SONGBOOK OF THE 50'S Opens March 8 at Quality Hill Playhouse

Quality Hill Playhouse continues its 24th Season with a romp through the decade that gave us classic Broadway musicals as well as the rise of vocal jazz in BROADWAY AND ALL THAT JAZZ: SONGBOOK OF THE 50S, an original cabaret revue opening March 8.

Perhaps no decade in American history had more personalities to its music than the 1950s. This dynamite and dynamic cabaret revue will pay tribute to this variety of sound, starting with songs from classic Broadway musicals including GYPSY, THE MUSIC MAN, and WEST SIDE STORY. Off stage, Broadway continued to provide source material for jazz and pop vocalists in the 50s, and songs like "If I Were A Bell" (GUYS AND DOLLS), "On The Street Where You Live" (MY FAIR LADY), and "My Favorite Things" (THE SOUND OF MUSIC) will be performed in uptempo, jazz arrangements celebrating this rising artform. The revue's second act represents the "All That Jazz" portion of the production, featuring vocal jazz ballads ("When I Fall In Love," "Guess Who I Saw Today"); vocalese ("Everybody's Boppin'," "Four Brothers"); easy, cool jazz ("Fly Me To The Moon," "Teach Me Tonight," "Satin Doll"); and a seldom-heard four-part vocal arrangement of the Dave Brubeck classic "Take Five." With this many styles and this much rhythm, this joint will be rockin'!

SONGBOOK OF THE 50S runs through April 7 at Quality Hill Playhouse, 303 W. 10th Street, Kansas City, Mo. Single tickets are $41, with discounts for students, seniors, and groups. Pro-rate season tickets are $105 each for the three remaining productions; the season runs through July 14, 2019. For tickets, call 816-421-1700. Visit www.QualityHillPlayhouse.com for more information or to purchase tickets online.

About the Performers
Christina Burton completes a "baker's dozen" appearances as a vocalist at QHP with this production. A triple-threat performer, Burton has acted, sung, and danced on the stages of Starlight Theatre, Unicorn Theatre, and Musical Theater Heritage, as well as choreographed productions for Starlight, the Unicorn, and Quality Hill Playhouse. Joseph Carr has quickly become a Playhouse favorite, having made his debut last season in CHRISTMAS IN SONG, followed closely by SINATRA'S SONGWRITER. With degrees in both theatre and music, Carr is at home in both musical theatre and opera. Local credits include Kansas City Rep, Musical Theater Heritage, Spinning Tree Theatre, and Lyric Opera of Kansas City. Valerie Fagan recently relocated back to her hometown of Kansas City having made a career in New York City for a number of years. She has performed on Broadway (THE ADDAMS FAMILY) and off-Broadway (Forbidden Broadway: Rude AWAKENING). A writer as well as a performer, Fagan co-wrote SIX WOMEN WITH BRAIN DEATH and GOIN' TO THE CHAPEL. Robert Erik Sobbe returns to QHP to sing songs from another iconic decade, having just performed music from the 1940s in the theatre's last show. A Kansas City native, Sobbe recently returned home following three years at sea performing with Princess Cruises and Crystal Cruises. With his beautiful voice and charming personality, he performs regularly at The New Theatre and other venues in town.

J. Kent Barnhart founded the producing company Quality Hill Productions in 1995 and secured the lease on Quality Hill Playhouse in the same year. The company regularly produces six cabaret revues and off-Broadway musicals each year, with a season running from September through July. The theatre has seven rows and seats 153, providing one of the most intimate theatre experiences in Kansas City.