Broadway Stars are 'Free to Dream' at the Kimball

By WYDaily Staff Tuesday, July 19, 2011

This weekend brings Broadway actors Darlene Love, Julia Murney, Anthony Rapp and Matt Dengler to Williamsburg, where they'll star in “Free to Dream: New Songs for the American Journey,” a concert specially adapted for Colonial Williamsburg. Television personality Willard Scott also lends his recorded voice to the program, which showcases the people and places that make up the fabric of America with musical styles from country, rock and pop to swing and the blues.

The production is a compilation of pieces by Grammy-winning composer Doug Katsaros and Emmy-winning lyricist William Schermerhorn, a 1982 William and Mary graduate. A nine-piece band accompanies the singers.

The program is part of the collaboration between The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and Virginia Arts Festival. Ticket proceeds support the educational mission of the non-profit Colonial Williamsburg Foundation.

The stars bring an impressive resume to the production. Darlene Love, a 2011 inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, is best known for her hit songs “He’s a Rebel,” “Da Doo Ron Ron” and “He’s Sure the Boy I’m Gonna Marry.” Love has lit up the stage in “Hairspray,” “Grease” and “Leader of the Pack.” On the silver screen, she is most recognizable as Danny Glover’s wife in the “Lethal Weapon” films. Julia Murney last appeared on Broadway as Elphaba in “Wicked” and in “The Wild Party.” Anthony Rapp originated the role of Mark Cohen in the Tony Award-winning rock opera “Rent.” He has also starred in films including “Dazed and Confused,” “A Beautiful Mind,” and “Six Degrees of Separation,” among others. Matt Dengler understudied the role of Henrik in the Broadway revival of “A Little Night Music” and played the role of the Mute in the off-Broadway revival of “The Fantasticks.”

Katsaros and Schermerhorn have been collaborating for nearly a decade, writing songs for national audiences as part of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Macy’s 4th  of July Fireworks and other notable events. They debuted “Free to Dream: New Songs for the American Journey” in July 2010 to rave reviews. In addition to the title song “Free to Dream,” the July concert program will include the original songs “It’s All About Tonight,” “Beneath a Summer Sky,” “Gift of Light” and “Sing Another Day.”