The Rose Rhapsody

In this episode: “Letters Live at The Rose” - the intimate correspondence between John and Abigail Adams as Independence Day and America’s deliverance from British tyranny approaches.  Featuring performances by acclaimed DC actor, Chris Stezin and The Rose Artistic Director, Leslie Kobylinski, alongside signature musical renditions of George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue,” performed by Chicago jazz trumpeter Markus Rutz and his collaborator on the keys, Adrian Ruiz.  

Amusingly tall animal tales and adventures written by acclaimed vocal artist Christopher Lane, award-winning actor Rick Foucheux and legendary playwright Eugene O’Neill. This episode also features Latin-flavored musical vignettes inspired by George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue,” performed by Chicago jazz trumpeter Markus Rutz, alongside his collaborator on the keys, Adrian Ruiz, plus Brazilian percussionist Heitor Garcia and The Markus Rutz Band.  

From “A Christmas Carol” (1843) by Charles Dickens, Ebenezer Scrooge and The Ghost of Christmas Past visit Scrooge’s former workplace at Mr. Fezziwigs on Christmas Eve. Seeing the bright face of his former self and Fezziwig’s generous nature, Scrooge reflects on the value of generosity. This episode features the story-telling artistry of Christopher Lane, alongside the traditional carols “Soul Cake,” “The Wassail Song,” “All Through the Night,” and “In the Bleak Midwinter,” delightfully performed and arranged by The Rose’s in-house musical group, The Gamut.  Recorded in 2023.

Hear your favorite holiday songs in this special Rose Classic edition featuring The Markus Rutz Jazz Trio, recorded in 2021.

A majestic old oak contemplates the cycle of life in this poignant fairytale by Hans Christian Andersen, featuring the vocal artistry of Helen Hayes award-winning actor Rick Foucheux, alongside the signature sounds of Chicago trumpeter, Markus Rutz and his collaborator at the keys, pianist Adrian Ruiz.

A tribute to award-winning journalist, war correspondent, published poet and The Rose Poet Laureate, Tom Squitieri. A writer and journalist for over 30 years, Tom had been on all seven continents and more than two thirds of the nations on earth. Featured in this episode is one of the last pieces he wrote before his untimely death on September 1, 2024, alongside the vocal artistry of Christopher Lane and the musical composition “Burgundy Trees - A Waltz for Tom,” written, composed and performed by Richard C. Washer.  

When Roger Havering requests the services of Hercule Poirot, who is ill in bed with the flu, to investigate the murder of his uncle at his hunting lodge in Derbyshire, the great Belgian detective must turn to Captain Hastings to be his “eyes and ears” to solve the puzzling case.  The fourth short story from Agatha Christie’s collection Poirot Investigates “The Mystery of Hunter’s Lodge” features acclaimed DC actor and vocal artist David Bryan Jackson, with musical renditions of Irving Berlin’s classic “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” by jazz trumpeter Markus Rutz and his musical collaborator on the keys, Adrian Ruiz.  

Transformative prose swirls around the meaning of life and loss from playwright, poet and composer, Richard C. Washer. Featured performances include: the vocal artistry of Ray Ficca, David Bryan Jackson, Christopher Lane plus the lyrically infused new title track “Threads Unsewn” composed, and sung by Richard C. Washer along with his musical group The Gamut.

“A Message to Garcia” is a widely distributed essay written by Elbert Hubbard in 1899, extolling the value of individual initiative and conscientiousness in work as seen through the example of an American soldier delivering a crucial letter from President McKinley to the leader of Cuban insurgents “somewhere in the mountain vastnesses of Cuba.”  Although not without controversy and historical inaccuracies, the essay continues to be a popular missive on leadership and dedication in the face of adversity.  Performances featured in this episode include the vocal artistry of Christopher Lane and the iconic trumpet sounds of Markus Rutz alongside his collaborator on the keys, Adrian Ruiz.

Captain Hastings meets a couple at a party who have just rented a flat in London’s most fashionable district for an implausibly cheap price. Poirot is intrigued and sets out to investigate. The third short story from Agatha Christie’s collection Poirot Investigates “The Adventure of the Cheap Flat” features acclaimed DC actor and vocal artist, David Bryan Jackson, with musical renditions of Irving Berlin’s classic “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” performed by jazz trumpeter Markus Rutz and his musical collaborator on the keys, Adrian Ruiz.