Hersey show choir and guest present the best of the American song book
If you like classic Broadway show tunes, Arlington Heights is the place to be this Saturday.
Musical talent Daniel Narducci of Bloomington, Ind., takes the stage with Arlington Heights' John Hersey High School swing choir to perform a medley of Broadway hits. They will be accompanied by Scot Wooley on the piano.
The show, "Timeless Broadway," will be performed at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, at Forest View Educational Center Theater, 2121 S. Goebbert Road, Arlington Heights.
The show opens with a rendition of "Some Enchanted Evening" from the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic, "South Pacific," followed by timeless songs by Frank Loesser, Cole Porter, Jerry Herman and other contemporaries. The performance takes audiences through a variety of styles and composers.
"It starts with my favorite songs from the Broadway stage," Narducci said. "I think that people that come to hear it are going to be humming a lot of Broadway tunes when they leave the theater."
Narducci, who made his professional debut with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra while a college student in 1989, has performed at summer venues throughout North America, including Ravinia.
He has performed with the Chicago Symphony, Cleveland and Philadelphia Orchestras, and the Boston Pops, and on various stages in New York, Beijing, Shanghai and Singapore.
Narducci and the Hersey choir will perform "Blow, Gabriel, Blow" and "Oklahoma." The choir will also perform a solo number from "Les Miserables."
"I've heard wonderful accolades about how fantastic they are," Narducci said. "I'm really looking forward to meeting these kids and performing with them.
"For the students, I think it's a wonderful opportunity to throw themselves into a professional setting. Whether or not they go on to performing careers, they'll always have experiences like this to hold on to."
"Timeless Broadway" is presented by the Arlington Heights Community Concert Association, a not-for-profit formed in 1946, in partnership with Northwest Suburban High School District 214.
"We're the best kept secret in Arlington Heights," association President Jim Perry said. "Our objective is to be able to bring good, live musical entertainment to the Northwest Suburbs at a low cost. This concert is our kickoff for the 2009-2010 membership season."
The association's roughly 240 members may attend the group's 11 concerts this year for a $60 season pass. Ticket prices are $25 per show for nonmembers, and free for children in kindergarten through 12th-grade.
Advance tickets may be purchased at (847) 718-7702 or ahcommunityconcerts.org.