The Shedd Institute has long championed the Classic American Songbook, drawing upon the talents of an exceptional company of musical theatre, jazz and cabaret vocalists to bring out the best in those historic gems. For New Worlds, New Directions, Divisi founder and Shedd veteran Evynne Hollens (last seen in The Shedd Institute’s smash hit musical Irving Berlin's White Christmas) brings together 5 of the Institute’s other top vocalists–Shirley Andress and Bill Hulings (our favorite leads–White Christmas, Kiss Me Kate, etc.), the exceptional soprano Siri Vik (La vie en rose, A Connecticut Yankee), founding Jazz Kings member Bob Cross (last seen at OFAM 2010) and Peter Hollens (founder of On The Rocks and last seen on NBC’s The Sing Off series)–for an evening of music from the “Contemporary” American Songbook.
This celebration of the modern American musical will highlight the most current, thrilling, and innovative sounds of the genre from such knock-out shows as In the Heights, Next To Normal, The Drowsy Chaperone, Shrek, Songs For A New World, and more, including “The New World”, “Stars And The Moon”, “The Girl In 14G”, “The Alto’s Lament”, “Kiss The Air” and “Louder Than Words”.
| | The New World (1995) Jason Robert Brown (w/m) |
| | The Girl In 14G (2001) Dick Scanlan (w) Jeanine Tesori (m) |
| | Smart Women (2002) Imaginary Friends Craig Carnelia (w) Marvin Hamlisch (m) |
| | On My Way (1997) Violet Brian Crawly (w) Jeanine Tesori (m) |
| | Who I'd Be (2008) Shrek, The Musical David Lindsay-Abaire (w) Jeanine Tesori (m) |
| | I Am Aldolpho (1999) The Drowsy Chaperone Lisa Lambert (w) Greg Morrison (m) |
| | Why (2001) tick, tick...BOOM! Jonathan Larson (w/m) |
| | The Life I Never Led (2006) Sister Act Glenn Slater (w) Alan Menken (m) |
| | Light (2008) Next To Normal Brian Yorkey (w) Tom Kitt (m) |