Will Chase & Betsy Wolfe to Star in Cincinnati Pops' 'MUSIC MAN' Staged Concert in May 2015

The Cincinnati Pops Orchestra and Conductor John Morris Russell announced the Pops' 2014-15 season today. The season, presented by PNC along with the Pops Artist Series Sponsor, The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation, welcomes back some of the Orchestra's favorite guest artists while exploring new artistic genres and collaborations - including a semi-staged concert of THE MUSIC MAN, starring Will Chase and Betsy Wolfe, set for May 1-3, 2015.

Chase, currently seen in his recurring role on ABC's Nashville, beloved for his role on NBC's Smash, and also known for his extensive work on Broadway, stars in the performance for his Pops debut. Betsy Wolfe, a graduate of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) and who made her professional debut with John Morris Russell and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in the popular "Home for the Holidays" programs at the Taft Theater, will play Marian the Librarian. Directed by Cincinnati's own Playhouse in the Park Artistic Director Blake Robison, this performance brings together the best of Cincinnati's arts and entertainment, including CCM, Cincinnati's Playhouse in the Park, the May Festival Chorus and other local community institutions.

Additional details and cast members will be announced at a later date.

"This season takes many of our best Pops traditions to a whole new level," said Russell in a statement released today. "We've got the big stars, the best performers that call Cincinnati 'home,' and the finest Pops Orchestra on the planet with amazing orchestral repertoire that stretches the boundaries of the Pops genre. From popular classics to bluegrass, Motown to Broadway, we're celebrating American music in a whole new way."

For information on Cincinnatti Pops' full 2014-15 season, visit www.cincinnatipops.org.