Walters State’s Music and Theatre Department will present “A Choral Tribute to Andrew Lloyd Webber” April 20-22 in the theatre of the Judge William H. Inman Humanities Complex on the Morristown campus.
Webber is known for musicals like “Cats,” “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” and “Phantom of the Opera.” He’s a favorite of Laura Ritter, director of choral programs at Walters State. Earlier this semester, she took a group of students to see alumnus Lucas Hefner star in “Phantom of the Opera” at the University of Memphis.
“Students always love performing the music from ‘Cats.’ This group was very enthusiastic about seeing ‘Phantom.’ We haven’t performed one of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musicals in several years, so we decided to feature Webber’s work in our spring concert,” Ritter said.
Ritter and her students have worked to put together a show spotlight the best of an amazing career spanning 50 years and producing some of the most popular works on Broadway. Many of the songs written for his musicals have become popular outside of world of theatre, including “Memory” from “Cats” and “Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina” from “Evita.”
“This show does show a lot of his styles, but most of the music is very upbeat,” Ritter said. Many songs feature solos, as Webber’s music is a showpiece for vocal talent.
Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. April 20-21 and 2:30 p.m. on April 22 in the theatre of the Judge William H. Inman Humanities Complex on the college’s Morristown campus. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students.
Reservations can be made weekdays from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. by calling (423) 585-6922. The box office will also open for ticket sales one hour before showtime.
In the photo: Walters State student Dani Tower performs a song from “Cats” in Walters State’s “Choral Tribute to Andrew Lloyd Webber.” The show runs April 20-22 at the college’s Morristown campus.