Minutes after 4 p.m. Saturday, Richard and Demi Weitz sat next to each other facing the same computer screen as they readied, for a tenth time, to co-host “Quarantunes,” their pandemic Zoom concert series. The series started two months ago as a way to celebrate Demi’s 17th birthday with a little music and some industry friends but Richard, a partner at WME, soon realized his Rolodex could serve a new purpose during unprecedented times.
He asked performers — singers, songwriters, musicians, Broadway stars and so on — to join the events from wherever they were in the world and do a song or three for an invite-only audience. Over the course of nine shows, $2.6 million has been raised for a roster of nonprofits in need during the COVID-19 crisis. More than 100 artists said yes to join the series, including John Legend, Sting, Barry Manilow and John Mayer, while a long list of Hollywood stars, studio chiefs, insiders and creatives looked on from their respective homes.
Richard promised Saturday’s show would be something special for Memorial Day weekend, but details were scant as they never reveal a lineup in advance. Part of the fun is tuning into see who pops up in the Zoom box and what song they will perform during events that always take on a distinct energy. One night it was R&B hits, with another afternoon Broadway, and another was all-out nostalgia. The audience count was 800 and climbing as they were about to kick off the show but Demi said a technical glitch was causing a slight delay. The issue, it seemed, was the usual backdrop — their home kitchen complete with a refrigerator and some cabinets — looked slightly fuzzy, almost like a virtual image rather than the real thing. It was.
Before the big reveal, Richard threw it to John Williams, the legendary composer, by saying, “We all need the force to be with us right now.” A taped segment appeared first showing Williams conducting at the Hollywood Bowl and then at home in front of his piano where he played “The Imperial March (Darth Vader’s Theme)” from the Star Wars franchise.
Williams said: “Many of you might know that I’ve conducted at the Bowl for 40 years and I’m very sad that we won’t have concerts this year because of the COVID-19 virus but I look forward, with you, to next year 2021 when the Los Angeles Philharmonic and our beloved conductor, Gustavo Dudamel, will again have fabulous concerts and a lot of fun with great evenings at The Hollywood Bowl. I will be there next year also so be sure to bring your light sabers with you. Meanwhile, stay safe and well and be sure the force will be with you also.”
The Hollywood Bowl announced May 13 that it was forced to cancel its entire season due to coronavirus and days later, headlines reported layoffs and furloughs as a result of the first ever cancelation in nearly 100-year history. “The Hollywood Bowl is a staple for Los Angeles and it’s unbelievable that they’re closed for the first summer in 98 years,” Demi said next before she revealed the big news while dressed in a Star Wars tee promoting a Hollywood Bowl live concert event. “I would like to announce that, as you can tell our background is a little wonky, so let me take this away and say, we are at the Hollywood Bowl!”
(Excerpt) Read more in: The Hollywood Reporter