(© David Gordon)
Wolf Trap Foundation’s Filene Center in Vienna, Virginia will act as host to some of Broadway’s biggest stars this summer.
On July 28, the foundation will present Wicked Divas, a collaborative concert between the National Symphony Orchestra, NSO Principal Pops Conductor Steven Reineke and two of Broadway’s greatest beltresses, Julia Murney and Stephanie J. Block, both of whom have taken on the role of Elphaba in Wicked on Broadway. Murney joined the ranks of Elphabas in January 2007 and most recently earned a Drama Desk Award nomination for her role in the off-Broadway play Falling. Block entered the Broadway cast of Wicked in October 2007 after having kick-started its first national tour. She is currently nominated for a Tony Award for her performance in The Mystery of Edwin Drood.
The concert will feature songs including “Defying Gravity” from Wicked, the title tune from Ragtime, “Think of Me” from The Phantom of the Opera, “Over the Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz, and many more Broadway staples from shows such as Gypsy, Chicago, Titanic, and more.
A production of Dreamgirls is also slated for a short run from August 22-25, starring Tony and Grammy Award winner Jennifer Holliday in the role of Effie, which she originated on Broadway in 1981. The show, featuring music by Tony Award nominee Henry Krieger and a book and lyrics by Tony Award winner Tom Eyen, follows a trio of black female singers who rise to fame during the ’60s Motown era.
Additional performances scheduled for Wolf Trap’s summer season include The Mikado (May 31-June 1), Rock of Ages (June 7-8), Sing-A-Long Grease (June 22), Buddy — The Buddy Holly Story (June 2-3), Singin’ in the Rain with the National Symphony Orchestra (August 3), and Sing-A-Long Sound of Music (August 31).
For a complete schedule of Wolf Trap’s summer season, visit their website here.
