Joan Hess

Kirby Ward

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Lancaster Symphony Orchestra’s New Year’s Eve Celebration to Treat Revelers to a Whole Lotta “Dancin’ & Romancin’.”

LANCASTER, PA -- The Lancaster Symphony Orchestra is inviting the community to ring in the New Year in a whole new Broadway program of “Dancin’ & Romancin’” Thursday, December 31, 2009. Returning to the American Music Theatre with a brand new repertoire of Broadway favorites will be singer/dancers Kirby Ward and Joan Hess.

The night will begin at 7 pm at the American Music Theatre. Noisemakers, champagne and a rousing sing-along to Auld Lang Syne will also be a part of the fun.

Joan Hess, Kirby Ward and the Orchestra will have concertgoers Singing in the Rain and dancing in the aisles to Broadway favorites by Gershwin, Berlin, Cole Porter and more. Said The Buffalo News of an earlier performance of the singer-dancers, “They pretty much stole the show.”

The Lancaster Symphony Orchestra itself will add romance and dance to the evening, performing Tchaikovsky’s symphonic poem, Romeo and Juliet and the Strauss’ beloved waltzes, Blue Danube and Treasure Waltz.

Joan Hess and Kirby Ward are two of Broadway’s most entertaining singer-dancers. Hess recently completed her fifth Broadway show, playing the wealthy and hilarious Tanya in the hit musical, “Mamma Mia.” Her other performances on the Great White Way include “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,” “Bells Are Ringing,” “Kiss Me Kate” and “Crazy for You.” She also toured the country with “42nd Street” and “Beehive.”

She was featured in the PBS Great Performances series, “My Favorite Broadway: The Love Songs,” hosted by Julie Andrews. She has also been seen as the leggy blonde in HBO’s Grammy-winning comedy series, Flight of the Concords.

Hess’ New Year’s Eve song and dance partner, Kirby Ward, has worked in film, television and stage on five continents for three decades. His song and dance roles have included performances in “42nd Street,” “Singin’ in the Rain,” “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “My One and Only” and “Evita.” On television he has appeared on “Law and Order,” “The Tonight Show” and “General Hospital.” His film work includes “For the Boys,” “Pennies from Heaven” and “S.O.B.”

The Lancaster Symphony’s home for its New Year’s Eve Celebration, The American Music Theatre, is located at 2425 Lincoln Highway East (Route 30) in Lancaster, opposite the Rockvale Square Outlets.

All tickets for the New Year’s Eve Celebration are $69. They can be purchased by calling the American Music Theatre at (717) 397-7700 or (800) 648-4102. Tickets can also be reserved online at amtshows.com.

The 2009-2010 “Only in Lancaster” season marks Maestro Stephen Gunzenhauser’s
29th year as the creative leader of the Symphony. He took the Symphony’s baton in 1980. The Grammy-nominated musician also led the Delaware Symphony for 23 years.

In 2004, he served as artistic advisor and principal conductor for the Bogota
Philharmonic Orchestra. He maintains a regular guest-conducting schedule in  Bogota and with symphony orchestras all over the world. In addition to judging the prestigious Ragusa Ibla International Music Competition in Italy this past summer, he also judged the fourth annual Piano Competition in Kazakhstan in November.

The prolific conductor has made 66 recordings and sold over 2 million CDs.

Now in its 62nd season, the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra has evolved from a community orchestra into an organization of professional musicians serving 52,000 music enthusiasts with 28 yearly subscription concerts, the New Year’s Eve gala celebration and a free, outdoor community patriotic concert.

The Lancaster Symphony Orchestra is a 75-member, professional orchestra that was founded in 1947 by Frederick S. Klein and John H. Peifer, Jr. from Franklin & Marshall College.

The orchestra is a non-profit organization, governed by a board of 30 community
volunteers and managed by a professional staff under the direction of president and chief executive officer M. Scott Robinson. Ticket sales revenues and donations from
hundreds of corporate and private benefactors underwrite the Symphony’s invaluable contribution to the quality of life in south central Pennsylvania.