Laura Osnes, Mark Masri and the Utah Valley Symphony to Perform at SCERA Shell

The SCERA Shell Outdoor Theater will offer a triple treat Saturday Aug. 20 when the Utah Valley Symphony accompanies Tony Award-nominated Broadway star Laura Osnes and classical/crossover tenor Mark Masri in a night that promises Broadway, pop, classical, American standards and inspirational music.

"This will be a night of phenomenal vocals," says Adam J. Robertson, SCERA's President and CEO. "And combined with a full orchestra, directed by Bryce Rytting, audiences will be blown away by the level of talent, class and charm. "

General admission tickets for the 8 pm concert are $20 for adults and $15 for children (age 3-11) and seniors (age 65 and older). Patrons should bring a blanket or may rent a chair for $1.00 (limited quantities). Reserved seating areas with a free chair may still be available for an additional cost. Tickets are available at www.scera.org, by calling 801-225-ARTS, in person at the SCERA Center for the Arts, 745 South State, Orem, or at the Shell gate 90 minutes prior to performance.

Osnes may be familiar to Utah audiences because in 2015 she was the guest artist for the annual Pioneer Day Concert of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. During the holidays, she also performed with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and the Orchestra at Temple Square.

But the Minnesota native's talents have been displayed far beyond the Utah borders. Well-known as a singer/actress on the Broadway stage, she has played lead roles in many Broadway musicals, including "Grease," "South Pacific," "Anything Goes," "Bonnie and Clyde" and the title role in "Cinderella."

Her talents were awarded with a Drama Desk Award for "Cinderella," and Tony nominations for "Bonnie and Clyde" and "Cinderella."

She launched her professional career in 2005 as a performing apprentice at the Children's Theatre Company in Minneapolis. Among her roles was Sandy in "Grease" at the Chanhassen Dinner Theatre, but she left when he was chosen to compete-and then win-the nationally-televised Broadway talent competition "Grease: You're the One That I Want!"

Lead roles followed for the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, The Lincoln Center, La Jolla Playhouse Lyric Opera of Chicago, Carnegie Hall and many Broadway venues. Musical appearances on television include Sondheim: The Birthday Concert at Avery Fisher Hall, HBO's documentary Six by Sondheim, and the Kennedy Center Honors salutes to Barbara Cook in 2011 and Dustin Hoffman in 2012. Her many concerts and cabarets include performing with Michael Feinstein, New York Philharmonic, New York Pops, and Pasadena Pops. She will perform as the leading lady during the 2016-2017 Broadway season in "The Bandstand."

Canadian vocalist Masri began singing in his minister father's small Pentecostal church in Nova Scotia as a nine-year-old, and within three years was singing in local churches and giving piano recitals. Although he originally planned to become a doctor, he chose music for his profession, stating "Music is kind of like medicine, I guess; it heals the body and soothes the soul." When his job as a music producer for the CTS network was eliminated, he decided to devote all his time to creating his own music. He released his first album, simply called "Mark Masri," in 2000, and has released four others. While he typically sings in English, he has a multilingual repertoire, which was highlighted with classic songs in six languages with his album, "La Voce." His genre bending style and eclectic taste in music is evident in his CD releases, including covers and originals that lean toward soulful; songs in six languages; gospel and opera; ballads and love songs; reimagined standards, theatrical pop and more.

He caught the attention of American songwriter/pianist Jim Brickman in 2008, and Brickman invited Masri to tour with him, including at the stop at the Shell. "That's where we first got introduced to Mark," SCERA's CEO Robertson adds. "All of our staff went out and bought all of his music, and he became a bit of an obsession around the office! When we had the opportunity bring him back, we jumped at the chance."

Masri collaborated on Brickman's holiday hit, "Christmas Is...," which reached the top 20 on Billboard's hot adult contemporary tracks. He also sang as a guest vocalist on Brickman's Grammy-nominated CD, "Faith." Whether he's performing with The Vivaldi Orchestra in Moscow, headlining his own North American tour, or guesting on David Foster's Hitman Returns PBS television special, Masri's sensuous tenor voice shows off his jaw-dropping range and classical training.

Following a Juno Award nomination for best gospel music, Masri earned GMA's Canada Covenant award for pop album of the year, contemporary gospel song of the year and pop song of the year.

Osnes and Masri will also surprises audiences and perform a couple of numbers together, "which should bring the house down," says Robertson.

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