Lisa Vroman ’79 will kick off the 2018-19 CPS Guest Artist Series with performances on Saturday, Sept. 22 at 7:30 p.m., and on Sunday, Sept. 23 at 3 p.m., in Snell Theater at SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music.
The Community Performance Series 2018-19 Guest Artist Series season will open with two thrilling performances, when Broadway and opera star Lisa Vroman ’79 makes her return to SUNY Potsdam for an exciting pair of concerts, on Sept. 22 and 23.
Two performances are scheduled to take place in the Sara M. Snell Music Theater at The Crane School of Music, and will correspond with SUNY Potsdam’s Family Weekend. Vroman will take center stage on Saturday, Sept. 22 at 7:30 p.m., and on Sunday, Sept. 23 at 3 p.m.
“We are thrilled to be presenting Lisa Vroman once again. As a North Country native and Crane School of Music alumna, we feel that her visits are so important for the young people of our community, for the College and for local music lovers. Her visits show that no matter how far you travel down the road to success, you always find your way back home. She is one of the brightest stars, but remains humble and truly supportive of our community,” said CPS Executive Director Jason L. Dominie.
On stage at her alma mater, Vroman will perform from her extensive repertoire, ranging from Broadway to classics, alongside pianist Shane Schag. The performance will also include lively accompaniment from an exclusive group of Crane School of Music vocalists for select pieces.
Vroman will perform as the 35th annual McElheran Visiting Artist for the CPS Guest Artist Series. In addition to her CPS performances, Vroman will also take part in Crane Opera Ensemble rehearsals throughout the week. The ensemble is preparing for the world premiere of a new opera, “Mayo,” written by Tom Cipullo, winner of the 2018 Pellicciotti Opera Composition Prize. Vroman will play the Nurse in the production, which will debut in November.
A graduate of The Crane School of Music, Lisa Vroman has been lauded as a “musical and theatrical marvel” by the San Francisco Chronicle, as well as “one of American musical theatre’s most beautiful voices” by acclaimed Broadway director Sir Cameron Mackintosh. Among her extensive repertoire, Vroman is best known for her roles as Christine Daaé in “The Phantom of the Opera,” Rosalinda in “Die Fledermaus,” and both Fantine and Cosette in “Les Misérables.”
Her Broadway debut was in “Aspects of Love.” For PBS, Vroman was featured with Colm Wilkinson and Michael Ball in Cameron Mackintosh's “Hey, Mr. Producer!” at the Lyceum Theatre in London, a Royal Gala attended by Queen Elizabeth II. Vroman played Lucy Brown in “The Threepenny Opera” at American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco with Bebe Neuwirth, Nancy Dussault and Anika Noni Rose. She sang the role of Johanna in the San Francisco Symphony’s Emmy Award-winning “Sweeney Todd in Concert,” alongside Patti Lupone and George Hearn. Both are available on DVD. Vroman starred as Laurey in “Oklahoma!,” filmed live in concert for the BBC Proms Festival at Royal Albert Hall in London, and also starred as Mary Turner in Gershwin's “Of Thee I Sing/Let ‘Em Eat Cake” in concert with the San Francisco Symphony and Chorus, conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas.
Other roles include Laurie in “The Tender Land” at the Cabrillo Music Festival; Maria in “The Sound Of Music” with Tulsa Opera; Josephine in “HMS Pinafore”; Yum-Yum in “The Mikado,” and Anna 1 in “The Seven Deadly Sins” with the Utah, Florida, Portland and Parnassus symphonies. She has sung Maria in “West Side Story,” Guenevere in “Camelot,” Carrie Pipperidge in “Carousel,” Eliza Doolittle in “My Fair Lady,” and Amalia Balash in “She Loves Me,” among others.
With a repertoire that ranges from Stravinsky to Weill to Broadway, Vroman is a frequent guest soloist with theaters, opera companies and orchestras, including engagements with the San Francisco, Philadelphia, Chicago, Atlanta, National, Florida, Santa Barbara, Hong Kong, Cleveland, Nashville, Pacific, Utah and Dallas symphony orchestras, as well as the Pasadena Pops, Boston Pops and Philly Pops. Vroman made her debut at the Hollywood Bowl in Disney's 75th celebration, singing and dancing with the legendary Dick Van Dyke in a medley from “Mary Poppins.” She guest starred with the Sony artist and Greek tenor Mario Frangoulis in his New York City debut concert at City Center, and has performed many times at the New York Festival of Song, including in a tribute to Broadway director Harold Prince. Vroman has sung in concert with conductor Michael Tilson Thomas, composer Stephen Schwartz, organist David Higgs and the Empire Brass Quintet.
Her solo album, “Broadway Classic,” features fellow SUNY Potsdam alumna and Metropolitan Opera mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe ’92, along with 47 of San Francisco’s finest orchestral players. Among her many accomplishments, Vroman had the honor of singing at the Profiles in Courage Award dinner in Boston at the JFK Library, as a guest of the Kennedy family. She has also sung on separate occasions for Queen Elizabeth, former President Bill Clinton and former Vice President Al Gore.
Tickets are now on sale, and can be purchased by visiting the CPS Box Office, located in the lobby of SUNY Potsdam's Performing Arts Center, by calling (315) 267-2277 or by visiting their new website at http://www.cpspotsdam.org. Single tickets can also be purchased in-person at Brick & Mortar Music in downtown Potsdam.
A 25 percent discount is available exclusively through the CPS Box Office when purchasing tickets to three or more Guest Artist Series events. Regular ticket prices for this concert are $50 for general admission, $47 for senior citizens and $21 for students. A special meet-and-greet before each performance, as well as optional cabaret seating on stage, is priced at $100.
For more information on the 2018-19 season and artists, visit http://www.cpspotsdam.org, or check out the CPS Facebook page, at http://www.facebook.com/cpspotsdam.
About Community Performance Series:
The Community Performance Series is a college-community partnership presenting distinctive and renowned performing artists and arts education opportunities in Northern New York. This rich mixture of programming links communities, classrooms and audiences of all ages and preserves access to the performing arts for future generations. For more information, visit www.cpspotsdam.org.
About SUNY Potsdam:
Founded in 1816, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of only three arts campuses in the entire SUNY system. SUNY Potsdam’s arts curriculum offers the full palette: music, theatre, dance, fine arts and creative writing. No matter the discipline, people from all backgrounds can find their creative compass at Potsdam, with myriad arts immersion experiences available for both campus and community. To learn more, visit www.potsdam.edu.
Arts & Culture