Coshocton choirs to present Broadway Showcase
COSHOCTON – Coshocton High School, junior high, and elementary choir students will come together this Sunday, April 23 at 3 p.m. to premier their “Main Street to Broadway” musical extravaganza. For Broadway musical fans, this is the ultimate hit Broadway show experience as students will perform everything from the upbeat and fun music of “Little Shop of Horrors”, “Hairspray”, and “Grease” to the haunting melodies of “Les Miserables” and “The Phantom of the Opera”. Admission is free thanks to area sponsors.
Seventy-five students will take the stage at McKinley Auditorium and perform 17 numbers that will include 20 selections. Some songs will be performed as part of a medley including an “Aladdin” medley, “The Poodle Skirt Medley”, a selection of rock-n-roll musical numbers, and the “Broadway Blockbusters”. Students have been working with dance director and choreographer Richard Earley who received his Bachelor of Arts degree in dance from the University of Akron and Master of Arts degree from the University of Cincinnati, College Conservatory of Music. He has also danced professionally with the Ohio Ballet and Cincinnati Ballet.
The performance will feature two special guests, 3MP and Heath Chaney.
3MP is a registered Sweet Adelines International Quartet which is now in their fourth year singing together. Members include Martha Blowers, Midge Mitchell, Marge Pizzino, and Pat Bennett. They have been traveling with the Coshocton High School Choir since 2014 and are coached by Mike Morris.
Heath Chaney is a 2007 Coshocton High School graduate. He received a BFA in music from Muskingum University and completed instruction at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City. Chaney will be performing, “The Phantom of the Opera” with senior Lauren Babcock.
The show will end with a patriotic salute with songs from George M. Cohan including, “You’re a Grand Olde Flag” and “Yankee Doodle Dandy”.
“We have a number of community volunteers and these people don’t have kids in the program anymore,” said Michael Blowers, high school choir director. “They’re here sometimes into the wee hours of the morning working on stuff. These people really jump in here and make things happen. They just do it. They’re here for the kids.”
Those community volunteers include Shantelle Coffman, Richard Earley, Lila Kaser, Rusty Kaser, Kaitlyn Krebs, Kassidy Logan, Aaron Mencer, Sheldon Mencer, Tammy Mencer, Donna Meyers, Tim Meyers, Teresa Ott, Tim Ott, Marge Pizzino, and Robbin Sees.
After their Broadway showcase premier, students will be traveling to Licking County to give their performance at the prestigious Midland Theater. Mike Morris, who directs the 3MPs, is a member of the Land of Legend Singers who has feature groups from Licking County perform at the theater. This year, they invited the Coshocton choirs to perform at their showcase. They will perform at the Midland Theater on April 29 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 presale or $12 at the door.
The students are also going to New York City this summer to see “Aladdin” on Broadway in Times Square. They will be in New York May 31 – June 2 and are still accepting donations to go. The choir parents will have a fundraiser at the showcase on Sunday to help fund the trip.
Category: Arts & Entertainment
