Stephanie J. Block Leads ISO’s Do You Hear the People Sing?

The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra today announced the cast for Do You Hear the People Sing? The Dream Concert!, a world premiere pops production of music from renowned Broadway composers, Alain Boubil and Claude-Michel Schönberg, the creators of the hit musicals Les Misérables and Miss Saigon among others. Conducted by the Orchestra's Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly, Do You Hear the People Sing? The Dream Concert! will open the ISO's 2011-2012 Printing Partners Pops Series on Oct. 7 and 8 at the Hilbert Circle Theatre in downtown Indianapolis and also will be performed at The Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts in Carmel, Ind., on Sunday, Oct. 9.

Do You Hear the People Sing? The Dream Concert! will star Stephanie J. Block, who earned a Drama Desk nomination for Best Actress in 9 to 5: The Musical and who originated the role of Elphaba in the early workshops of Wicked; Lea Salonga, the International Broadway star best known for originating the lead role of Kim in Miss Saigon in 1989 for which she won multiple awards including a Tony and a Drama Desk; Terrence Mann, a 30-year veteran of starring on the Broadway stage who created Rum Tug Tugger in the American production of Cats and who earned Tony nominations for his roles as Inspector Javert in Les Misérables and the Beast in Disney's Beauty and the Beast; Peter Lockyer, who has appeared in numerous national and international productions of Miss Saigon, Les Misérables, 42nd Street and La Boheme on Broadway; and Marie Zamora, who originated the role of Cosette in the original French production of Les Misérables as well as French productions of Kiss Me, Kate and Barnum. The Indianapolis Symphony and cast members will also be joined on stage by the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir, which celebrates its 75th anniversary in the 2011-2012 season.

"We are delighted to be creating an evening that celebrates the entire history of our wonderful collaboration with the Indianapolis Symphony," said Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg. "It is a concert of songs born from stories that made us dream and made us hear the people sing. We look forward to sharing our new program with audiences in Indianapolis."

"What thrill and honor it's been to be chosen by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg to present the premiere of a brand new Pops concert from the songbook of these master composers of our generation," said Jack Everly. "Together with this stellar cast of Broadway stars-who all have performed many of the wonderful Boublil and Schönberg melodies-we are delighted to bring this world premiere concert to life next fall in Indianapolis."

In addition to Do You Hear the People Sing? The Dream Concert!, Maestro Everly has created a broad spectrum of Printing Partners Pops Series programs in 2011-2012 that includes another world premiere, Hello, Dolly! in concert starring Sandi Patty and Gary Beach; Rodgers & Hammerstein at the Movies; Spectrum: The Magic of Motown; and Chapter 6: The Titans of Tight Harmony, a Symphonic Pops Consortium presentation, among others.

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