WMS Swingin’ Holiday Celebration to Feature Broadway Stars Teri Dale Hansen and Nat Chandler Dec. 13-14

Michigan Native and CMU Graduate Hansen Will Also Perform at The Block Dec. 15

Muskegon, Michigan, November 18, 2013 – Broadway stars Teri Dale Hansen and Nat Chandler will join the West Michigan Symphony for a holiday show featuring traditional songs in a swingin’ style.

Guest conductor Clyde Mitchell will lead the symphony through a swingin’ holiday celebration with something for everyone – wonderful “swing” tunes from such greats as Ellington, Fitzgerald, Porter, Mercer and more, as well as traditional songs, carols and holiday tunes. The audience will be invited to join in the fun by singing along to a medley of seasonal favorites, including “Jingle Bells,” “Joy to the World” and “Silent Night.”

MLive/Muskegon Chronicle will sponsor the holiday concert while the law firm of Warner Norcross & Judd LLP will sponsor the guest artists.

The concert will be held at the Frauenthal theater on both Friday, Dec. 13 and Saturday Dec. 14 at 7:30 p.m. and include holiday classics such as:
• “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year”
• “Baby It’s Cold Outside”
• “I’ll Be Home for Christmas”
• “O Holy Night”
• “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”
• “Feliz Navidad”

Hansen will also perform at The Block, the Symphony’s new and more intimate venue, on Sunday, Dec. 15 at 3 p.m. The Ann Arbor native and graduate of Central Michigan University will be joined by three students from Western Michigan University’s musical theatre program. Hansen’s program will feature songs from Broadway musicals, including:
• “Can’t Help Loving that Man of Mine/Bill” from “Show Boat” by Jerome Kern
• “Mambo” from “West Side Story” by Leonard Bernstein
• “Something Good” from “The Sound Of Music” by Richard Rodgers
• “Seasons of Love” from “Rent” by Jonathan Larsen
• “I Could Have Danced All Night” from “ My Fair Lady” by Frederick Loewe

From opera to Broadway, Teri Dale Hansen has received international recognition for her crossover abilities as a singing actress. She made her Broadway debut in “The Boys from Syracuse” and starred in London’s West End as “Magnolia” in Hal Prince’s Tony® award-winning production of “Show Boat.” She has sung leading roles with the Houston Grand Opera, Glimmerglass Opera, Theatre des Westens, Orlando Opera, Salle Esse, Florida Grand Opera and the Opera De Toulon.

Actor and singer Nat Chandler enjoys an exciting career on Broadway, in concert and in opera. On Broadway he appeared in the title role of “The Scarlet Pimpernel” and in “Children and Art.” Other career highlights include Raoul in “The Phantom of the Opera” directed by Hal Prince, touring the United States opposite Sarah Brightman in “The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber,” and recent performances as King Arthur in “Spamalot,” Fred/Petruchio in “Kiss Me Kate,” and Prince Danilo in “The Merry Widow.”

Guest conductor Clyde Mitchell is the founding music director of Sinfonia Orchestra. His recent guest conducting experiences include the Honour Orchestras in the states of California, Washington, Colorado and Pennsylvania, the Kotor Art Festival in Montenegro, the North Czech Philharmonic Orchestra in Teplitz, the Transylvania State Philharmonic in Romania and the Funabashi Symphony Orchestra in Japan.

Single tickets for the Swingin’ Holiday Celebration performance range from $20 to 50 and may be purchased online at www.westmichigansymphony.org; by calling 231.726.3231; or in person at 360 W. Western Ave. Student tickets are $10 for this concert but are not available online. College students must present a valid ID when they purchase tickets.

Tickets for Hansen’s “Singer. Actress. Gingerbread.” performance at The Block start at $28. Doors for the performance will open at 2 p.m. and the concert begins at 3 p.m. Gingerbread treats will be served.

About West Michigan Symphony
As one of the few professional regional orchestras in Michigan, West Michigan Symphony has played a leading role in the region’s cultural community for nearly 75 years. WMS serves a regional audience with eight pairs of concerts annually, along with dozens of educational and outreach activities for children and adults. Earlier this year, the organization also launched The Block, a new and intimate concert venue in downtown Muskegon that will host a wide range of performers. WMS also oversees operations for the West Michigan Youth Symphony and the newly formed WMS Children’s Choir. For more information, visit www.westmichigansymphony.org.