Wilbanks, Gagnon & Ilieva Set for NJ New Year's Concert

On Sunday, December 31st at 7PM, Westfield Symphony Orchestra will once again one of New Jersey's most popular New Year's Eve musical celebrations.

This year's performance, "The American Songbook," stars Broadway veterans Marguerite Willbanks (Beauty and the Beast, The Secret Garden), David Gagnon (Les Miserables) and acclaimed New York cabaret artist Milla Ilieva. New York City Opera's leading baritone, Marcus DeLoach, is also set to make a special guest appearance.

"'The American Songbook' promises a splendid revue of American Broadway classics and an insight into the wacky, the tender, the comic, and the tragic elements of American musical theater, all rolled up in friendly cabaret style. This is an event for the whole family; a concert for adults to reminisce to songs we all know, for kids to enjoy some of the more peculiar characters to grace Broadway's stage, and for us all to revel in the theatrical genius of some of our finest professional performers," as press notes describe the show.

Due to sell out audiences over the past 5 years, the event has moved to the 1000-seat, recently refurbished, Westfield High School auditorium, a now acoustically superior hall modernized with the latest lighting and sound equipment as well as assigned seating.

Now in it's 24th season, the Westfield Symphony Orchestra is viewed as "one of the cultural jewels of the metropolitan area. "It is recognized by the NJ State Council on the Arts as a "Distinguished Arts Organization" and is the resident orchestra of Union County.

The Westfield High School Auditorium is located at 550 Dorian Road in Westfield, NJ.  Tickets $30 and $60, may be purchased directly from the WSO, (908) 232-9400; or at one of the following WSO ticket outlets: Commerce Bank 560 N.Ave E.); Fast Frame (111 Quimby Street, Westfield); Martin Jewelers (12 North Avenue West, Cranford).

For further information call (908) 232-9400, or email wso@westfieldsymphony.org.