ESO to perform Broadway favorites
Music lovers can celebrate the first weekend of spring with show tunes. The Elgin Symphony Orchestra will perform "Bring on Broadway: Behind the Mask" on Saturday and Sunday, March 22-23, at Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin.
Resident Conductor Stephen Squires and Broadway vocalists Teri Dale Hansen and Nat Chandler will take audiences "Behind the Mask" with "All that Jazz" from "Chicago," "Bring Him Home" from "Les Misérables," and the most popular selections from "Phantom of the Opera," "Wicked," "Jersey Boys," "Cats" and more.
Squires, now in his 24th season with the ESO, received musical training at the Eastman School of Music Preparatory School. A graduate of the Crane School of Music at the State University of New York and California State University, Squires has had a distinguished, 35-year career as a professor of music. Currently, he is a professor of conducting in the Music Conservatory at the Chicago College of Performing Arts, Roosevelt University, and previously served on the artist faculty at the Northern Illinois University School of Music.
In addition to his duties with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, he is the music director of the Mendelssohn Chamber Orchestra, the Millar Brass, the Illinois Brass Band and former music director of the Illinois Chamber Symphony.
Teri Dale Hansen has received international recognition for her crossover abilities as a singing actress. She has sung leading roles with Theatre des Westens, Florida Grand Opera, Toulon Opera and others. Favorite roles include "Susannah" in the opera of the same name under the direction of Carlisle Floyd, "Musetta" in "La Boheme," and "Rose" in "Street Scene." Hansen is a Kennedy Center Irene Ryan Award nominee as a leading actor for her performance in "The Caucasian Chalk Circle," a graduate of Central Michigan University and Florida State University, and is an alumnae of the Houston Opera Studio.
Nat Chandler has enjoyed an exciting career on Broadway, in concert and opera. He starred as Raoul in "The Phantom of the Opera" directed by Hal Prince and toured the U.S. in "The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber." Barrymore Award nominated for his work in the roles of "Phantom" in the Yestin/Kopit "Phantom!" and "Lancelot" in "Camelot," Chandler also received a Kevin Kline nomination for his role as "Miles Gloriosus" in "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum."
The ESO's "Bring on Broadway: Behind the Mask" will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 22 and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, March 23, at the Hemmens Cultural Center. Tickets, start at $25, can be purchased at the ESO box office, (847) 888-4000, or by visiting elginsymphony.org.
After Saturday night performances, the audience is invited to "Mingle with the Musicians" at the local restaurant, Elgin Public House, 219 E. Chicago St.