Tonight/Somewhere from West Side Story Words by Stephen Sondheim/ Music by Leonard Bernstein/Arr

Home , All I Ask of You, Charles Hart (lyricist), Herbert Kretzmer, Joe Darion, Leslie Bricusse, Mitch Leigh

A Few Words About the Rest of the Program:

Tonight/Somewhere from West Side Story Words by Stephen Sondheim/ Music by Leonard Bernstein/arr. Terry Winch & Bob Krogstad

Set as a mid-century, urban Romeo and Juliet, West Side Story explores the rivalry between two New York street gangs and the forbidden romance that blossoms in spite of it. Bernstein wrote the work in 1957 and it was nominated for 6 Tony Awards that year. If not for The Music Man, it might have won them all.

This is the Moment from Jekyll & Hyde Words by Leslie Bricusse/Music by Frank Wildhorn/arr. Bob Krogstad

The musical version of the legend of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde was premiered in 1997. Frank Wildhorn composed the score and the book was taken from the original Robert Louis Stevenson by Leslie Bricusse. “This is the Moment” comes at the crucial point in the story when Dr. Jekyll is about to test the fateful formula on himself.

Into the Fire from The Scarlet Pimpernel Words by Nan Knighthorn/Music by Frank Wildhorn/arr. JAC Redford

Also from the pen of Frank Wildhorn and also from the year 1997, The Scarlet Pimpernel depicts the Reign of Terror and the French Revolution. “Into the Fire” comes early in Act I when Percy, Armand and others make plans to rescue some of the doomed aristocrats from the guillotine.

The Prayer from Quest for Camelot Words & Music by Carole Bayer-Sager & David Foster/arr. Bob Krogstad

Quest for Camelot was an animated feature film from 1998 which was based on the Arthurian novel by Vera Chapman called The King’s Damosel. Celine Dion provided the singing voice for the character of Juliana and, with the help of Andrea Bocelli, made “The Prayer” the standout hit of the soundtrack.

Do You Hear the People Sing from Les Miserables Words by Herbert Kretzmer & Alain Boublil/Music by Claude-Michel Schonberg/arr. Bob Krogstad

Based on the Victor Hugo classic, Les Mis premiered in Paris back in 1980 and remains one of the most beloved Broadway staples. This story also presents the viewer with a revolutionary France and the perils of power that accompany such times, but the real message is about redemption on a personal level. The score includes a seemingly uncountable number of blockbuster hits.

All I Ask of You from Phantom of the Opera Words by Charles Hart & Richard Stilgoe/Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber/arr. Bob Krogstad

We stay in France with Andrew Lloyd Webber’s incredibly successful Phantom of the Opera (1986). Few modern Broadway scores have enjoyed as varied a life as that of Phantom. The music appears regularly on concert stages around the world and the excellent songs are excerpted often. “All I Ask of You” is Christine’s love duet with Raoul in Act I, the song that brings down the chandelier!

Smile from the movie Modern Times Words by John Turner & Geoffrey Parson/Music by Charles Chaplin/arr. Cody McVey

“Smile” is based on music from Charlie Chaplin’s 1936 classic film Modern Times. Its original instrumental iteration comes from the final scene of the movie, when The Tramp tries to elicit a smile from Ellen by pointing to the corners of his mouth. She’s nervous about the future but he encourages her to find hope as the set of on their uncertain path.

The Impossible Dream from Man of La Mancha Words by Joe Darion/Music by Mitch Leigh/arr. Bob Krogstad

Wasserman and Leigh’s unique play within a play was written in 1964 and its main title “The Impossible Dream” has become its most evergreen. So common is it now as a stand-alone experience that some might forget where it actually came from. The musical itself won five Tonys and it continues to live on in the repertoire as an undisputed masterwork of the form.