CSUN University News Clippings

Music faculty member Diane Ketchie to perform best of Brpadway on the Forest Grove

(October 29, 2009)

By

The Forest Grove News-Times,

The show features Broadway stars Diane Ketchie, Raymond Saar, Valerie Perri and Scott Harlan, who’ll take the audience on an unforgettable journey through Andrew Lloyd Webber’s greatest musical hits. Revisit the powerful rock musical, “Jesus Christ Superstar,” the thrilling strains of “Evita,” the fun of “Cats” and the heart-pounding rhythms of “Starlight Express.”

The actors have performed everywhere from Carnegie Hall to the White House and have starred in such blockbuster shows as “Les Miserables” and “Wicked.”

Founder and director Raymond Saar has performed on concert stages and in theaters throughout the world. He starred as Raoul in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Phantom of the Opera” in San Francisco for two years and toured extensively with Sammy Cahn in his original musical, “Words and Music.” In “Les Miserables,” Saar played Marius on Broadway and Enjolras in the Los Angeles production and was one of the featured soloists on the international cast album. He played Lun Thau in the national tour of “The King and I,” starring Yul Brynner. He also portrayed leading roles in productions of “Hello Dolly,” with Martha Raye, “Guys and Dolls” with John Saxon, “Shenandoah” with John Raitt and “Applause” with Nannette Fabray.

Diane Ketchie made her Broadway debut in “Phantom of the Opera” and also starred in the San Francisco production of the same for two years. She made her New York recital debut at Carnegie Hall after winning the Artists International annual competition and has appeared as a guest soloist with a host of orchestras, including the Houston Symphony, the Dallas Symphony, the Jacksonville Symphony, the Milwaukee Symphony and the Charlotte Symphony in repertoire ranging from Mozart to Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Operatic credits include leading roles with Lyric Opera Cleveland, Opera Delaware, Opera Carolina, Skylight Comic Opera and Treasure Coast Opera. She now tours with The Best of Broadway and serves on the music faculty of California State University at Northridge.

Valerie Perri is best known to theater audiences for her award-winning performance in the lead role of Eva Peron in the musical “Evita.” Directed by Harold Prince, Perrie headed the first national touring production, performing the lead role across the United States and Canada, winning rave reviews. She has performed with the San Diego Symphony, Oklahoma City Symphony, North Carolina Pops, Paducah Symphony, and on the concert stages at Wolftrap, Frankfurt, Germany’s esteemed Opera House, and The London Palladium.

Scott Harlan’s credits include “From the Top,” “Radio Gals,” “Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up” and “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.”

Pacific University’s Performing Arts Series is sponsored by Tuality Healthcare and Best Western University Inn and Suites. Tickets are $22 and can be purchased by calling 503-352-3918 or by e-mail at boxoffice@pacificu.edu.

Publication: The Forest Grove News-Times