Classic Broadway

The Sun City Chorus & Orchestra is set to perform its spring show, “Classic Broadway,” at Sun City’s Magnolia Hall on May 7 and 8 at 7 p.m., and May 9 and 10 at 2:30 p.m.

From a fun arrangement of Cole Porter’s “Another Op’nin, Another Show” to dramatic selections from “Wicked” and “Les Miserables,” “Classic Broadway” presents a gamut of musical styles, stories and emotions performed by a chorus of more than 70 mixed voices and a full, professional orchestra.

Steve Musselman, SCCO president, said, “I am amazed at the complexity to mount these programs. I am appreciative of our member volunteers who also do the committee work behind the scenes, and of course our artistic director, Art Hansen, and assistant director, Lorraine Hansen; it takes a village. Of course, we are most appreciative of our audiences. We had record attendance this past holiday season and expect to grow even more audience members with our second added matinee. We can’t wait!”

Who doesn’t love Broadway musicals? Musical directors Art and Lorraine Hansen have selected some of the best. While featuring audience favorites primarily from musicals of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, such as “Applause,” “Bye Bye Birdie,” “Annie,” “Spamalot” and “My Fair Lady,” the program also includes older iconic tunes as well as numbers from newer musicals such as “Hairspray,” “The Producers,” “Avenue Q,” “Wicked” and “Les Miserables.”

Art Hansen explained that he shapes the program with a balance of lighter and darker selections to keep the audience and performers engaged.

“I really just shape the whole program around that idea, so I put ‘Hairspray’ just before the end of the first act, and the more dramatic pieces from ‘Les Mis’ at the end of the program,” he said. He added, “Most theatrical pieces are the Romeo and Juliet story told in a different way. Whether it’s ‘Annie,’ ‘Bye Bye Birdie,’ or ‘Wizard of Oz,’ it’s all a woman falls in love with a man, a man falls in love with a woman, one loses the other until the end when they get back together.”

Musicals tend to tell stories of love, romance, loss and gain that focus on funny, happy, challenging and complex human relationships.

In addition to the chorus numbers, the SCCO Orchestra will perform “Salute to Richard Rodgers,” arranged by John Moss, and “Curtain Up!,” arranged by Bob Krogstad.

Sun City Hilton Head residents and others in the community are invited to celebrate Mother’s Day weekend with this “Classic Broadway” concert.
Tickets, $28, are available online at www.SCHHChorus.org, by phone at 843-941-9729, by email at suncitytix@gmail.com, or at the Magnolia Hall box office on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9 to 11 a.m.