A Night of Broadway: An Evening in Concert brought musical stars from around the world to Naperville’s Wentz Concert Hall on Feb. 21. Based in the Western suburbs, the Illinois Conservatory for the Arts hosted this third annual concert to raise funds for various educational programs with a specific focus on adolescence and teens.
Dozens of silent auction items included high-priced jewelry, signed sports-jerseys and autographed framed portraits of pop singers Taylor Swift, P!nk and Justin Timberlake, among others, as well as various travel packages.
The entertainment portion of the evening followed in the concert hall with a 20-piece orchestra led by Valerie Gebert. Co-founder of the non-profit organization, Dylan Ladd welcomed the ticket holders to the show and stressed the importance of the benefit.
Kicking off the talented bunch was the youngest Tony Award winner so far, Myles Frost, who won Best Male Actor for MJ the Musical. Frost channeled the spirit of Michael Jackson with ease, warming up musical theater fans, several of whom were screaming from the front row.
Frost was followed by the current star of the musical version of The Notebook, Aisha Jackson. Her unique version of “Don’t Rain on My Parade” from Funny Girl brought a rain of praise from spectators, and then Amber Iman covered a song from Once on This Island to noticeably loud applause.
Cabaret professional Karen Mason overcame a few minor technical difficulties while not missing a beat to power through some challenging lyrics. The 73-year-old seasoned performer gave sage advice to the students that night: “Keep learning and never stop trying!”
Mason described her experience of originating the role of Tanya in Mamma Mia! after the September 11 attacks in New York City. She said, “The people that came to the show during that difficult time kept me going every night.”
It was the Tony Award winner from Some Like It Hot, J. Harrison Ghee, who astounded many with vocal acrobatics accompanied by a strong stage presence. A disco version of La Cage Aux Folles’s “I Am What I Am” was a showstopper at the end of their set. The non-binary identifying performer spoke by phone earlier in the day and proudly reflected on the lyrics: “I will show up as who I am regardless of the compartmentalization of my existence.”
The Fayetteville, North Carolina native said they were happy to return to Illinois after spending so much time at the Goodman Theatre previously for Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Hopes are high to bring the popular musical version to Broadway in the future and keep The Lady Chablis’ spirit alive. Until then, Ghee protects their voice by staying hydrated and confessed, “My best singing is in the shower!”
After each singer gave unforgettable live versions of their trio of tunes, hostess Chadae McAlister asked them a few questions to provide both words of wisdom for students listening in the crowd and entertaining stories about their individual journeys while performing in New York’s Theater District.
An inspired student choir ended the show with an emotional group number from Dear Evan Hansen‘s “You Will Be Found.”
A lively after party from DJ Craig D gave background music perfect for mingling with the cast to close down the night’s festivities. The women-owned dessert company Sugar Bliss supplied a variety of cookies in the lobby as the crowd exited the building.
The ICA was established in 2020 and has helped over 600 people with assistance to further their education. Visit ilconservatory.org for more information and future donation opportunities.