Broadway Powerhouse Idina Menzel joins Colorado Symphony at Red Rocks

June 28, 2011 - PRLog -- Artists:
Colorado Symphony - Idina Menzel
Marvin Hamlisch, conductor
Rob Mounsey, music director and piano
Idina Menzel

Performance:
7:30 p.m. Sunday, July 17 at, 2011

Location:
Red Rocks Amphitheatre

Red Rocks Amphitheatre is located in Red Rocks Park near Morrison, Colorado, 15 miles west of Denver. Coming from Downtown, take I-70 west to exit 259, turn left at the bottom of the Morrison exit ramp, cruise on downhill 1.5 miles to the Red Rocks Park entrance. Coming from south Denver, take C-470 to the Morrison exit, turn west and follow the signs to the Park entrances.
Here's a tip to avoid some traffic: You can also exit C-470 at Highway 285. Take it west to Highway 8 and then come north to the Amphitheatre.

Tickets:
Tickets are currently on sale and start at $40.

DENVER - June 27, 2011 - It promises to be a night of "Defying Gravity" when Broadway star Idina Menzel joins the Colorado Symphony, led by Marvin Hamlisch, for a spectacular night under the stars at Red Rocks on Sunday, July 17. Menzel - celebrated for her roles in the smash hits "Wicked" and "Rent," as well as her role on television's "Glee" - constantly amazes audiences with her strong, emotional performances. Menzel, who originated the role of Elphaba in "Wicked," reunites with the Colorado Symphony at Red Rocks in this celebration of classic and pop music, including fan favorites from Menzel's new CD release, "I Stand," as well as "Glee" and "Wicked." Concertgoers can also anticipate exquisitely interpreted Broadway standards that showcase Mendel's incredible range and unmistakably beautiful voice. Hamlisch and the Colorado Symphony open this one-night-only concert with a parade of Broadway classics and America's most beloved music. Tickets are on sale now and start at $40.

The Colorado Symphony's concert with Idina Menzel at Red Rocks continues a summer of rare orchestral collaborations with artists that concertgoers would not normally expect to see performing with a symphony orchestra. The Colorado Symphony has more collaborations planned for July 2011, including the orchestral debut of GRAMMY® Award-winner Sarah McLachlan and an unforgettable night with pop/rock legends Chicago - both at Red Rocks.

Coming up in the 2011/12 season, the Colorado Symphony takes its collaborative series to the country genre, with the symphony orchestra debut of Grammy-nominated country star David Nail (of "Red Light" and "Turning Home" fame). The Colorado Sympohny will also partner with Los Angeles culture-mashers Ozomatli, plus Denver's iconic indie band DeVotchKa (featured on the soundtrack to "Little Miss Sunshine"), and the quintessentially American alternative rock band, Guster. Single tickets for these concerts, as well as tickets for all 2011/12 season concerts, go on sale August 1. Series subscriptions are currently on sale.

Tickets - Idina Menzel with the Colorado Symphony: Tickets are currently on sale and start from $40. Tickets are sold at the Colorado Symphony Box Office at www.coloradosymphony.org, by calling (303) 623-7876 or (877) 292-7979, or in-person in the lobby of Boettcher Concert Hall in the Denver Performing Arts Complex. Hours are Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

About Idina Menzel
Tony Award winner Idina Menzel has a diverse career on the stage, in films and in music. A skillful songwriter, Menzel also writes and performs her own music. Last year, she concluded a national tour promoting her album, "I Stand." Menzel recently joined the cast of the Fox series "Glee." In 2006, Menzel premiered the Broadway hit "Wicked" in the West End in London to rave reviews. She also starred in Michael John LaChiusa's musical, "See What I Wanna See." This role garnered Menzel a Drama Desk Award nomination as well as a Drama League Award nomination. In 2005, Menzel completed her Tony Award-winning performance for Lead Actress in a Musical in "Wicked." Helmed by Tony Award-winning director Joe Mantello, "Wicked" played to packed audiences at the Gershwin Theatre since opening in 2003. Menzel also received a Tony nomination for her Broadway debut performance as Maureen in the original production of the Pulitzer Prize-winning hit "Rent."

About Marvin Hamlisch
Marvin Hamlisch's life in music is notable for its great versatility as well as substance. As composer, Hamlisch has won virtually every major award that exists: three Oscars, four GRAMMY® Awards, four Emmys, a Tony and three Golden Globe awards. For Broadway, he has written the music for "They're Playing Our Song," as well as his groundbreaking show, "A Chorus Line," which received the Pulitzer Prize. He is the composer of more than forty motion picture scores, including his Oscar-winning score and song for "The Way We Were" and his adaptation of Scott Joplin's music for "The Sting," for which he received a third Oscar. His prolific output of scores for films include original compositions and/or musical adaptations for "Sophie's Choice," "Ordinary People," "Three Men And A Baby," "Save The Tiger" and his latest effort, "The Informant!," starring Matt Damon and directed by Steven Soderbergh. Hamlisch is a graduate of The Juilliard School of Music and Queens College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree.

About Rob Mounsey
Composer, arranger, producer and pianist Rob Mounsey has worked on various projects with Rihanna, Mary J. Blige, Usher, Natalie Cole, James Taylor, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Aretha Franklin, Brian Wilson, Eric Clapton, Diana Krall, Chaka Khan, Steve Winwood, and many others. He is currently music director for Tony Award winner Idina Menzel ("Wicked," "Rent," "Glee") on her pops orchestra tour, for which he created all orchestral arrangements and performs as pianist. Mounsey scored the hit Mike Nichols film "Working Girl" and the Oscar-winning documentary "Big Mama," and composed original music for the HBO hit Sex and the City. He has earned six GRAMMY® nominations and won two Emmy Awards.

Media Contact
Margaret A. Williams
Office: 303.308.2472
mwilliams@coloradosymphony.org

About the Colorado Symphony
The state's only full-time professional orchestra, the Colorado Symphony embraces a tradition of musical excellence by presenting a diverse array of symphonic performances throughout the year. Originally established in 1989 as the Denver Symphony, the Colorado Symphony performs in Boettcher Concert Hall and throughout the Front Range, presenting outstanding education and outreach programs, as well as Masterworks, Pops, Holiday, Family, and the exciting new Inside the Score series that has attracted a historic level of first-time concertgoers. By presenting music that is both timeless and inspiring, while taking risks with new musical collaborations and interactive concerts, the Colorado Symphony is attracting more diverse and younger audiences than ever before. To date, 30 percent of the 2010/11 season concertgoers are new patrons. The increasing popularity of Colorado Symphony concerts as well as a strong fund-raising base not only re-affirms the artistic excellence of the orchestra, but also reflects the deep-rooted enthusiasm for symphonic music felt by so many individuals across the region. For more information about the Colorado Symphony, visit www.coloradosymphony.org.

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Originally established in 1989 as the successor to the Denver Symphony, the Colorado Symphony performs in Boettcher Concert Hall and throughout the Front Range, presenting outstanding education and outreach programs, as well as Masterworks, Pops, Holiday, Family, and the exciting new "Inside the Score" series that has attracted a historic level of first-time concertgoers. By presenting music that is both timeless and inspiring, while taking risks with new musical collaborations and interactive concerts, the Colorado Symphony is attracting more diverse and younger audiences than ever before. To date, 30 percent of the 2010/11 season concertgoers are new patrons. The increasing popularity of Colorado Symphony concerts as well as a strong fund-raising base not only re-affirms the artistic excellence of the orchestra, but also reflects the deep-rooted enthusiasm for symphonic music felt by so many individuals across the region. For more information, visit www.coloradosymphony.org.