Musical Theater Heritage to Present AN EVENING WITH COLE PORTER, 3/3-13

This year's original show from Musical Theater Heritage will be "AN EVENING WITH COLE PORTER" March 3-13, written by MTH Executive Director & Founder, George Harter. The program will feature an all local cast including the internationally famous tenor, Ben Gulley and Kansas City favorite Lauren Braton.

"Most of our American Songbook comes from music by the Jewish, Tin-Pan-Alley composers, who were inspired mostly by Yiddish folk songs, the new jazz musicians up in Harlem and-to some degree-the operetta of Europe ", says George Harter in explaining his particular interest in the life of Cole Porter. "Cole Porter, though didn't take from any of these sources. He was wealthy from family money and traveled the world picking up bits from Pacific Island music (Begin the Beguine) or even from Islamic prayers heard in Morocco (Night & Day). This is why I think Cole Porter sounds so different from George Gershwin or Irving Berlin".

Cole Porter had both his legs badly broken in a horseback riding accident in 1937. The rest of his life was spent in constant pain. Despite this, he turned out some of the most beautiful songs we have today-kept alive by recording artist such as Dianna Krall, Elvis Costello and Audra McDonald; songs such as "You're Sensational", "Just One of Those Things", "So In Love" or "In The Still of The Night".

If you enjoyed "BERNSTEIN'S BROADWAY" from MTH in 2014 or "WOULDN'T IT BE LOVERLY" the best of Lerner & Loewe last year; then you will be thoroughly entertained by the wit & elegance of the Cole Porter Songbook including 22 of his best-loved songs with stories of his life and times.

"AN EVENING WITH COLE PORTER" is written and hosted by George Harter and is directed by STEVEN EUBANK. The cast includes LAUREN BRATON, BEN GULLEY, LICIA WATSON, TYLER EISENREICH, JOSH ATKINS, SHON RUFFIN, and ELISE POEHLING. A three-piece combo will provide the music led by JEREMY WATSON at the piano.

Performances will be presented Thursdays thru Sundays, March 3-13 at MUSICAL THEATER HERITAGE at CROWN CENTER on the third floor of the Crown Center Shops.