Find Your Dream

Friday, January 24, 2020

8:00 PM

Steven Reineke, Music Director and Conductor
Laura Michelle Kelly, Guest Artist
Max von Essen, Guest Artist
Essential Voices USA
Judith Clurman, Music Director and Conductor

About the Artists

Laura Michelle Kelly is an Oliver Award-winning actress for her star-making performance as the title role in the world premiere stage production of Disney’s Mary Poppins. Laura’s Broadway/New York credits include the Encores! production of Me and My Girl, Finding Neverland (after premiering the show at the American Repertory Theater- 2015 Elliott Award Nominee), reprising her role in Mary Poppins and the 2004 revival of Fiddler on the Roof.  Laura’s West End credits include My Fair Lady, Speed-the-Plow, Lord of the Rings: The Musical, Beauty and the Beast, Whistle Down the Wind, Peter Pan, Les Misérables, and Mamma Mia!.  Laura’s US Regional credits include the National Tour of Lincoln Center’s revival of The King and I, Austen’s Pride, Cabaret, and – for The MUNY – Matilda, The King and I and South Pacific. Laura’s film credits include “Sweeney Todd” (Lucy/Beggar Woman; dir. Tim Burton) and “Goddess” (2012 Cannes Film Festival). Laura’s album credits include “The Storm Inside” (2006). Laura is the recipient of the Voice of Musical Theatre award. She has held numerous radio, TV, and concert appearances including Albert Hall, Hampton Court Palace, Royal Opera House, Millennium Stadium, Buckingham Palace and has performed for President Obama for the 4th of July celebration and for the nation’s televised event “Broadway at the White House.” www.Lauramichellekelly.net

Max von Essen is a Tony nominated singer and actor best known for his role as Henri Baurel in the award-winning production of An American in Paris on Broadway. He recently finished a year-long run in the Broadway production of Anastasia as Gleb Vaganov and then toured the United States as Marvin in Lincoln Center Theater's revival of Falsettos. Other Broadway credits include Evita, the revivals of Les Misérables and Jesus Christ Superstar, Dance of the Vampires, and the closing company of the original Les Misérables. Additional New York credits include Yours Unfaithfully for the Mint Theater, Death Takes a Holiday for the Roundabout Theatre Company, Jerry Springer: The Opera at Carnegie Hall, Hello Again (Drama League nomination) for The Transport Group, Finian's Rainbow for the Irish Repertory Theatre, The Fantasticks at the Sullivan Street Playhouse, and many others. Tours include Xanadu, Chicago and West Side Story. 

Judith Clurman’s Essential Voices USA (EVUSA) is one of New York’s preeminent choral ensembles. The group performs in many of the city’s iconic venues and events, and records and premieres works by America’s finest composers and lyricists.  Regularly on stage with The New York Pops in its Carnegie Hall subscription series, and televised on NBC’s July 4th Macy’s Fireworks Spectacular in 2014 and the Rockefeller Center Tree Lighting, the ensemble is comprised of a talented roster of seasoned professionals and auditioned volunteers, dynamically fitted to the unique needs of each project. EVUSA participated in the 2013 Presidential Inaugural activities and held a month-long residency at National Public Radio. EVUSA has performed with a diverse and impressive array of artists from the world of opera and musical theater. The group premiered works by composers such as Milton Babbitt, Jason Robert Brown, Jennifer Higdon, Nico Muhly, Stephen Schwartz, and Howard Shore. The Ensemble has recorded for Acis, Sono Luminus and Broadway Records. EVUSA’s Music Director Judith Clurman is an Emmy and Grammy-nominated conductor and educator. She also directs the Symphony Singers, and the Singing Christmas Tree float in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. She has served as Director of Choral Activities at The Juilliard School and has taught at Curtis and Cambridge, as well as Harvard and Princeton Universities. She is currently a member of the musical theater faculty of the Manhattan School of Music and working on a special choral project with the composition department at The Juilliard School. Her arrangements and compositions have been performed by The New York Pops and the Detroit, Boston, Houston, and National Symphonies. Her work has been heard for 23 years, at Carnegie Hall, with numerous orchestras, including the Orchestra of St Luke’s, The New York Pops, the Juilliard Choral Union, and the Boston Symphony Orchestra.