Every three years, State Farm Insurance holds their national convention for more than 60,000 agents from across the country.
Todd music directed and performed at four successive conventions for the “State Farm Remarkable Talent Show.” Typically featuring about 16 performers per wave ( there are three to four waves) it is performed at the beginning of the national convention. The show, produced by Stacey Johnson (former casting director for Walt Disney World), features the State Farm Agents from all the different regions across America.
Sam Harris published in 2014 “Ham: Slices of a Life: Essays and Stories”, a collection of stories and essays published in on everything from growing up in Bible Belt Oklahoma to show biz, celebrity, and his family life as a husband and father. He then fashioned a hilarious and poignant one-man show of the same title, which has toured in major cities throughout the country with Todd serving as its music director.
Producers Susan Dietz & Elaine Krauss and Todd then collaborated with Sam Harris to create the new off-Broadway show “HAM: A Musical Memoir” which premiered in January 2015 at Theater 511 at Ars Nova in NYC. This production starring Sam featured Todd as music director and performer, and was directed by Billy Porter (best known now as the star of “Kinky Boots”). Todd also wrote three new songs featured in the show including the anthem “Broken Wing”.
Todd has served as musical director for Ariana.
www.arianasavalas.com
On September 11 and 12, 2001 for the first time in its 15 year run, The Oprah Winfrey Show – broadcast daily in 134 countries - was cancelled. Shortly thereafter Oprah resumed live broadcasts and on September 20, hosting the episode “Music to Heal our Hearts”, for which she personally invited Sam Harris to perform. Todd served as music director and accompanied Sam who performed a stirring “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” Both Todd and Sam had the remarkable honor to accompany Oprah back to Los Angeles immediately after the show, and gathered on her jet to view the show they had performed earlier that day.
Todd served as music director for the annual fundraiser event “A Broadway Songbook” to benefit Camp Bravo, working with luminaries from Broadway, film, and television, who performed in the event.
Camp Bravo is a summer performing arts camp taught by entertainment industry professions designed to provide young people, ages 10-18, interested in the performing arts with a beautiful outdoor setting and a safe non-competitive environment in which to immerse themselves in the thrill of performing. Todd also served as a guest instructor for the Camp Bravo Drama Teacher’s summer program intensive in which teachers from around the country participate gaining practical tools to bring back to the classroom.
In the spring of 2015, Todd collaborated with Jason Alexander to create, arrange and debut Jason’s newest show called “Other People’s Stories “.
The show features Jason performing as many different characters with Todd not only playing piano and music directing but playing the comrade and Jason’s dance partner in some of the numbers. The show was an instant hit at its Los Angeles premiere, and based on its audience appeal, they are planning on touring the show in performing arts centers around the country.
After Sam Harris found his fame on the television show Star Search, he began to perform around the world. Todd met Sam in 1992 and they instantly became musical soulmates. Sam stated “I want you to music direct for me for the rest of my life”. Since that fateful day, they have performed together around the world including Carnegie Hall, the White House and on the Oprah Winfrey Show.
Todd has produced on Sam’s last four albums: “Revival", "On This Night", “Always" and “Free" and Todd co-wrote the marriage equality anthem “My Reclamation” recorded by Sam. Currently, Todd is working with Sam on the new off-Broadway show “Ham” written by Sam and starring Sam and Todd. They continue to tour showing the world that indeed they are musical soulmates.
