Soprano. Broadway. Pizza. West Michigan Symphony Presents Diane Penning, Coloratura Soprano, @The Block – Saturday, August 17
Soprano. Broadway. Pizza.
West Michigan Symphony Presents Diane Penning, Coloratura Soprano,
@The Block – Saturday, August 17
(Muskegon, Michigan) -“Grand Night for Singing” from State Fair,” “Can’t Help Lovin’ That Man” from Showboat, and “Tonight” from West Side Story are just some of the light-hearted favorites Michigan coloratura soprano Diane Penning will be performing in this Broadway-inspired, cabaret-style performance at The Block, West Michigan Symphony’s cool, new intimate performance space in downtown Muskegon.
This airy, casual performance on Saturday, August 17 is the third program the West Michigan Symphony will present at the 148-seat venue at 360 W. Western Ave., Muskegon. The bar opens and complimentary pizza will be served beginning at 6:00 p.m. and the 90-minute performance, including intermission, will begin at 7:00 p.m. Penning will be accompanied by pianist Robert Byrens.
Other selections include a Gershwin medley, “I Have Dreamed” from The King and I, and standards, “The Very Thought of You, and “Smile.” “I always try for a lot of variety,” Penning said, “up-tempo, comedic things, and others, like ballads, that will take your breath away. I try to create a lot of feelings and emotions within the audience, and just want people to have fun.”
Penning’s voice has been described as “clear, free flying and of exciting timbre.” “Diane Penning is the rare singer who can do it all,” said Scott Speck, WMS Music Director. “She is classically trained and has an effortless high register, and when she unleashes this technique on the pops repertoire, the result is fantastic. We’re really looking forward to presenting Diane in such an intimate venue.”
She is also a favorite of Grand Rapids Symphony Music Director and Conductor David Lockington who said she is perfect for pops. “Her superb, lyrical voice, musicianship, looks and presence have charmed every audience I have seen her perform for,” he said. GRS Associate Conductor John Varineau said that whenever he needs a singer that he knows his audiences will love, that “Diane Penning is my ‘go-to-girl”…The audience always wants MORE!”
Penning, equally at home in classical repertoire and pops, has performed both in hundreds of appearances with orchestras throughout the country, including those of Grand Rapids, Grant Park, South Bend, Colorado Springs and Traverse City. This will mark her third appearance with the WMS. Penning holds music degrees from the University of Michigan and Western Michigan University.
What: Soprano. Broadway. Pizza.
Who: Diane Penning, Coloratura Soprano
When: Saturday, August. 17, 2013 – Bar opens 6:00 p.m., performance, 7:00 p.m.
Where: The Block – 360 W. Western Ave., Muskegon Michigan
Tickets: $28 and up – WMS ticket office: 231.726.3231 ext. 223
Online: www.westmichigansymphony.org
In person: WMS ticket office, 360 W. Western Ave., Suite 200, Muskegon, MI
Presented by: West Michigan Symphony
Information: www.westmichigansymphony.org; www.dianepenning.com
The Block: A simple, accessible, inspirational space where honest music can happen not to you, but with you.
