Seattle Men's Chorus Celebrates 30th Anniversary Season With Guest Betty Buckley Tonight, 12/5

On September 10, 1979 22 gay men from the Seattle area joined together for their first rehearsal at Seattle's First United Methodist Church. That same year Seattle, along with groups in New York, Minneapolis, Dallas, Los Angeles and San Francisco (1978) formed the first Gay Choruses in the country. Three decades later, Seattle Men's Chorus has grown to be the largest gay chorus in the world while weathering the AIDS pandemic, hate crimes and countless political and social battles. Now, SMC is 365 members strong. Under the 28-year leadership of artistic director Dennis Coleman, Seattle Men's Chorus has travelled throughout Washington state, across the United States, and around the globe spreading their mission and sharing their vision. They have thrived and this is a season to celebrate.

The Holiday Concert, Santa Baby, is the first show from their 30th Anniversary Season and special guest artist Betty Buckley will join the Chorus for the first two performances on November 28 ad 29in the S. Mark Taper Foundation Auditorium at Benaroya Hall. You can count on the Chorus warming hearts and tickling funny bones with glorious and glamorous holiday tunes.. Broadway legend, Betty Buckley, will be joined by her accompanist, the accomplished jazz pianist Kenny Werner. In April of 2010 SMC is overflowing with Latin flair and flavor, and the best way to describe it is simply, Olé! Olé! Olé! For the final concert of the 30th Anniversary Season Seattle Men's Chorus will join together with Seattle Women's Chorus, over 400 powerful voices strong, for a Sondheim/Bernstein tribute concert. The Summer Concert, aptly named after the song from Candide, Glitter and Be Gay is destined to be a show to remember for decades to come.

The 2009-2010 Season:
Seattle Men's Chorus (Holiday Concert)
Santa Baby
Opening Guest Star: Betty Buckley
Santa's bag is jam-packed with new musical toys, as well as new takes on old favorites. This year, tune into a ‘A Very Special Christmas Special' with hilarious highlights from forgotten TV Christmas shows, a Bollywood carol that will expand your holiday horizons, and our own, inspiring version of ‘Silent Night,' back by popular demand. Add in the majestic sounds of Benaroya Hall's Watjen Concert Organ, and you have a wonderful new visit with a familiar Seattle holiday tradition.
Dates: 11/28 (8pm); 11/29 (2pm) - Seattle-Benaroya Hall - with Betty Buckley
12/6, 12/13, 12/14, 12/20 - Seattle-Benaroya Hall (7:30 pm)
12/3/09 - Tacoma - Pantages Theatre (8 pm)
12/5/09 - Everett-Everett Civic Auditorium (8 pm)

Seattle Men's Chorus (Spring Concert)
Olé! Olé! Olé!
Don't miss this HOT retrospective of the sounds and flavors of Latin America and Spain. With this musical travelogue, the Men's Chorus will visit countries like Spain, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, and Cuba, serenading you with zarzuelas, tangos, and salsas. Dance in the aisles to hits by contemporary Latino vocal artists like Ricky Martin, Jennifer Lopez, Selena, Julio Iglesias, and Gloria Estefan. Enjoy performances by talented local folkloric dance and performance ensembles too, as we ignite McCaw Hall with the passion and emotion of Latino culture.
Dates: 4/10 (8pm), 4/11 (2pm) - Seattle- McCaw Hall
3/27 (7:30 pm) - Edmonds - Edmonds Center for the Performing Arts
4/17 (7pm) - Bremerton - Admiral Theatre
4/18 (3pm) - Olympia - The Washington Center for the Performing Arts

Seattle Men's Chorus & SEATTLE WOMEN'S CHORUS (Summer Concert)
Glitter and be Gay (part of Seattle Celebrates Bernstein)
The 30th Anniversary Season closes with an exciting collaboration between Seattle Men's Chorus and Seattle Women's Chorus. They will join forces for the first time ever in a musical extravaganza paying tribute to the work of two great American stage composers: Stephen Sondheim and Leonard Bernstein. Bernstein is a prodigy renowned for his energy and talents as both a conductor and composer, and Stephen Sondheim is the undisputed master of the modern Broadway musical. The concert will feature music from their collaborations West Side Story and Candide, as well as their individual works such as Bernstein's On the Town, and Sondheim's Sweeney Todd, A Little Night Music and Company.
Dates: 6/25, 6/26 - Seattle - McCaw Hall (8pm)
6/5 (7:30pm) - Olympia - The Washington Center for the Performing Arts
6/20 (3pm) - Tacoma - Pantages Theatre

Subscription Packages: On Sale Now
$36 -$167.50

Individual Tickets: Tickets on Sale to the General Public - $25-$65
Holiday Concert
10/10/09 (online); 10/12/09 (by phone)

Spring & Summer Concerts
2/20/10 (online); 2/22/10 (by phone)

Box Office: 206.388.1400 Mon-Fri Noon-7:00 pm
Online: www.seattlemenschorus.org

Photo credit Walter McBride

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