Our Hospice presentation of Broadway Memoriesbrought Tony Award Winning Talent to Columbus Indiana for one night. This outstanding program, produced and hosted by Stephen DeAngelis spotlighted five Broadway stars straight from New York City performing in this one of a kind fundraising event. The audience enjoyed live performances from Jackie Burns (longest running Elphaba in Wicked), Ali Ewoldt (completed more than two years as Christine Daae in The Phantom of the Opera), Lisa Howard (recently starred as Tammy in the Jimmy Buffet musical Escape to Margaritaville), Wade Preston (played “Piano Man” in Billy Joel’s hit, Movin Out) and Josh Young (received a Tony Award nomination for his portrayal of Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar). The Broadway starts were accompanied by the amazing, Eugene Gwozdz, Musical Director.
“The energy of the performers brought the audience of over 500 to their feet,” said Laura Leonard, Our Hospice President, “It was a great turnout this year and we have heard many positive comments from those who attended; they can’t wait to come back for next year’s show.”
The event is a fundraiser, hosted by Friends of Our Hospice to raise money for a new program for Our Hospice patients, Music and Memory ®. This year we raised over $35,000 to bring personalized music to patients suffering from Dementia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. “Music has a powerful impact in our lives and using music helps those patients re-connect to memories, feelings and emotions believed to be gone,” continued Leonard.
Music and Memory ® is a research-based program designed to enhance the lives of patients through music. Personalized music has been shown to reach those suffering with a wide range of cognitive and physical challenges, bringing renewed meaning to their lives.
Leonard continued, “We are grateful to Stephen and the Broadway Stars, many of whom have experienced the difficulty reaching dementia patients in their own families. Having this caliber of Broadway talent come to Columbus to help us raise funds is wonderful.”
The five Broadway Stars each performed songs from hit Broadway Shows, engaged with the audience sharing memories about what it is like to be on Broadway and also answered questions giving those in attendance a chance to get some insights into the lives of these performers.
One of the highlights of the night was when local high school students took the stage with the Broadway Stars. Local high school students who attended a Broadway Master Class in August were invited to perform at Broadway Memories. Eight of the seventeen students who attended the Master Classwere selected to provide back up with Josh Young performing Jesus Christ Superstarand all students joined in the Encore song “Season of Love” from RENT.
We are grateful to our sponsors who supported us in bringing this level of talent to Columbus. Title Sponsors were the Clarence E. and Inez R. Custer Foundation and Elizabeth R and Walter C. Nugent Foundation; Producing Partner, Indiana Arts Commission; and Artist Underwriter, SIHO Insurance Services.
For more information and ways to support Our Hospice call or emailBrigitte Halvorsen at 812-314-8004,bhalvorsen@crh.org.
