Don't miss your chance to experience three performances of Rodgers and Hammerstein's "A Grand Night for Singing," a timeless musical treasure, at the Anna Arts Center.
The show features nine extraordinarily talented actor/singers -- Sara Barnett (Benton), Brian Caraker (Anna), Braden Downs (Benton), Vanessa Holloway (Carbondale), Jessica Hall (Carbondale), Troy Stickel (Benton), Hillary B. Hines (Anna), Lindsey Stockhecke (Carterville) and Steven Crawford (Benton) -- as well as the very talented pianists Cheryl Herman (Benton) and Tim Barnett (Benton), with drummer Tom Herman (Benton) and woodwinds by Tammy Kirk (Marion).
The director is Brian D. Caraker, of Anna, who is also a member of the Benton area theatre group, Pyramid Players. The elegant costumes, mood lighting and set, coupled with Broadway quality vocalists will surely create an event no one is going to want to miss.
"A Grand Night for Singing" is a musical revue in two acts, which was conceived by Walter Bobbie with music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. It is a collection of songs arranged by Fred Wells that recognizes over 30 years of Rodgers & Hammerstein collaboration.
It opened the 1994 Broadway season, gaining wildly enthusiastic reviews. Rodgers & Hammerstein probably never imagined "Shall We Dance?" as a comic pas de deux for a towering beauty and her diminutive admirer, nor did they suspect that one day a lovelorn young lad might pose the musical question, "How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?" but with innovative musical arrangements including a sultry Andrews Sisters-esque "I'm Gonna Wash That Man Right Out-a My Hair," a swingin' "Honeybun" and a jazzy "Kansas City," this exhilarating revue leaves no question about how terrifically up-to-date the remarkable songs of Rodgers & Hammerstein remain.
Performances are 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, July 27 and 28, and 2 p.m. Sunday, July 29, at the Masters' Performing Arts Center of the Anna Arts Center, 117 W. Davie St., Anna.
For ticket info, visit www.facebook.com/AnnaArtsCenter or email annaartscenter@yahoo.com.
Anna Art Center box office is open 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, 1:30 to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday 1:30 to 5:00, or call the box office at (618) 697-0009 for your $15 ticket.
