Alan Crofoot
Encyclopedia
Alan Crofoot was a Canadian
operatic Heldentenor and character tenor
specialist, as well as actor
, who is best remembered as the host of Mr Piper
, a children's television series made in 1963. It was originally shown by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
, and also became well-known in the United Kingdom
. Crofoot hosted the show dressed as a Pied Piper, with a flower in his hat.
Crofoot was born in Toronto
, Canada. He appeared in stage productions of musicals such as Man of La Mancha, in London's West End, and Oliver! on Broadway
.
His operatic career began at the Canadian Opera, as Spoletta in Tosca, in 1956, and included creating the role of Josiah Creach in the world premiere of Carlisle Floyd
's Markheim, with Norman Treigle
and Audrey Schuh
, in New Orleans (1966), as well as appearances at the New York City Opera
(Herod in Salome, opposite Maralin Niska
, in 1975) and the Metropolitan Opera
(The Bartered Bride, directed by John Dexter
, in 1978). He also appeared in musical-comedy, including Oliver!
, at Winnipeg's Rainbow Stage
.
He committed suicide in Dayton, Ohio
, at the age of forty-nine, while preparing a production of Salome.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
operatic Heldentenor and character tenor
Tenor
The tenor is a type of male singing voice and is the highest male voice within the modal register. The typical tenor voice lies between C3, the C one octave below middle C, to the A above middle C in choral music, and up to high C in solo work. The low extreme for tenors is roughly B2...
specialist, as well as actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, who is best remembered as the host of Mr Piper
Mr Piper
Mr Piper was a Canadian children's TV series made in 1963. The series was created by Martin Andrews and Allan Wargon, who was also the producer.The show's host was a large Canadian opera tenor Alan Crofoot, dressed as a Pied Piper with a flower in his hat...
, a children's television series made in 1963. It was originally shown by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
, and also became well-known in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Crofoot hosted the show dressed as a Pied Piper, with a flower in his hat.
Crofoot was born in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada. He appeared in stage productions of musicals such as Man of La Mancha, in London's West End, and Oliver! on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
.
His operatic career began at the Canadian Opera, as Spoletta in Tosca, in 1956, and included creating the role of Josiah Creach in the world premiere of Carlisle Floyd
Carlisle Floyd
Carlisle Floyd is an American opera composer. The son of a Methodist minister, he based many of his works on themes from the South...
's Markheim, with Norman Treigle
Norman Treigle
Norman Treigle was an American operatic bass-baritone, who was acclaimed for his great abilities as a singing-actor, and specialized in roles that evoked villainy and terror....
and Audrey Schuh
Audrey Schuh
Audrey Schuh was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on , and studied both music and medical technology at Loyola University of the South, where she studied with Dorothy Hulse, who was also the pedagogue of Harry Theyard and Charles Anthony...
, in New Orleans (1966), as well as appearances at the New York City Opera
New York City Opera
The New York City Opera is an American opera company located in New York City.The company, called "the people's opera" by New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia, was founded in 1943 with the aim of making opera financially accessible to a wide audience, producing an innovative choice of repertory, and...
(Herod in Salome, opposite Maralin Niska
Maralin Niska
Maralin Niska is an acclaimed operatic soprano, well known as a singing-actress.Born in San Pedro, California, Niska studied under Louise Mansfield, Lotte Lehmann, and primarily Ernest St. John Metz...
, in 1975) and the Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
(The Bartered Bride, directed by John Dexter
John Dexter
John Dexter was an English theatre, opera, and film director.- Theatre :Born in Derby, England, Dexter left school at the age of fourteen to serve in the British army during World War II. Following the war, he began working as a stage actor before turning to producing and directing shows for...
, in 1978). He also appeared in musical-comedy, including Oliver!
Oliver!
Oliver! is a British musical, with script, music and lyrics by Lionel Bart. The musical is based upon the novel Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens....
, at Winnipeg's Rainbow Stage
Rainbow Stage
Rainbow Stage is Canada's longest-surviving outdoor theatre, located in the natural setting of Kildonan Park in north Winnipeg, Manitoba.-History:It opened 7 July 1954 presenting operettas and musicals using local performers...
.
He committed suicide in Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
, at the age of forty-nine, while preparing a production of Salome.
Discography
- Offenbach: Orphée aux enfers (Faris, 1960) EMIEMIThe EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
- Floyd: Markheim (Schuh, Treigle; Andersson, 1966) VAI [live]
- Strauss: Elektra (Borkh, Schuh, Resnik, Rayson; Andersson, 1966) VAI [live]
Videography
- Smetana: The Bartered Bride (Stratas, Gedda, Vickers, Talvela; Levine, Dexter, 1978) [live]