By Meredith Dault, Senior Communications Officer

 The Queen's Symphony Orchestra will perform as part of Broadway - Take Two! 

When Elisabeth Santos (BMus ’14) steps out onto the stage at Grant Hall and begins to sing as part of the School of Music’s fundraising concert, Broadway – Take Two, it will be a performance more than a year in the making. All ready to sing in last year’s show, Broadway – Live in Concert, Ms. Santos never got to take to the stage when the February event was cancelled due to bad weather. Organizers were not able to reschedule to the concert due to Grant Hall being solidly booked.

“I am looking forward to getting to finally sing through this show for the audience I know had been looking forward to it last year,” she says, “even though Mother Nature had other plans!”

The two-hour show, which features performances by music and drama students, as well as faculty members, will showcase Broadway melodies from Oklahoma!, Les Misérables, and Annie Get Your Gun, among others. The singers will be accompanied by the Queen’s Symphony Orchestra.

Produced by Bruce Kelly, an opera singer and adjunct lecturer in voice, says cast members audition to participate and are not required to be majoring in drama or music. Those doing solos, however, usually work with their teachers to perfect their performances.

Students ready for the spotlight 

Third year student Jacqui Sirois (Artsci ’15), a drama major and music minor, was also slated to be in last year’s show. She says she is thrilled to be performing in this year’s fundraiser.

“There are some really wonderful singers and musicians taking part in this show,” says Ms. Sirois, who will be performing a song from South Pacific and a duet from The King and I. “They not only bring out the beauty of the music, but they also showcase the incredible musical talent that Queen’s has to offer.”

Ms. Santos, who will be singing a solo from Jesus Christ, Superstar!, a duet from The Phantom of the Opera, and as part of the chorus, says taking part in this year’s performance has given her the opportunity to connect with her musical theatre side.

“I was involved in a lot of musical productions in high school, but since arriving at Queen’s, my repertoire has become mainly classical as I focus on more operatic singing,” she explains.

“This experience has been a nice way to get into another character and have fun singing a lot of upbeat pieces with a strong cast of talented performers.” 

-Elisabeth Santos (BMus '14)

While Ms. Sirois admits she’s a little nervous about Friday’s performance, she says she is looking forward to the moment when the orchestra and singers first come together in Grant Hall.

“That moment always gives me chills,” she says. “It’s such a treat to listen to the orchestra play this music, especially in Grant Hall, because the music just fills the air… I never manage to wipe the grin off my face when I'm listening to the performances.”

For more information, visit the School of Music's website.