Erie Philharmonic Brings Theatrical Spirit with Broadway in Concert

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Performing an impressive 18 pieces from as many hit Broadway musicals, the Erie Philharmonic is bringing the drama of musical theater to the Warner stage with local theater stars warming up their voices to perform these well-loved songs.

An abridged version of this spotlight appeared in the April 2024 print issue

SATURDAY, APR. 13

The Erie Philharmonic is bringing showbiz back to the Warner Theater with Broadway in Concert, featuring the musical talent of the Erie Philharmonic Chorus and the Erie Junior Philharmonic. Returning to the theatrical spirit of 2021's Rogers and Hammerstein in Concert, Erie musicians will be performing pieces from renowned musicals such as The Phantom of the Opera, Wicked, Les Miserables, A Chorus Line, and Jesus Christ Superstar.

"Each selection promises to deliver the raw emotion, intricate storytelling and memorable melodies that have made these shows Broadway staples. This concert offers an opportunity to experience the magic of Broadway right here in Erie, blending powerful performances with a cast of Erie's finest performers," the Erie Philharmonic describes. "Whether you've seen these musicals on the big stage or are discovering them for the first time, this program is sure to provide an enchanting, inspiring, and unforgettable evening of musical theater."

The main cast includes Shawn Clerkin, Casey Conrad-Medvis, Brendan Daugherty, Christine Daugherty, Kyle Filbeck, Rachel Freenock, Leah Johnson, Will Steadman, Kate Thiem, Patrick Thiem, Brandon Vogt, and Devon Yates. With songs ranging from over 80 years of Broadway history, these are the showstopping musicals that will be performed during the concert.

The Philharmonic and local stage talent will be performing pieces from Broadway musicals spanning the decades and we've arranged them as such here.

1940s

Carousel

Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein II's sophomore musical collaboration was a hit with audiences and critics when it premiered on April 19, 1945. Instead of a standard opening overture, Rogers opted to begin the musical with a waltz, paired with choreography by Agnes de Mille, which introduced the main characters and setting. 

1970s

A Chorus Line

Following the long and arduous process of Broadway auditions for being a part of a chorus line, EGOT winner Marvin Hamlisch's musical opened on July 25, 1975 at the Shubert Theater. On top of winning nine Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Choreography, *A Chorus Line also received the 1976 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. 

Company

Stephen Sondheim's groundbreaking musical premiered on April 26, 1979, at the Alvin Theater. It was among an emerging group of theater productions that examined marriage and divorce from a new perspective. The same year, a documentary film, *Original Cast Album: Company, which covered the recording of the cast album, was released and earned critical acclaim. 

Jesus Christ Superstar

Andrew Lloyd Weber and Tim Rice first produced this musical as a concept album when they failed to get the initial funding. The first authorized rock concert performing the album was held in Pittsburgh in July 1971. The musical officially opened on Broadway on Oct. 12 of the same year at the Mark Hellinger Theater. 

Sweeney Todd

Based on the 1970 play written by Christopher Bond, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street premiered on March 1, 1979 at the Uris Theater. Stephen Sondheim admired Bond's writing which elevated the tale with a balance of drama and comedy, making it ideal to put to music. 

1980s

Cats

Andrew Lloyd Weber's musical adaptation of T.S. Elliot's 1939 poetry collection Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats premiered on May 11, 1981 at the New London Theater on the West End before opening on Broadway the following year. The musical was a huge commercial success, winning Best Musical at both the Tony Awards and the Laurence Oliver Awards. 

Joseph & The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

First starting out as an educational piece at the Colet Court School in London, Andrew Lloyd Weber and Tim Rice began to workshop Joseph into a musical after the success of Jesus Christ Superstar. It first premiered at the Edinburgh International Festival in 1972 and on the West End in 1976 before officially opening on Broadway on Jan. 27, 1982 at the Royale Theater. 

Into the Woods

Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine combined several stories written by the Brothers Grimm, including "Little Red Riding Hood," "Jack and the Beanstalk,"" Rapunzel," and "Cinderella." The musical premiered on Broadway on Nov. 5, 1987, at the Martin Beck Theater. 

La Cage aux Folles

Based on the 1973 book, Jerry Herman and Harvey Feinstein's musical would make history as the first successful Broadway show to focus on a homosexual relationship, breaking barriers on LGBTQIA+ representation on stage. The show won six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and the Act One finale "I Am What I Am" became widely recorded. 

Les Miserables

Breaking the record for the longest-running show on the West End, Claud-Michael Schonberg's French production premiered on Sept. 24, 1980 at the Palais des Sports in Paris. Producer Cameron Mackintosh worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company to develop the musical alongside lyricist Herbert Kretzmer, premiering the show on Oct. 8, 1985 at the Barbican Center before moving it to West End. The Broadway production opened on Oct. 8, 1987 at The Broadway Theater.  

The Phantom of the Opera

Andrew Lloyd Weber's award-winning musical became the longest-running show in Broadway history, opening on Oct. 9, 1986 at His Majesty's Theater on the West End and on Jan. 26, 1988 at the Majestic Theater on Broadway. 

1990s

Beauty & The Beast

Based on the 1991 feature animated film with music from Alan Menkin and lyrics from Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, the stage production opened on Broadway on Apr. 18, 1994 at the Palace Theater. It was Disney's first Broadway production, which was a success and resulted in more of their films being adapted for the stage. 

Jekyll & Hyde

Taking inspiration from the classic novel by Robert Louis Stevenson, Frank Wildhorn and Steve Cudden first produced a demo recording in 1986 before developing the show for stage. After its initial run at the Alley Theater in Houston in May 1990, the show officially opened on April 28, 1997 at the Plymouth Theater. 

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Based on the 1996 feature animated film, Alan Menkin and Stephen Schwartz's musical never premiered on Broadway but instead opened in Berlin on June 5, 1999. The next production would open 15 years later in San Diego on Oct. 28, 2014 at the La Jolla Playhouse. 

Ragtime

Set in the early 1900s, this musical follows three different groups of people in America on their journey. With music by Stephen Flaherty and a book by Terrence McNally, the show opened on Broadway on Jan. 18, 1998, at the Lyric Theater. 

The Secret Garden

Lucy Simon and Marsha Norman initially debuted their musical at Skidmore College in 1989 during the summer as a reading. The Broadway premiere was on April 25, 1991 at the St. James Theater. 

2000s

Shrek

Based on the popular Dreamworks animated film, Shrek: The Musical combined elements from the first three films along with William Steig's original book (on which the musical was based). With music by Jeanine Tesori and lyrics by David-Lindsay Abaire, the show made its Broadway debut on Dec. 14, 2008 at the Broadway Theater. 

Wicked

"Defying Gravity" ever since it premiered, Stephen Schwartz's music and lyrics tells the story of Elphaba and Galinda's friendship, and how their lives in Oz will be changed forever. Based on Gregory Maguire's 1995 novel, Wicked premiered on Oct. 30, 2003 at the Gershwin Theater.

Saturday, Apr. 13 at 8 p.m., Sunday, Apr. 14 at 3 p.m. // Warner Theatre, 811 State St. // $17-$66 // For tickets and info: eriephil.org