The VSO Goes to Broadway With Susannah Mars

Featuring the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus and VSAA Choir Students

DETAILS

The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra presents a thrilling evening of classic Broadway music, featuring one of the region’s favorite musical theater performers—Susannah Mars—along with the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus on January 26th and 27th at Skyview Concert Hall. Adding to the festivities will be the VSAA Choir students, all under the baton of the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra’s Maestro Salvador Brotons.

The Portland Gay Men’s Chorus (PGMC) joins the VSO after its recent trip as the first gay chorus to tour and perform in China. PGMC will perform with Susannah Mars and students of the Vancouver School of Ars and Academics choir in classic musical numbers including “America” from West Side Story and “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning” from Oklahoma. The program will include orchestra suites of George Gershwin’s “An American in Paris.” and Aaron Copland’s “Rodeo.”

“How better to start the new year then making music with The Vancouver Symphony?” says Susannah Mars, “The joy of singing with the Vancouver Symphony, Portland Gay Men’s Chorus, and members of The Vancouver School of Arts and Academics, is lighting me up like all the holiday lightables, Menorahs and Christmas Trees alike!”

Calendar Editors, please note:
VSO Goes to Broadway
Special Guest: Susannah Mars
Portland Gay Men’s Chorus
Saturday, January 26th @ 3 PM and Sunday January 27th @ 7 PM
Skyview Concert Hall 1300 NW 139th St., Vancouver, WA, 98685
Tickets: Starting at $34, $10 for students with ID

Major sponsorship provided by Bill Dickey. Pianos generously provided by Michelle’s Pianos. The performances are Saturday, January 26th @ 3 PM and Sunday January 27th @ 7 PM
at Skyview Concert Hall, located at 1300 NW 139th Street in Vancouver, WA.

Tickets are available for this concert and all 2018-2019 events at vancouversymphony.org or (360) 735-7278.

About Susannah Mars

Susannah is a Resident Artist at Artists Rep where she has performed in many productions and serves as Music Events Specialist. In other theatrical endeavors, she recently appeared as Mistress Hibbins in Scarlet at Portland Playhouse, and Mrs. Lovett in Portland Opera’s Sweeny Todd. She’s appeared at Portland Playhouse as Margaret in The Light In The Piazza, and was Golde in Portland Center Stage’s Fiddler on the Roof. Favorite roles at Portland Center Stage include Rona Lisa Peretti in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Mother in Ragtime, Mama Rose in Gypsy, and Merideth in Bat Boy. At Artists Rep she performed Mars On Life for three seasons, and also appeared as Dinah in The Quality of Life, Julia in Holidazed, Becca in Rabbit Hole, Mabel in Chaps, and Karen in Dinner with Friends. At Artists Rep she was also Mary Todd Lincoln in A Civil War Christmas. She was Frieda and Betty at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre in Sunday in the Park with George, and was Susan in their production of Company. Maybe you saw her on NBC’s Grimm as Drew Wu’s psychiatrist, Dr. Richet. Ms. Mars is the recipient of six Portland Drama Critics awards and two Portland Area Music Theatre Awards. Her recordings Susannah Mars, Call It Home; The Music of Richard Gray, and the MAC nominated Take Me To The World are available on iTunes, where you can also subscribe to her podcast Adventures In Artslandia. Proud member of AEA. www.susannahmars.com

About Portland Gay Men’s Chorus

The Portland Gay Men’s Chorus is a thriving arts organization comprised of over 140 singers, its mission to expand, redefine, and perfect the choral art through eclectic performances that honor and uplift our community and affirm the worth all people. The Chorus performs to packed houses in Portland and beyond and considers outreach to be an important part of its mission. The Chorus is the first gay performing group to tour China in the fall of 2018. PGMC has performed throughout North America from Vancouver, B.C. to Montreal, Miami, Denver, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Washington D.C. They have also performed extensively throughout the Pacific Northwest and Mountain West, with outreach performances in sites as varied as Ashland, Bend, Stayton, Roseburg, Eugene, Grants Pass, The Dalles, Pendleton, and Salem, in Oregon; Vancouver, Tri-cities, and Longview, in Washington; and Boise, Idaho. The PGMC takes its leadership role seriously. As a recipient of the Portland State University College of Urban and Public Affairs, the “Urban Pioneer Award,” PGMC “has made a significant difference not only within the cultural landscape of Portland, but across the region”. It was noted that “their voice has affirmed the worth of the LGBT community, while changing the hearts and minds of all those who have listened to their affirming songs.” Over the years, PGMC has supported many non-profit organizations in the community by performing for their benefit. Such groups include the Cascade AIDS Project, OHSU, Portland State University, Equality Foundation, Our House, Metropolitan Community Church, Christ Church, and St. Stephen’s Episcopal. It has also performed for the Inaugural Celebrations for numerous state elected officials including Governor Roberts and Kitzhaber to name just a few.

About Salvador Brotons

Now in his 28th season leading The Vancouver Symphony Orchestra as Music Director and Conductor, musicians and classical music enthusiasts still delight in having Dr. Brotons lead them. Salvador Brotons was born in Barcelona into a family of musicians. He studied flute with his father and continued his musical studies at the Barcelona Music Conservatory where he earned advanced degrees in flute, composition and conducting. In 1985 he won a Fulbright scholarship and moved to the U.S. where he obtained a doctorate in music from Florida State University. In addition to The VSO, in Spain he has been the music director and conductor of the Orquestra Simfònica de les Illes Balears “Ciutat de Palma” (1997-2001, 2009-2013) and the Orquestra Sinfónica del Vallés (1997-2002), and is presently the conductor of the Barcelona Symphonic Band. In 2005, he received the “Arts Council” award by the Clark County and the city of Vancouver and the Kiwanis Rose Award. He has guest-conducted orchestras internationally in countries like the US, Israel, France, Germany, China, Poland, South Korea, Mexico, Uruguay, Colombia, as well as the most prestigious Spanish orchestras.

About The VSO

Now in its 40th season, The VSO has been a cornerstone of Southwest Washington’s arts community, providing world-renowned classical music, promoting young musicians, and opening doors to classical music for young audiences through events such as the annual In-School concerts, Young Artists Competition and various family-styled special events and performances. A full-sized professional orchestra of over 70 core members provides performs a multi-concert classical season every year. Symphony performances are at Skyview Concert Hall, 1300 NW 139th Street, Vancouver.

About our Sponsors

The VSO is generously supported by All Classical Portland, Oregon Public Broadcasting, The Community Foundation of SW Washington, The Columbian, The Heathman Lodge, PeaceHealth, and Michelle’s Pianos.