Iconic Broadway performer, Ben Vereen, is performing at the Newman Center for the Performing Arts on Friday, February 3 at 7:30pm in Denver, CO. Ben, whose campaign revolves around arts and education, is thrilled to partner with Rocky Mountain PBS to bring his one man show, Steppin' Out with Ben Vereen, to the University of Denver. This is a particularly exciting stop on Ben's itinerary as it is his first concert after his January 30th induction into the Theater Hall of Fame, the highest honor in theater. Additionally, Ben will be riding the wave of his Hawaiian tour where he will play five concerts, give numerous masterclasses and lectures, and participate in the Martin Luther King, Jr. rally. It's also exciting to note that Vereen recently reunited with the cast of Roots in Oprah's home for a 35th Anniversary Special on OWN, and that he is developing a new one man show that will run on Broadway in 2012 before touring the country.
Vereen’s show is a unique blend of artistry, combining a tribute to Broadway, Frank Sinatra, and a very special tribute to Sammy Davis Jr. Featuring hit songs such as “Defying Gravity,” “Mr. Bojangles,” and “Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries,” Ben Vereen Sings Broadway and More is a contemporary and timeless journey through the Broadway songbook. Ben has been headlining performing arts centers and symphonies across the country. Each performance is filled with song and dance, stories of his life, a great deal of humor, and always multiple standing ovations.
Rocky Mountain PBS celebrates its 56th anniversary on air in January 2012, reaching more than 1.2 million people throughout Colorado each week. Rocky Mountain PBS was Colorado’s first public television station and continues to rely on donations to sustain its operations. Proceeds from this concert will benefit the statewide network.
The following is BroadwayWorld's exclusive interview with theater, film, and TV legend, Mr. Ben Vereen...
BV: Hello BroadwayWorld! How is Broadway these days?
MM: It is quite wonderful actually, very busy here in Denver. It’s a good thing I love theater! First of all I just want to thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me and BroadwayWorld.
BV: Thanks you for doing this. Also thank you to PBS for allowing me to come to Denver and celebrate with them.
MM: I cannot wait to see you live in concert. I have admired you ever since I saw a PBS showing of your magical performance in Pippin and I further followed your career in The Muppet Show, Chicken George, All That Jazz, and recently with How I Met Your Mother.
BV: Thank you.
MM: So tell me a little about this upcoming performance.
BV: Well, the show is going to be a celebration of the years, of PBS bits. I want to thank our community in advance for coming out and for supporting this. PBS is also supporting themselves and our culture because the arts truly is our culture and PBS is a big part of that. My show will be a preview to a show I'm developing for Broadway called TENACITY that’s based on an album I do called Stepping Out Live. My pre-tribute to those who test my life, like Bob Fosse, Tom O'Horgan, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Shirley MacLaine, and I have some great musicians with me. I will also be joined by the director of the Circles of Light and they will all be joining me onstage. We will just have a celebration.
MM: Sounds wonderful. Do you have that one song that you love to sing in the show?
BV: I love singing all of them. I love performing.
MM: So if you could play any role in a show that you have not been able to, because of either gender or race, what would it be? For example, I have always wanted to play Coalhouse Walker, Jr.
BV: Why don’t you?
MM: I would love to. I sing his songs all the time. But, unfortunately, I’m a white guy.
