Johnson County Community College
Press Release
College Information and Publications
913-469-8500
Julie Haas, Director, ext. 3120
Peggy Graham, Writer, ext. 3425
Tyler Cundith, Sports Information Director, ext. 3122
10/04/05
Story by Peggy Graham
Broadway Comes to the Carlsen Center
Broadway: The Star-Spangled Celebration is a glittering salute to Broadway’s greatest musicals. For the price of one ticket, you can see highlights of 12 favorite shows in one performance – without flying to New York. Broadway: The Star-Spangled Celebration, a revue of nearly 50 musical arrangements, pays tribute to the American musical at 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, Nov. 18-19, in Yardley Hall, Johnson County Community College. Paul Laird, musicologist at the University of Kansas, will present the Artists Insights at 7 p.m.
A cast of 25 dancers and singers from London’s West End perform musical arrangements from Broadway’s famous shows – Crazy for You, Hello Dolly, Oklahoma, Cabaret, Mamma Mia, Rocky Horror Show, Grease, Copacabana, Chicago, 42nd Street, Chorus Line and My Fair Lady. The dazzling cast lights up the stage with gorgeous costumes, show-stopping choreography and theatrical lighting.
Ironically, Broadway: The Star-Spangled Banner originated in London. David King produced the extravaganza with an eye toward Broadway’s diversity and history during the 20th century.
Crazy For You, for example, exploded onto the Schubert Theater on Feb. 19, 1992, taking four songs from the 1930 musical Girl Crazy, written by George and Ira Gershwin – I Got Rhythm, Could You Use Me?, Bidin’ My Time, But Not for Me. The story changed in the updated version, but the 1992 version went on to win a Tony Award for best musical. Hello Dolly made its debut in 1964. Ethel Merman rejected the starring role and Carol Channing was chosen instead. The rest, as they say, is musical-theater history. Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma forever changed the American musical, making it “folk opera.” Performances from these classics are juxtaposed to more recent ones from the cult quirky rock musical, Rocky Horror Show, and the new hit, Abba-infused Mamma Mia.
Insights into these shows’ openings, early reviews, composers and stars, provided during Broadway: The Star-Spangled Musical, enhance the audience’s enjoyment. But the music, lyrics and choreography are front and center stage. Songs, dances, sets and costumes change fast, frequently and energetically. Broadway is the legendary street of music and stars, and Broadway: The Star-Spangled Banner can take us there.
Tickets are $40 and $32, available by calling the Carlsen Center box office, 913-469-4445, or online at www.jccc.edu/CarlsenCenter.
