Renowned soprano Lisa Vroman and Brian Lynch perform with DSO

North Central College’s fine arts department and the DuPage Symphony Orchestra are cosponsoring two “Broadway Spectacular” concerts March 15-16 in Wentz Concert Hall, featuring vocal performances and music from Broadway classics.  

The featured vocalist is internationally renowned soprano Lisa Vroman. One of America’s most versatile voices—from Broadway to classics, on stage and in concert—she also will perform two songs with North Central’s Fine Arts Director Brian Lynch.

Vroman starred for several years on Broadway as Christine in “The Phantom of the Opera” and was the first to perform both Fantine and Cosette in “Les Misérables.” She performed with Lynch in his starring role of Jean Valjean and the two actors became good friends—a friendship that’s lasted over the years and resulted in Vroman performing at the Wentz.

Lynch and Vroman will perform “All I Ask of You” from “The Phantom of the Opera” and “Wunderbar” from “Kiss Me, Kate.”  

“She has a phenomenal career to this day,” says Lynch, “and is still very down to earth and a joy to be around.” Her other starring roles have included Lili Vanessi in “Kiss Me, Kate,” Marian Paroo in “The Music Man,” Rosalinda in “Die Fledermaus” and Rosabella in “The Most Happy Fella.” She also starred as Johanna in “Sweeney Todd,” a 2001 Emmy Award-winning PBS television special, as Laurey in “Oklahoma” at the BBC Proms Festival, and sang and danced opposite Dick Van Dyke as Mary Poppins at the Hollywood Bowl.

The concerts will take place at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 15, and at 3 p.m. Sunday, March 16, in Wentz Concert Hall. Tickets are $35 balcony/$30 main floor for adults, $31 balcony/$26 main floor for senior citizens, and $17 balcony/$12 main floor for students; call 630-637-SHOW (7469) or visit northcentralcollege.edu/showtix.
 
In addition, the performances will feature Broadway favorites by George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Richard Rodgers and Andrew Lloyd Webber. A selection of energetic orchestral showpieces, including Gershwin’s “Girl Crazy Overture,” Johann Strauss’ “Fledermaus Overture,” Bruce Healey’s “A Tribute to Irving Berlin” and Leonard Bernstein’s “Candide Overture” round out the Broadway program.