Reva Rice Stars in 'Donna Summer & the Sound of the 70s', Opening Today

Stage star Reva Rice will feature in the next 'Music on the Rock' series concert: Donna Summer & the Sound of the 70s opening tonight, October 16th. Rice has been a star of shows on Broadway, the West End and Las Vegas.

"I am ecstatic about coming back to Flat Rock," said Rice. "I had such a great run there three years ago working with the wonderful Clint Holmes under the direction of the extraordinary Vincent Marini.

I'm honored to be asked to come back to perform the music of the Queen of Disco, Donna Summers. I won many a dance contest and roller-discoed all over this country to her music. That roller-disco skill is what helped me land my first Broadway show."

Rice has the unique opportunity to be the first to perform songs written by famous composer Andrew Lloyd Webber when she performed in the first production of Starlight Express.

"Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote 'Make Up My Heart' for Pearl on Broadway, where I originated the role, and 'Next Time You Fall in Love' for London's West End where I originated the role in The New Starlight Express," said Rice.

Reva Rice was born in Toledo, Ohio to Flute and Pearl Esterine Shields Rice. She began training in dance, theatre, and piano when she was five. She graduated from the Boston Conservatory of Music.

Her Broadway and international starring credits include Starlight Express, Fosse and Chicago. She has starred in the first national tours of Starlight Express, Smokey Joe's Café, Fosse, Chicago and Just Off the Road from Oprah Winfrey's The Color Purple. Rice has worked with such greats as Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Patrick Swayze, Chaka Khan, Dolly Parton, Melissa Manchester, American Idol's Fantasia and many more. She also performs and produces cabaret acts around the world. Reva Las Vegas is a 90-minute revue based on her journey back and forth from Broadway Babe to Vegas Vixen and her dance show band, The Jewelry Box.

Donna Summer was an American singer and songwriter who gained prominence during the disco era of music, earning the title "The Queen of Disco". Summer was trained as a gospel singer before her introduction to the music industry and has always been known for her "powerhouse" vocal delivery.

Though she is most notable for her disco hits, Summer's repertoire has expanded to include contemporary R&B, rock, pop, and gospel. Summer is one of the most successful recording artists of the 1970s and was the first artist to have three consecutive double albums hit number one on the Billboard charts. She also became the first female artist to have four number-one singles in a thirteen-month period. Summer's website claims that she has sold more than 130 million records worldwide.

Songs will include Summer hits 'Hot Stuff', 'Last Dance', 'Bad Girls' and many other 70s songs such as 'Ain't No Mountain High Enough', 'You Can't Hurry Love', 'I Love the Nightlife', 'Respect' and 'I Will Survive'.

TICKETS AND SCHEDULE

Rug & Home presents Donna Summer & the Sounds of the 70s at Playhouse Downtown October 16-20 and 23-27. Performances will be Wednesday through Saturday at 8:00 pm each evening. All tickets are $24 and can be purchased by calling The Playhouse box office at 828-693-0731, toll-free at 866-732 8008 or online at www.flatrockplayhouse.org. Playhouse Downtown is located at 125 S. Main Street in Hendersonville NC.

To post a comment, you must register and login.