Broadway and Hollywood combine for a romantic and entertaining evening of song and dance inspired by the likes of Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Gene Kelly, and Eleanor Powell. With hit tunes like They Can’t Take That Away from Me and Let’s Face the Music and Dance to Singin’ in the Rain and Begin the Beguine, this evening will put a smile on your face and a spring in your step.

Join us after the concert for a Musician’s Nightcap!

Hosted by BPO double bassist Jonathan Borden, this informal gathering on the lower level of Kleinhans brings patrons, orchestra musicians, and guest artists together for lively conversation. We’re excited to welcome Saturday evening’s guest artists, Joan Hess and Kirby Ward, to the conversation! Enjoy light refreshments as you connect and continue the evening’s experience. This post-concert event is free and open to all ticketholders.

Program

Bradley Thachuk, conductor
Joan Hess, vocalist
Kirby Ward, vocalist

Overture to Girl Crazy
I Won’t Dance
Fascinating Rhythm
Old Devil Moon
The Song is You
Music from Guys and Dolls
Cheek to Cheek
Sing, Sing, Sing
Chattanooga Choo-Choo
In the Mood

INTERMISSION

“All That Jazz” from Chicago
I Could Have Danced All Night
Shall We Dance?
I Love a Piano
Overture to West Side Story
Singing in the Rain
Blues in the Night
Begin the Beguine
I Got Rhythm

About Joan Hess

Joan Hess most recently played the role of the wealthy and hilarious Tanya in her fifth Broadway show, Mamma Mia. She was also seen as Jessica (the “Leggy Blonde”) in HBO’s award-winning comedy series, Flight of the Conchords. She recently had the great honor of working with television’s iconic director Jay Sandrich (Mary Tyler Moore, Bob Newhart, Get Smart, Cosby Show) when she played Doris in Same Time, Next Year (Best Actress nomination) and Jennie in Neil Simon’s semi-autobiographical play, Chapter Two. Prior to that, she had the great fortune of playing the plum role of Billie Dawn in Garson Kanin’s classic play, Born Yesterday. Ms. Hess was also featured on Broadway as Patsy in Crazy for You, as Edie and Hattie in Kiss Me Kate, as Sophia in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, where she understudied the lead roles of Christine and Muriel, and as Bridgette in Bells are Ringing, where she understudied Faith Prince in the lead role. She appeared at Lincoln Center in the lead role in Dessa Rose, the powerful Lynn Ahrens/Stephen Flaherty piece directed by 10-time Tony Award nominee, Graciela Daniele. She appeared as Betty in the first national tour of Sunset Boulevard, Polly in the first national tour of Crazy for You, and she toured the country with 42nd Street and Beehive.

Theater audiences and critics alike lauded her performance in the title role in Gypsy (Best Actress nomination) at the Repertory Theatre of St. Louis and Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, and as Picasso’s first love, Fernande Olivier, in the world premier of La Vie en Bleu at Philadelphia’s Walnut Street Theater. She also received a Best Actress nomination as Ann in The 1940’s Radio Hour. She played the lead role of Maddy in the Australian import Hot Shoe Shuffle, Lilly McBain in Swingtime Canteen, Irene Molloy in Hello Dolly with Avery Schreiber, Peggy in The Taffetas, Irene in Crazy for You, Grace in Annie, and Rona in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.

Other regional appearances include Grand Hotel, Closer than Ever, Sweet Charity, and the lead role in the world premiere of Noel Coward and Jeffry Hatcher’s Bon Voyage at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, among others. Her non-musical regional performances include the plays Steel Magnolias, Six Characters in Search of an Author, The Dining Room, Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale in the lead role of Queen Hermione, and The 39 Steps(Annabella/Margaret/Pamela), which she also assistant directed and choreographed.

Ms. Hess was featured in PBS’ Great Performances series in My Favorite Broadway: The Love Songs, hosted by Julie Andrews. She has performed with numerous orchestras around the world, from the Houston, Atlanta, North Carolina and Detroit symphonies to the Philly Pops and the Hong Kong Philharmonic. In 2002, she had the privilege of singing for the World Economic Forum following Mayor Bloomberg’s address.

Ms. Hess served as script supervisor on the independent short film entitled Down in the Mouth. She also hosted and produced live TV for three seasons, acted in over 30 commercials, and modeled for many years. She is a Colorado native and is married to actor and powerhouse tenor, David Hess, with whom she toured South Africa, England, and Italy for the Travel Channel’s Fantasy Rails for Millionaires.

About Kirby Ward

The quintessential song and dance man, Kirby Ward has entertained the world over, performing for queens, presidents, first ladies and dignitaries on nearly every continent on the globe. Born a California boy, he’s lived and played in Los Angeles, New York, London, China, Australia, Europe, Japan, and now makes his home in Connecticut while continuing to travel the world as an actor, writer, director and choreographer.

When cast as Bobby Child in the London production of Crazy for You, Kirby packed up his family and moved the whole bunch to Kensington for a year. His portrayal of the lead character in this West End premiere netted him an Olivier Award nomination, as well as the honor of meeting and performing for the royal family on the Queen Mum’s birthday. You can hear him on the original London cast album for First Night Records.

As an actor he has run the gamut of song and dance roles, playing every “Billy” or “Bobby” from My One and Only to 42nd Street,and a couple of “Dons” and “Toms” thrown in to mix things up (Singin’ in the Rain and No No Nanette). Departing from the song and dance motif has led Kirby into such roles as King Herod in Jesus Christ Superstar, Arnolphe in School For Wives, Vernon in They’re Playin’ Our Song, and even a stint as Che in Evita.

New York area audiences have seen Kirby’s work on Broadway in Hal Prince’s Show Boat! (Frank Schultz), Woman of the Year at the Palace, Never Gonna Dance at the Broadhurst, and in the off-Broadway revival cast of Cocoanuts (Harvey) and in Company (David). His direction and choreography in the metro area for Dames at Sea, The Jazz Singer, and Grease were all critically acclaimed. On television he has appeared on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, General Hospital, The Tonight Show, and numerous commercials. Film appearances include For the Boys, Pennies from Heaven, and S.O.B. Kirby was honored to portray Bob Hope at the Library of Congress’ celebration for Mr. Hope’s hundredth birthday, an event hosted by Dick Cavett.

In Los Angeles, Kirby choreographed portions of Debbie Reynolds’ and Donald O’Connor’s Las Vegas acts, appearing in both for a number of years as a singer and dancer, and trained Bette Midler and James Caan in song and dance technique for the 20th Century Fox film, For The Boys. He rounds out his contribution to the entertainment field by writing for television for Hanna Barbera Studios and the regional stage as one of the creators of the musical, The Gypsy King at the Village Theatre in Ithaca, WA. Recently, his original short film Down in the Mouth was awarded Best Short Film at the Kent Film Festival in Kent, CT.

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