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Join us for a delightful evening of Broadway cabaret featuring Michael Pizzi, Gay Willis, and Music Director John Fischer
Charter Oak Cultural Center proudly presents An Evening with Oscar and Steve: The Music and Lyrics of Oscar Hammerstein and Stephen Sondheim on Sunday, December 3 at 3pm at Congregation Beth Israel in West Harford.
Their music changed the world and was music that inspired, activated and engaged generations of musical theatre lovers.. Hammerstein was the musical mentor of a young Stephen Sondheim. You will hear songs from West Side Story, Carousel, Company, South Pacific, Sweeney Todd, The King and I and many more. Conceived and directed by Michael Pizzi featuring Michael Pizzi (Anything Goes, Goodpseed’s 1776, North Carolina Theatre’s Peter Pan) and Gay Willis (Broadway’s Show Boat, Phantom of the Opera, Into the Woods), and Music Director John Fischer (Feinstein’s, 54 Below, Lincoln Center).
Tickets: $25 General Admission; $20 for Let*s Go! Card Holders; $18 Senior Citizens; $10 Students. No one turned away for lack of funds.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS:
MICHAEL PIZZI, Conceiver & Vocalist
Michael is the Founder and Artistic/Producing Director of the Sandhills Repertory Theatre, known for its professional musical theatre offerings in the Sandhills! He has created and produced over 15 such productions since coming to the area 4 years ago. His professional theatre credits include 3 productions of 1776, 3 of Man of La Mancha as Sancho, Peter Pan with North Carolina Theatre, Fezziweg in Fords Theatre’s A Christmas Carol, Leporello in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, The Baker in Into the Woods as well as many others. Dr. Pizzi is also the creator of the Special Broadway Camp and The Wellsongs Project for children with special needs and is a licensed occupational therapist in NC.
GAY WILLIS, Vocalist
Gay Willis is an award-winning soprano, who has won critical acclaim when she performed in the world tour of The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber with Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman. She performed to sold out houses in six countries including two weeks at London’s Royal Albert Hall and two weeks at Radio City Music Hall. Her moving performances of the Pie Jesu (Requiem) received rave reviews from critics worldwide. Gay then starred as Christine Daae in The Phantom of the Opera opposite Colm Wilkinson. She also performed at Carnegie Hall in From Galway to Broadway. She completed over 1000 performances as Magnolia in Hal Prince’s production of Show Boat on Broadway, in Chicago, and on tour starring with such legends as Cloris Leachman, Anita Gillette, Elaine Stritch, Dorothy Loudon, Marilyn McCoo, Dick Van Patten, Pat Harrington, John McMartin, and Dean Jones.
JOHN FISCHER, Musical Director
John has been a music director and pianist in NYC for over 20 years. He serves as music director for Broadway stars including Tony winners Ali Stroker and Alice Ripley, Tony nominee Emily Skinner, and many more. He has music directed BROADWAY’S RISING STARS at The Town Hall for 14 years, where he’s also worked on numerous BROADWAY ORIGINALS concerts. He spent 7 seasons as music director for the highly acclaimed musical theatre program at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival in the Berkshires. His last season saw him working hand in hand with Stephen Schwartz and Chet Walker on the creation of a new ballet, The Boy on the Roof. The past few years, John has joined the symphony world as a guest artist with the Santa Ana Symphony Orchestra in Music of the Knights, The Omaha Symphony with Blockbuster Broadway, and the Signature Symphony in Tulsa for a Bernstein/Robbins celebration. In NYC, he is a regular fixture at Feinstein’s/54 Below, music directing everything from Sinatra to Streisand, and is now the MD for the long running series, SONDHEIM UNPLUGGED. Recent highlights include Ali Stroker’s sold out AMERICAN SONGBOOK concert at Lincoln Center, Alice & Emily’s UNATTACHED at 54 Below, and the 25th Anniversary concert of JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, part of the award winning 54 SINGS series for which he also music directed APPLAUSE, MACK & MABEL, and KISS OF THE SPIDERWOMAN. Other NYC credits include pianist for the previous Broadway revival of WEST SIDE STORY, pianist/conductor for TALK OF THE TOWN Bank Street Theatre, TAKE ME ALONG Irish Rep, NAKED BOYS SINGING at New World Stages, and much more. He currently teaches at Applause NY, and has also been on staff at AMDA, HB Studios, The New School, the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute, and the Growing Studio.
Part of Charter Oak Cultural Center’s Celebration of Jewish Arts & Culture.