Laura Bell Bundy, Mara Davi and Jonathan Groff Set for CONCERT WITH THE STARS in Kentucky This Weekend

Laura Bell Bundy (Legally Blonde, Hairspray, Wicked), Mara Davi (A Chorus Line, The Drowsy Chaperone, Irving Berlin's White Christmas) and Jonathan Groff (Spring Awakening, In My Life) are headlining "Concert With The Stars," an event to help launch a new professional theatre company in Lexington, Kentucky.

Bundy, Davi and Groff will be singing the "songs that built them," as they recount stories and anecdotes from their artistic journeys. They will perform alongside an ensemble of nine college students/recent graduates and community members to help illustrate the mission of the organization

The Lexington Theatre Company ("The Lex") is under the direction of Jeromy Smith (42nd Street Nat'l Tour and former Associate General Manager at Richards/Climan, Inc.) and Lyndy Franklin Smith (A Chorus Line, The Little Mermaid), who are hoping to create a new kind of theatrical experience for Lexington. The nonprofit company will bring leading players from New York and Los Angeles to work alongside college students from the region, as well as local community members, will help to round out the supporting players and ensemble.

"We are modeling this theatre after some wonderful regional theatres that helped us get our start," said Franklin Smith. "Working at places like Music Theatre Wichita, Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma and Casa Manana (Fort Worth, TX) launched our careers when we were college students. We are excited to build an organization like this for Lexington, and pay it forward by creating a local training ground for future performers of American musical theatre."

The Lex aims to produce a summer musical theatre season at the Lexington Opera House, beginning with one production in July 2015.

"Concert With The Stars," is set for Saturday, January 10, 2015, at the Lexington Opera House, and is sponsored by Hilliard Lyons with additional grant/subsidy support from the Kentucky Arts Council and the Opera House Fund.

"We want to give our audience a taste of what our company is all about," said Smith. "We are bringing in established professionals in our industry to lead the concert. But, just like our shows, they will perform alongside college students who are aspiring to do what the pros do. We think this will be an exciting way to launch the organization and get Lexington excited about what we can bring to our community. Plus, we will reveal the title for our Summer 2015 production."

Lyndy Franklin Smith is a Lexington area native and performed on Broadway in the 2006 Revival of A Chorus Line and Disney's The Little Mermaid. She toured with Fosse and Irving Berlin's White Christmas and performed for three seasons at Radio City Music Hall in the Christmas Spectacular. Jeromy Smith hails from Oklahoma and toured with 42nd Street and Swing!, before spending several years behind the scenes on Broadway as an Associate General Manager for major Broadway General Management Company, Richards/Climan, Inc. The Smiths hold degrees in dance performance and management from Oklahoma City University. Since their return to the Bluegrass in 2010, they have been directing and choreographing productions for the University of Kentucky (where they also teach), the University of Michigan, as well as Music Theatre Wichita. They also direct Town and Village School of Dance in Paris, KY.

For more information and to buy tickets or make a donation, please visit the organization's website, www.lexingtontheatrecompany.org. Tickets may also be purchased at The Lexington Center Box Office, phone (859) 233-3535.