conclusion of its 45th season with its annual gala, 'American Songbook.' Robbie Ellis, the on-air announcer for radio station WFMT, will emcee and serve as the orchestra's preconcert speaker, according to Highland Park resident Steven Greene, who is in his third year as president of the orchestra's board of directors. 'He's both a pianist and a singer,' Greene said. 'For our benefit, he's taking a bunch of Tom Lehrer songs and rewording them to the current day and adding a bit about Northbrook Symphony.' Lehrer is an American songwriter known for penning lyrics that were frequently satirical. A string quintet from the Northbrook Symphony Orchestra will also perform. In addition, several students will speak about their experience of getting musical instruments from the orchestra's Instrument Drive, in which the orchestra collects musical instruments for underserved music students in Waukegan Public Schools, working with Bravo Waukegan. There will also be a silent auction and raffle. The Northbrook Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1980 by former Chicago Symphony concertmaster Samuel Magad. The current music director, Mina Zikri, who was a violinist with the orchestra starting in 2002, began leading the orchestra in the 2019-20 season. 'We have five or six concerts a year,' Zikri said. Sometimes, the family concert is part of the season; other times it's the sixth concert. This year's family concert, on Aug. 24, will be 'Mozart's Magnificent Voyage.' All of the concerts are performed at Sheely Center for the Performing Arts, 2300 Shermer Road in Northbrook. 'Because we play less concerts, we tend to do the classical favorites,' Zikri said. 'I tend to stay away from experimental compositions and contemporary, even though we do offer them because we owe it to our audiences to inform them and perform for them what's happening in the world. I try to do this in reasonable doses.' Board President Greene noted that, for the last two seasons, the orchestra's final program has been focused on a particular event, composer or culture. 'At the end of our 22-23 season, we presented a program called 'The Violins of Hope,'' Greene said. That refers to a collection of stringed instruments played by Jewish musicians before and during World War II. Prior to the concerts, there was a presentation of those instruments in the lobby. 'We had tremendous attendance from people very interested in this unique collection of instruments,' Greene said. 'And, for the concert, some of our musicians played on those instruments. It was a very moving experience for a lot of our concertgoers.' At the end of the 2023-24 season, Greene reported, the Orchestra performed 'Fiesta Mexicana,' a celebration of the music culture of Mexico. The Northbrook Symphony played classical Mexican music, folk band Sones de Mexico Ensemble played Mexican folk music, and there was also a mariachi band and a dancer. Clarinetist Ilya Shterenberg and 55 musicians were scheduled for a June 8 concert of Tchaikovsky's 'Symphony No. 4.' Between 45 and 65 musicians perform at each concert. 'It depends on the repertoire,' Zikri explained. 'The string section composes two-thirds of the orchestra. The other third is split between woodwinds, brass and percussions.' Although the Northbrook Symphony began as a community orchestra, Zikri noted, it is now 100% professional. 'I have personally focused on young professionals,' he added. Principal Cellist Daniel Klingler joined the Northbrook Symphony Orchestra 12 years ago at the request of a previous musical director, Lawrence Rapchak. 'One of the reasons I had a lot of interest in joining the orchestra was they played a little off-the-beaten track repertoire,' Klingler explained. 'Having been a professional freelancer and having played in orchestras for many years, a lot of the repertoire was repeated. I was interested in playing with an orchestra that was playing music that wasn't being played that often.' Although the repertoire has changed to more traditional selections under Conductor Zikri, Klingler enjoys the fact that 'a lot of the members of the orchestra are friends so it has a really comfortable feeling of making music with your friends. And I feel like the Northbrook community has a lot of pride in their orchestra, as I feel they should.' There are currently eight members on the orchestra's board of directors, with two more scheduled to be added shortly. The bylaws of the organization allow a dozen board members. Greene said, 'In years past, when we had a general manager, we just provided broad oversight.' Since the general manager left six or seven years ago and wasn't replaced, 'the board has gotten more involved in operational control of the symphony,' Greene said. That has become 'unwieldy' for the board, Greene said, so they are currently planning to hire a general manager or an executive director. Currently, the board spends a lot of time planning events like the upcoming June 19 gala, since fundraising is one of its vital responsibilities. The board hires an outside person to work on grant-writing with them. 'Grants are an essential part of all fundraising,' Greene said. 'Right now, about 25% of our annual revenue is from ticket sales; the rest is from grants and individual donors.' Tickets to the 6 p.m. June 19 gala at Sunset Ridge Country Club, 2100 Sunset Ridge Rd. in Northfield, are $150. Find details at or 847-272-0755. Myrna Petlicki is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Hamilton Spectator
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Toronto Jazz Fest announces full lineup, with Mavis Staples, Jeff Goldblum and Broken Social Scene slated as headliners
Grab your fedora or your sequinned shirt, because the Toronto Jazz Festival is officially returning to the streets this summer. The 38th annual 10-day event will take place between June 20 and June 29 across various venues and neighbourhoods throughout the city, with both free outdoor performances and ticketed events from a diverse lineup of local and international artists. The 2025 festival will be headlined by legendary R&B and gospel singer Mavis Staples , Toronto indie-rock titans Broken Social Scene and renowned actor Jeff Goldblum , who will perform contemporary arrangements of classic jazz and American Songbook standards alongside the Mildred Snitzer Orchestra. Other notable acts include the experimental jazz drummer Makaya McCraven , Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Arooj Aftab and the world-renowned Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra performing alongside Wynton Marsalis. The poster for the 2025 Toronto Jazz Festival. Music fans will be able to purchase tickets for shows at Massey Hall, Koerner Hall, The Rex Hotel, Hugh's Room Live and Jazz Bistro. Throughout the 10-day event, fans can also check out free performances taking place on stages and sidewalks throughout the Bloor-Yorkville neighbourhood. 'The Toronto Jazz Festival is about more than just music—it's about discovery, community, culture and the incredible creativity thriving in this city,' artistic director Josh Grossman said in a statement. 'From globally celebrated artists to local innovators redefining jazz, this year's lineup reflects the vitality of Toronto's scene and the power of jazz to connect us all.' Jazz Fest is one of the largest festivals in Canada, attracting more than 500,000 attendees annually, according to organizers. Since its inception 37 years ago, the festival has hosted more than 35,000 artists and contributed more than $625 million to the local economy. Last year's Jazz Fest was headlined by André 3000, Lake Street Dive and Hiatus Kaiyote.
