Sam Harris Opens Musical Theatre West's 'Broadway In Concert' Series At The Beverly O'Neal Theatre

Musical Theatre's West's acclaimed "Broadway in Concert" series returns with an exciting line-up of stars from the Great White Way! Opening the series at the intimate Beverly O'Neill Theatre at Long Beach Convention Center, is Broadway's Sam Harris (The Producers, The Life) performing Let Me Sing: An Evening of Broadway, Ballads, and Blues on November 18, 7pm. The series continues with performances by David Burnham (Wicked and Light in the Piazza) & Tami Tappan Damiano (Cyrano and Miss Saigon) in A Broadway Romance (February 3, 2019), and Teri Bibb (Phantom of the Opera and She Loves Me) in Once Upon a Song: A Tribute to the Ladies of the Silver Screen on March 24, 2019. All performances are at 7pm. Season tickets are now on sale, starting at $60 for all three concerts, or each performance is available starting at $35. For tickets, go to www.musical.org, at the Musical Theatre West Box Office, or by calling 562-856-1999 ext 4.

Sam Harris' career has spanned more than three decades with successes as a singer and songwriter; stage, film, and television actor; and as a writer, producer, and director. His rise to fame began as a UCLA student where he and friend Bruce H. Newberg co-wrote Hurry! Hurry! Hollywood!, the first original musical in which the theatre and music departments collaborated. He received the Frank Sinatra Pop Singing Award, where the legendary Chairman of the Board said to an enthusiastic audience, "This kid's got `it'! Sam, don't get any better till I get out of the business." In 1992, the show made its regional theatre premiere at Musical Theatre West.

In 1983, wearing an oversized tailcoat and Converse sneakers, Harris became a household name on "Star Search," winning the grand prize and the hearts of America. This "overnight" fame catapulted him into recording industry, where he sold more than a million copies of both Sam Harris and Sam-I-Am, which he also produced. He later released Standard Time and Different Stages, and the Christmas albums, On This Night and The Best Christmas - Sam Harris Live!

After several years of concert touring, from Carnegie Hall to performances at the White House, he returned to theater, starring in Broadway productions of The Producers (as the memorable Carmen Ghia), Grease (Drama Desk nomination), The Life (Drama League Award and Tony, Outer Critic's Circle and Drama Desk nominations), Funny Girl and Broadway Man. For Reprise! Concerts, Harris also starred as the Lead Player in Pippin and in the national tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

For television, Harris created and wrote the TBS sitcom, "Down to Earth" with college cohort Newberg, which ran for four years. As Perry Pearl on the CBS sitcom, "The Class," Harris earned accolades, with columnist Liz Smith writing, "Sam Harris is the comic breakout of the television season!"

At the request of Elizabeth Taylor, Harris became one of the first celebrities to lead the fight against AIDS. It would mark the beginning of his work as an activist for human rights, for which he has performed in countless benefits. He has also worked to raise funds and awareness for a number of children's health organizations. His song "Change Is On The Way," a song written performed by Harris, was used for the President Obama campaign.

Tickets for Musical Theatre West's "Broadway in Concert Series" and opener Sam Harris are on sale now. For tickets or more information, go to www.musical.org, the MTW ticket office, or call (562)-856-1999, ext. 4.

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