BWW Exclusive: Kristin Chenoweth Rings in Sold-Out New Year in Las Vegas with First Male 'For Good' Duet Partner - Standing Ovations & More!

Tony and Emmy Award-winning sensation Kristin Chenoweth performed a SOLD OUT New Year's Eve concert inside Reynolds Hall at The Smith Center in Las Vegas to multiple standing ovations from the enthusiastic crowd. The special night included cast members Constantine Germanacos, Jennifer Diamond, Johnny Stellard with clever New Year's Eve additions for this special evening. The show was Musically Directed by Mary-Mitchell Campbell and Directed by Richard Jay-Alexander.

Amongst the nights many special moments, during the now-anticipated part of the show where Chenoweth selects a lucky audience member to duet with on WICKED's 'For Good', the audience was treated to her choosing her first male duet partner, student Ray Winters.

There is an irony here, as Ray was the first winner of the Smith Center's Nevada High School Music Theater Awards last Spring. He was one of two Las Vegas high school seniors who were selected to go to New York and to represent the state at the National High School Musical Theatre Awards, held at Broadway's Minskoff Theater. Parents and friends were in the audience to ring in the New Year, and witnessed his special moment, which will certainly go down in The Smith Center's history.

In fact, Winters told the audience that the first show that Winters saw on Broadway was WICKED, and it inspired him to pursue a career in musical theatre, and currently studies in New York. He wrote on YouTube that "I am so incredibly happy right now. I wanted to sing with her so bad, and I actually got to. Gotta thank God for that. I was definitely a little nervous at the beginning! I'm speechless. Not only is she talented but she's the nicest woman I've ever met. I was also the first boy she did this duet with :)"

Featured BroadwayWorld.com Germany writer, Iris Moebius, wrote this afternoon, "He tweeted about it being his dream weeks ago. I encouraged him to try even if Kristin never did the duet with a boy before. Was so glad to see that it worked out for him ... and that he did well!"

Myron Martin, President and CEO and Paul S. Beard, COO of the Smith Center were both thrilled with the evening, which was The Center's first New Year's Eve booking. We're sure it'll become a regular tradition!

BroadwayWorld.com raises a glass to that!

Check out the video!

Chenoweth has had an extraordinarily diverse career including her show-stealing, Tony-winning performance in "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown" and her triumphant star role when she originated the role of Glinda the Good Witch in "Wicked," which earned her a leading actress Tony Award Nomination. The actress is also a New York Times Bestselling Author, has recorded four solo albums and continues to tour with her critically acclaimed concerts. She is currently filming "The Boy Next Door" with Jennifer Lopez.

Chenoweth's critically acclaimed performance in the ABC series "Pushing Daisies" won her an Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. Her guest appearance on Fox's comedy "Glee," earned her two Emmy Award nominations and a People's Choice Award for Favorite TV Guest Star. Kristin also starred as Annabeth Schott on the hit drama "The West Wing," guest judged on "American Idol" and was featured on CBS' "The Good Wife."

Photo Credit: Courtesy The Smith Center, Las Vegas, NV

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