Bangor symphony to perform show tunes at MCA

By Debra Hatch

Posted on March 02, 2001, at 12:00 a.m.

The Bangor Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Chris Zimmerman, will bring Broadway to Bangor on Saturday, March 3.

“Broadway Pops” will feature musical selections from Broadway hits “The Phantom of the Opera,” “Les Miserables,” “Porgy and Bess,” “Cats,” “Anything Goes” and “The Secret Garden.” It will also feature Broadway sensations Robert Westenberg, baritone, Craig Schulman, tenor, and soprano Anne Runolfsson set against the backdrop of the Maine Center for the Art’s stage and a full orchestra accompaniment.

This isn’t the first Broadway Pops concert the BSO has brought to Hutchins Concert Hall. In fact there have been several concerts with the last gracing the stage in 1999 and each, according to BSO marketing director Catherine LeClair, have met with huge success.

“People love it because they don’t normally get to see and hear top notch performers here in Maine, unless the MCA brings a show to the area,” LeClair said.

And, LeClair said, it is different for the vocal performers because on Broadway they don’t have the backing of a full orchestra. For pieces like those from “The Phantom of the Opera” and “Les Miserables,” LeClair said it will be far more impacting than it might possibly be on Broadway.

But it is the singers who have an intimate knowledge of the songs they will perform. All three are Broadway veterans who have graced the stages of opera houses, Broadway and off Broadway prosceniums, the silver screen and the television screen.

Schulman has graced Broadway in the title role of “The Phantom of the Opera” and as Jean Valjean in “Les Miserables”-two roles which would normally peak a musical theater actor’s career. Schulman represented the United States in the 10th Anniversary Concert of Les Miserables which is shown often on PBS. In a sea of Valjean’s Schulman stands apart. He has also played the leading roles of Che in “Evita” and Tevye in “Fiddler on the Roof.”

Outside of Broadway, Schulman has performed as Don Jose in the opera Carmen, performed in the operatic version of “The Crucible” and performs for both programs like Broadway Pops and in other opera productions with his program credits spreading from “Madam Butterfly” to “Tosca.” The creator of the Broadway Nights concert series, which Broadway Pops is intimately familiar with, Schulman has also ventured into the world of the Internet and also with a solo show called Craig Schulman in Concert.

Westenberg, another Broadway veteran, has served his time in “Les Miserables” as Valjean’s nemisis Javert, but has also starred in Company, as Dr. Craven in the musical “The Secret Garden” as well as a George in Sunday in the “Park with George.” He has won a Drama Desk Award and a Tony nomination for his portrayal of the Wolf and Prince in “Into the Woods” and a Theatre World award for his portrayal of Niko in “Zorba.” All awards are prestigious in the theater world.

But Westenberg has also made a name for himself off of the stage and on both television and film. Some of his credits include “The Ice Storm,” “Before and After,” “Swift Justice” and “Central Park West.” He has sung on the stage of Carnegie Hall and was part of the recording of several original Broadway cast albums.

Another “Les Miserables” veteran, Runolfsson played the role of Fantine in the First National Tour of the production. She also has played Lily from “The Secret Garden” and the character of Roxane in “Cyrano-The Musical.” Off Broadway, she has played roles around the country including Fanny Brice in “Funny Girl” and Petra in “A Little Night’s Music.” She has also been on the International Recording of “Les Miserables.”

But besides casting on theatrical productions, Runolfsson tours with her one woman shows “Iron Jane” and “Self Help” and has recently released her first CD, “At Sea.”

Moving the program from the traditional to the newer musicals, the show starts off with Cole Porter, George Gershwin and Stephen Soundheim, gradually moving into Andrew Lloyd Webber, Lerner & Loewe and culminating with the “Les Miserables” selections by Claude-Michel Schonberg. After the concert, the BSO says, for only $15 you can attend a champagne reception and sing your own favorite Broadway musical numbers.

Hutchin’s Concert Hall, seats about 1,629 people at full capacity and is the performance home for the Bangor Symphony Orchestra which holds its casual and classical concerts in the hall. It is also in this space that such grand events like last year’s performance of the “War Requiem,” the yearly Christmastime Yuletide Concert and this years May 13 performance of “Carmina Burana,” can be performed and accomodate such a large amount of performers. While Broadway Pops features the BSO orchestra and three performers, the energy is something that LeClair is sure will abound.

Directed by Christopher Zimmerman, the 90 member orchestra also contains faculty members from the University of Maine and the four members of the UMaine graduate string quartet. The orchestra has been active since its conception in 1896.

Tickets are available at the Maine Center for the Arts box office or by calling MCA-TIXX. You can also get tickets from the Bangor Symphony Orchestra’s office in downtown Bangor or by calling 942-5555.

Campus Currents: Bangor Symphony Orchestra