Stephen Schwartz Is Guest Of Honor At 'DEFYING GRAVITY'

Stephen Schwartz, who is currently working on a revival of PIPPIN at The Los Angeles Musica Center, will take time out to be the guest of honor at an all-star tribute to his celebrated songbook.

Shoshana Bean (Broadway and LA "Wicked"), Rex Smith ("Pirates of Penzanze", "Sunset Boulevard", "Scarlet Pimpernel"), Eric Kunze ("Miss Siagon", "Les Miserables", "Damn Yankees"), Marissa Perry ("Hairspray"), Lindsay Mendez ("Grease"), Terron Brooks ( "The Lion King" and NBC-TV's movie "The Temptations") and Tony-nominated actors Cathy Rigby ("Peter Pan", "Seussical") and Jonelle Allen ("Two Gentlemen of Verone") will join 40 talented students from The California Conservatory of the Arts and its sister school, The McCoy Rigby Dance Academy, in "Defying Gravity --- The Music and Lyrics of Stephen Schwartz" for two performances, January 24 and 25, at the Irvine Barclay Theatre on the campus of the University of California, Irvine.

Stephen Schwartz has had a career spanning four decades and has written music and/or lyrics for such stage musicals as Wicked, Godspell, Pippin, The Baker's Wife, Working, The Magic Show and the animated features Pocahontus, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Prince of Egypt and Enchanted. He has won three Grammy Awards, three Academy Awards and received six Tony nominations.

"Defying Gravity - The Music and Lyrics of Stephen Schwartz" will feature songs from the entire Schwartz songbook, from Godspell to Wicked, performed by these celebrated Broadway artists and the talented Conservatory students. Additional Broadway actors joining the cast will be announced soon. Tickets range from $15. to $35, and are available at The Barclay Theatre or through Ticketmaster. For further information about the concert or The California Conservatory of the Arts, call 949-487-7253 or visit the Conservatory's website at www.ccarts.net.