Stars from "Wicked" to Perform Broadway Hits @ Utah Symphony (SLC: Feb 18 - 19)




FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 7, 2011

CONTACT: Hilarie Ashton
Public Relations Manager, Utah Symphony | Utah Opera
(801) 869-9027, hashton@usuo.org


STARS FROM WICKED TO PERFORM BROADWAY HITS WITH THE UTAH SYMPHONY

SALT LAKE CITY – Noted guest singers Stephanie J. Block and Julia Murney , both having played the role of Elphaba in the hit musical Wicked on Broadway, will join the Utah Symphony and Principal Pops Conductor Jerry Steichen for an evening of musical highlights from the Great White Way.

The performances , Friday February 18 and Saturday February 19 at 8 p.m. in Abravanel Hall, will feature tunes from Wicked, Chicago, Spamalot, Ragtime, Phantom of the Opera and much more.

Tickets for the evening’s performances start at $38 and can be purchased by calling 801-355-ARTS (2787), in person at the Abravanel Hall ticket office, or by visiting www.usuo.org . Students can purchase discounted tickets the day of the performance for $15 upon availability with a valid student ID. Season ticket holders and those desiring group discounts should call 801-533-NOTE (6683). Ticket prices will increase $5 when purchased the day of the performance.

Press photos available at http://www.utahsymphony.org/media.php. (Username: usuoimages, password: media).

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Guest Artist Bios:

Stephanie J. Block has established herself as one of Broadway's most relevant and versatile leading ladies. She recently starred in 9 to 5: The Musical as Judy Bernly earning her a Drama Desk nomination for Best Actress in a Musical. Stephanie has also starred as Elphaba in the Broadway Company of Wicked and recorded her debut solo album, This Place I Know. Other Broadway credits include originating the roles of Grace O’Malley in The Pirate Queen and Liza Minnelli in The Boy From Oz (opposite Hugh Jackman). She also starred in the First Nat'l Touring Company of Wicked as Elphaba for which she won the prestigious Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Actress and the Carbonell Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Ms. Block has sung with numerous symphony orchestras throughout United States. She is a proud member of The Musical Theatre Guild and has been a member of Actors' Equity since 1995.


Julia Murney last appeared on Broadway as Elphaba in Wicked after playing the role on the national tour for which she received an Acclaim Award. Other New York credits include Lennon, Andrew Lippa’s The Wild Party (Drama Desk nomination), The Vagina Monologues, A Class Act, Saved, Crimes of the Heart, First Lady Suite, and Time and Again (Lucille Lortel nomination). She’s been seen regionally all over the United States and in concert she has performed at Joe’s Pub, Feinstein’s, The Kennedy Center, Caramoor, Town Hall and Birdland as well as with Peter Nero and the Philly Pops and Steven Reineke and the Cincinnati Pops. Among her TV credits are 30 Rock, Sex and the City, Ed, NYPD Blue, all three Law and Orders and about a gazillion voiceovers. A Syracuse University graduate, her recordings include the original cast albums of The Wild Party and A Class Act, the Grammy nominated Actor’s Fund Benefit of Hair and her first solo album, I’m Not Waiting which is available on Sh-K-Boom records.

Program:

JULE STYNE Overture to Gypsy

arr. Bennett



GEORGES BIZET Selections from Carmen

Seguidilla, from Suite No. 1

Habanera, from Suite No. 2

Les Toreadors, from Suite No. 1

JOHN KANDER “Introduction” and “All That Jazz” from Chicago

Orch. McKibbins Julia Murney, Stephanie J. Block


ALAN JAY LERNER & “I Could Have Danced All Night” from My Fair Lady

FREDERICK LOEWE Stephanie J. Block



STEPHEN FLAHERTY “Back to Before” from Ragtime

Julia Murney



STEPHEN FLAHERTY “Ragtime” from Ragtime

arr. Reineke



ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER “Think Of Me” from Phantom of the Opera

Arr. Cullen Stephanie J. Block





JOHN KANDER & FRED EBB “Ring Them Bells”

Arr. McKibbins Julia Murney



ENRIQUE GARCIA “Conga”

Arr. Reineke



INTERMISSION



VARIOUS “I Hear a Symphony: Symphonic Sounds of Diana Ross”

Arr. Reineke



PAUL JABARA & “No More Tears” (Enough is Enough)

BRUCE ROBERTS Julia Murney, Stephanie J. Block

Arr. Barton



JAMES HORNER & “My Heart Will Go On” from Titanic

WILL JENNINGS Stephanie J. Block

Arr. Reineke



DU PRUZ/ERIC IDLE “Diva’s Lament” from Spamalot

Arr. T. Firth Julia Murney



HAROLD ARLEN & “Over the Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz

YIP HARBURG

Arr. Henderson/ Lieb



STEPHEN SCHWARTZ “Popular” from Wicked

Arr. Brohn



STEPHEN SCHWARTZ “Defying Gravity” from Wicked

Arr. Fleischer



STEPHEN SCHWARTZ “For Good” from Wicked

Orch. Ziyo Julia Murney, Stephanie J. Block




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Hilarie Ashton
Public Relations Manager
801.869.9027
hashton@usuo.org