The Masterworks Chorale and Children’s Chorus will present “Give My Regards to Broadway” on Saturday, April 30 at 7:30 p.m. and again on Sunday, May 1 at 2:30 pm in the historic Lindenwood University Auditorium (formerly Belleville West High School) in Belleville. This annual pops concert has been a favorite with audiences since 1983.
Masterworks Chorale, a 45-voice adult vocal ensemble in their 31st concert season under the direction of founder Dr. A. Dennis Sparger, will open the program with a set of songs from popular musicals including Lerner and Loewe’s My Fair Lady, Marvin Hamlisch’s They’re Playing Our Song and Frank Loesser’s Guys and Dolls. The chorale will also honor the prolific composer Harold Arlen on the centennial of his birth by performing some of his compositions including: “Stormy Weather” and “One for My Baby”.
The 80-voice Masterworks Children’s Chorus will then take the stage to perform selections from Rodger and Hammerstein’s The Sound of Music. Members of Firstchoir (grades 1-3) and Upperchoir (grades 4-6), conducted by Nancy Anderson, and Concert Choir (grades 7-12), conducted by Dr. Joel D. Knapp, will be dressed as characters from this popular and moving musical and movie.
The Chorale will open the second half with selections from the new musical Wicked. This “Untold Story of the Witches of Oz”, features music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin, Academy Award winner for Pocahontas and The Prince of Egypt). “Long before Dorothy dropped in, two other girls meet in the Land of Oz. One, born with emerald-green skin, is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. How these two unlikely friends end up as the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch makes for the most spellbinding new musical in years.”
As always, it’s wise to have a ticket in advance to avoid standing in line and to be assured of a good seat. Season members enjoy reserved seating for Masterworks concerts.
Advance tickets prices are $15.00 and may be purchased from all chorale members or by calling (618) 236-0182. In addition, tickets are available at the Lindenwood Office, 2600 West Main St, Belleville, (618) 222-1050; Broadway Center of Arts, 124 East Main, Belleville, (618) 233-0431; The Vineyard, 6500 West Main, Belleville, (618) 394-2050; or The Basket Case, 1680 Lebanon Ave., (618) 233-0290. Tickets will also be sold at the door for $18.00. Student tickets are always $5.00. For more information about Masterworks Chorale, go to www.singmasterworks.org.
