Kauai Voices will present “Broadway, Baby!,” an evening of timeless and cherished songs from Broadway musicals, this January and February in venues across the island.
“This show is going to be different,” said Randy Leonard, artistic director of Kauai Voices. “Stage movement, choreography like you’ve never seen before, with our other ones, because Broadway calls for that.”
It’s going to be high-energy, fast-moving, entertaining.
“We’re going to have a lot of fun. It’s going to be a very active show,” he added.
The choir will kick off its 16th season at the Porter Pavilion at Anaina Hou Community Park in Kilauea, on Saturday, Jan. 19 at 6 p.m., then perform its usual concerts at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Lihue, on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 25 and 26 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Jan. 27 at 3 p.m. Kauai Voices will wrap up its final performance on the Westside with a 3 p.m. matinee on Saturday, Feb. 2 at the Waimea Theatre.
Kauai’s popular, 50-plus-voice, auditioned choral ensemble will perform all-time showstoppers from some 25 musicals such as “Fiddler On The Roof,” “Sunset Boulevard,” “Hello Dolly!” “Phantom of the Opera,” “Wicked,” “Evita” and “Hairspray.”
“It’s a genre everybody is familiar with,” Leonard said.
They are songs that can make you laugh, cry and reflect.
He recounted a story that someone told him, that they don’t like Broadway but love Broadway music because it has such depth of heart and soul and a story to be told.
“It’s very deep and meaningful,” Leonard said.
He pointed to the song, “There’s a Fine, Fine Line,” from “Avenue Q,” as an example of such a song Kauai Voices will perform. It’s about life and relationships, which are not all good and not all bad.
“That’s the fine line. That’s where the difficulty comes in,” he said.
“Those things that we face every day in our lives, people have written that for Broadway, and so that’s why people associated with these songs and these shows. It could be you that they’re singing about and talking about,” Leonard said.
While Jessika Montoya, John Callaway and Tawna Bensaid will be among the soloists, Leonard said the spotlight will fall on every person with Kauai Voices.
“Broadway, Baby!” will be “a night of an amazing roller coaster of emotions and songs, great entertainment,” he said. “Most of all, you’re going to be thrilled by the whole show.”
According to Leonard, the genre of musical theater offers something for everyone, with the power to move people like nothing else.
“Broadway theater transports you to an emotional and powerful place in your heart, mind and soul, as it combines the elements of song, dialogue, acting and dance. There is a passion that is present in musicals which has impacted millions of people, leaving a lasting imprint on our lives,” he said. “Our singers will transport you!”
This one promises to be special.
“Everyone loves a great Broadway musical — and we all love the songs that tell the many stories within these productions. Who can forget such beloved songs as ‘All That Jazz,’ ‘Hello Dolly!’ ‘Beauty and the Beast’ or ‘The Impossible Dream?’” observed Leonard, who noted that the choral powerhouse will also feature individual vocalists singing moving solo selections from various shows.
Kauai Voices produces two seasons of concerts each year. The shows feature a different theme each season, with many different styles and genres of music. The group typically is accompanied by piano, an instrumental ensemble, and also highlights soloists, duets and small vocal groups.
“This season, due to overwhelming demand and attendance at past sell-out concerts, we will expand our performances from three to five shows — offering the additional two concerts on the north and west shores of the island,” Leonard said.
Which, while a good thing, raises another matter: Yet more demand for tickets.
“We may be growing our audiences ever more and having more sell-outs,” Leonard said, laughing.
Tickets for “Broadway, Baby!” are $20 in advance, $25 at the door, and $30 for VIP early seating. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.KauaiVoices.org or call 838-3006.
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Bill Buley, editor-in-chief, can be reached at 245-0457 or bbuley@thegardenisland.com.
