West Michigan Symphony May Concert to Feature The 3 Broadway Divas

MUSKEGON, MI, April 27, 2013 (Press-News.org) The West Michigan Symphony will welcome three of Broadway's most talented divas to the stage on May 10 and 11 for a concert that will feature music from some of the most beloved Broadway shows.

Jan Horvath was Christine in the original "Phantom of the Opera."  Debbie Gravitte won a Tony Award for Jerome Robbins' "Broadway." Christiane Noll originated the role of Emma in "Jekyll & Hyde."  Together, they will sing Broadway standards from the pens of Marvin Hamlisch, Stephen Sondheim, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Jerry Herman, Leonard Bernstein, Jule Styne and Frederick Lerner and Alan Loewe.

Horvath, Gravitte and Noll will dazzle in their performances of the music from
Jule Styne's "Gypsy" and "Funny Girl"
Cy Coleman's "Sweet Charity"
Marvin Hamlisch's "Chorus Line"
Leonard Bernstein's "Candide" and "West Side Story"
Jerry Herman's "Mame"
Andersson/Ulvaeus' "Mamma Mia"
Lerner & Loewes' "My Fair Lady"
Andrew Lloyd Weber's "Evita"
Stephen Schwartz's "Wicked"
Frank Wildhorn's "Jekyll & Hyde"

More information about the program and the soloists is available online at the Symphony's website. Both concerts will be held in the majestic Frauenthal Center for Performing Arts in downtown Muskegon at 7:30 p.m.

"The West Michigan Symphony audience has shown a great appreciation for our pops concerts," said West Michigan Symphony Music Director Scott Speck. "We have had huge successes with 'Oh What a Night' in 2011 and 'I the 80s' in 2012. 'The 3 Broadway Divas' might just beat them all.

"Jan, Debbie and Christiane are among the most entertaining Broadway performers I have ever met, and together they are a knockout. They have gorgeous voices and are hilariously entertaining. They will transport the audience to New York for a night in a program that is sure to please every Broadway fan."

Horvath is a veteran of five Broadway shows including the original company of "The Phantom of the Opera," where she played Christine and Carlotta, "The Threepenny Opera," starring Sting, "Sweet Charity" directed by Bob Fosse, and the revival of "Oliver!" In addition to her Broadway credits, Horvath sang the leading role of Grizabella in the National Touring Company of "Cats."

Noll is a Helen Hayes Award winner and Tony Award and Drama Desk Award nominee who has performed on Broadway in "Ragtime" and "Jekyll & Hyde." She has performed on tour in "Urinetown," "The Witches of Eastwick," "Grease," "Miss Saigon," "City of Angels" and "South Pacific." She has also performed at the Kennedy Center, the Hollywood Bowl and Carnegie Hall. Noll has made appearances worldwide and has released four solo CDs.

Tony Award-winning actress Gravitte has also been recognized with a Drama Desk Award and A Showstopper Award. Her Broadway debut in the original cast of "They're Playing Our Song" led to appearances in "Perfectly Frank," "Blues in the Night," "Ain't Broadway Grand," "Zorba," "Chicago" and "Les Miserables." Gravitte has acted on television, released three solo CDs and lent her voice to Disney's "The Little Mermaid."

Single tickets for this concert are $18, $23, $38 and $48 and may be purchased online at http://www.westmichigansymphony.org; in person at the West Michigan Symphony Ticket Office, Suite 409 (4th floor) in the Frauenthal Center for the Performing Arts, 425 W. Western Ave., Muskegon; or by calling 231.726.3231. Student tickets are $10 for this concert but are not available online. College students must present a valid ID when they purchase tickets.

About West Michigan Symphony
As one of the few professional regional orchestras in Michigan, West Michigan Symphony has played a leading role in the region's cultural community for nearly 75 years. Founded as the West Shore Symphony Orchestra, WMS now serves a regional audience with eight pairs of concerts annually, along with dozens of educational and outreach activities for children and adults. WMS oversees operations for the West Michigan Youth Symphony. For more information, visit http://www.westmichigansymphony.org.