Todd Ellison Returns to Harris Center with THE ROMANCE OF BROADWAY Tonight

Hailed by the New York Times as one of "Broadway's electric conductors," Todd Ellison is one of the most accomplished and sought after Music Directors working today. Returning to Harris Center for the Arts for the second time this season Todd, as host and accompanist, is joined by four talented vocalists from the Broadway stage, including Sacramento native, Teal Wicks. They will be performing some of the most romantic songs from classic Broadway musicals such West Side Story, Hello Dolly, Man of La Mancha, South Pacific, My Fair Lady and more.

Joining Ellison for this engagement will be Klea Blackhurst, The Goodspeed Opera's 50th Anniversary production of Hello, Dolly!, and created the role of Miss Lemon in the Marvin Hamlisch/Rupert Holmes musical The Nutty Professor directed by Jerry Lewis; Teal Wicks, well known for her portrayal of the iconic green witch Elphaba in the Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Broadway productions of Wicked. Recently she starred opposite Constantine Maroulis and Deborah Cox in the Broadway revival and National Tour of Jekyll and Hyde. Miss Wicks was born and raised in Sacramento; Ross Lekites, Tony Award-Winner for his portrayal of Tony in the 1st National Tour of West Side Story; and Keith Spencer, A Connecticut Yankee, Broadway Bash, The Coffee Club Orchestra's 10th Anniversary for City Center Encores! and The Best of Broadway with Garrison Keillor.

Todd Ellison & Friends: The Romance of Broadway will perform tonight, June 6, 2014 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $25-$39; Premium $45; Students with ID $12. Tickets are available online at www.harriscenter.net or from Harris Center Ticket Office at 916-608-6888 from 10 am to 6 pm, Monday through Saturday, and two hours before show time. Parking is included in the price of the ticket. Harris Center is located on the west side of Folsom Lake College campus in Folsom, CA, facing East Bidwell Street.

Comfortable in wearing the many hats of composer, Musical Director, Conductor, arranger, and musician, Todd Ellison trained as a classical pianist, like many Broadway conductors. But in college he realized that "he liked Hammerstein more than Haydn and took up a career on the musical circuit," according to a New York Times interview.

He has been the Music Director and Conductor of the Broadway productions of Annie, Monty Python's Spamalot- Tony Award/Best Musical, La Cage aux Folles- Tony Award/Best Musical Revival, 42nd Street-Tony Award /Best Revival, Elton John's Lestat, Michel Legrand's Amour, The Wild Party, On The Town, Once Upon a Mattress (starring Sarah Jessica Parker), How To Succeed (starring Matthew Broderick), She Loves Me, Taller than a Dwarf, A Class Act, as well as Cats, Starlight Express and Annie 2.

He was the Music Director of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular at the famed Radio City Music Hall for several seasons. As Marvin Hamlisch's Music Director, Todd worked with him on his productions of Ballroom and The Nutty Professor directed by Jerry Lewis. For City Center's Encores! he conducted their acclaimed version of On The Town and was a guest pianist for No No, Nanette.

Internationally he has conducted at the Vienna Konzerthaus with Dawn Upshaw and Jerry Hadley, The Dublin Film Orchestra, Radio City Christmas Spectacular-Mexico City, World Science Festival- Lincoln Center, and Carnegie Hall-Cole Porters' Jubilee.

As a Pops conductor he has conducted the Pittsburgh Symphony, Long Beach Symphony, New Haven Symphony and York Symphony, as well as over 20 albums including the Grammy Award-winning cast albums of his shows. He has accompanied such stars as Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, Jane Lynch, Barry Manilow, Tyne Daly, Bea Arthur, David Hyde Pierce, Tim Curry, and Kelsey Grammar.

SAME THREE STAGES, BRAND NEW NAME!

Originally named Three Stages at Folsom Lake College in 2011, the facility has been renamed to honor Brice Harris, Chancellor Emeritus of the Los Rios Community College District, for his many contributions to the capital region, including the vision and leadership he provided in opening this regional arts center. Harris Center for the Arts at Folsom Lake College presents touring artists from around the world; partners with the best regional arts organizations, and supports productions by FLC students and faculty.

The Harris Center is a $50 million facility built with a combination of state, regional, local and private funds. Harris Center has three intimate theaters, an art gallery, a recording studio, elegant teaching spaces, plenty of safe parking and all the other amenities of a state-of-the-art performing arts venue.

EVENT SUMMARY

What: Todd Ellison & Friends: The Romance of Broadway

When: Friday, June 6, 2014 at 7:30 pm

Where: Harris Center for the Arts at Folsom Lake College

10 College Parkway

Folsom, CA 95630

Price: Tickets are $25-$39; Premium $45

Students with ID $12

Tickets are available online at www.HarrisCenter.net or from Harris Center Ticket Office at 916-608-6888 from 10 am to 6 pm, Monday through Saturday, and two hours before show time.

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