Treat yourself to Neil Berg’s 100 Years of Broadway this Saturday, Aug. 31. This widely acclaimed musical revue of Broadway’s most celebrated shows features a dazzling cast of Broadway stars accompanied by an all-star New York band.
Highlighting some of the finest songs and shows, this performance features the music of Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Leonard Bernstein, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Frank Loesser, Billy Joel and Frankie Valli, among many others.
The vocalists boast impressive musical stage credentials and they all live up to their experienced qualifications. Original performers from shows such as “Phantom of the Opera,” “West Side Story,” “Movin’ Out,” “Les Miserables,” “Lion King,” “Jekyll and Hyde,” “A Chorus Line,” “42nd Street” and “Chicago,” will be performing.
There will be brilliantly revived arrangements of Broadway classics, as well as thrilling numbers from Broadway’s newest hit shows. Broadway producer, lyricist and composer Neil Berg is no stranger to Steppingstone Performing Arts. He has performed here numerous times before, bringing with him revamped arrangements from Broadway past and present. Currently, Berg is writing the music for the Broadway bound musical “Grumpy Old Men,” based on the hit film.
Two of Berg’s new musicals have been selected for the prestigious New York Musical Theater Festival, “The Man Who Would Be King,” a musical realization of Rudyard Kipling’s novella and “Tim and Scrooge,” the sequel to “A Christmas Carol.”
“We take the audience on a magical journey through the history of Broadway musicals,” said Berg. “The show combines show-stopping song and dance numbers by the stars who performed many of them on Broadway.”
The Chi-Lites will be performing the following night on Sunday, Sept. 2. The Chi-Lites are a smooth 70s Chicago-based soul quartet, one of the few from that time period not to come from Memphis or Philadelphia. The group formed in the late 1950s as the Hi-Lites but wishing to add a tribute to their home town of Chicago, their name was subsequently changed to The Chi-Lites.
They scored 11 top-10 Rhythm and Blues hits from 1969 to 1974. Their major hits came in 1971 and 1972, such as “Have You Seen Her,” “It’s Time For Love” and “Oh Girl.”
Other hits followed, although their song output became more fragmented as the group’s personnel came and went. In 1980, the group reformed with the mid-1960s quartet back together. Soon after, a female member was also featured. The group was inducted into the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 2000 and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2005.
Both concerts begin at 8 p.m. The performances are for Great Neck Park District residents only. Admission is free to park district residents with a valid park card. Park cards will be checked when parking and at the gate. Each park card holder is allowed to bring two guests into the park, who must be signed-in.
There is limited seating and it is recommended that show attendees bring along a blanket or their own chairs to sit on. In case of rain, check cancellations.com or call Great Neck House at 482-0355 for location of performance. Either Great Neck North High School or the Parkwood Sports Complex will be the rain location, which will be determined based on type of performance and where it can best be performed.
Free bus service continues to be available to Steppingstone and return buses start 10 minutes after the show ends. Pick up the bus schedule at Great Neck House, 14 Arrandale Ave. at the Steppingstone Park front entrance or at www.greatneckparks.com.
Just make certain that you have your current park district park card with you, as you will not be able to enter without it. The bus is subject to cancellation or change according to public usage. Street parking in the Village of Kings Point is permitted as posted. Parking rules will be strictly enforced by the Kings Point Police. For additional information visit our website or call 482-0355.
