61.0°,
Mostly Cloudy The Long Island Philharmonic rings in 2012
Welcoming the New Year around Long Island
Another year has come and gone and it’s time to make way for 2012. There are many terrific options nearby to enjoy the big night – whether you want a glamorous evening on the town or something more casual. Here are some suggestions on where and how to celebrate.
A Long Island Philharmonic Celebration
Join Maestro David Wiley, music director and conductor, and the Long Island Philharmonic at their annual musical celebration to usher in the New Year. The Philharmonic’s New Year’s Eve concert has become a popular year-end tradition for the orchestra and its fans. This year’s celebration, “Broadway & Hollywood,” combines the best of musical theater with favorites from Academy Award-winning movies.
With the Philharmonic still undergoing reorganization, this concert is one of the few chances for fans of the orchestra – which was founded in 1979 by the late folk singer Harry Chapin – to enjoy a performance at the moment. A decision on the 2012 season should be announced early next year.
The glittering year-end concert features music from Broadway’s most beloved showstoppers and favorite films, including Gone with the Wind, Meet Me in St. Louis, West Side Story, Star Wars, Chariots of Fire, Titanic, and much more. The program includes a salute to MGM’s That’s Entertainment!, “The Way You Look Tonight” from Swing Time, “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” from Born to Dance, “Gigi” from Gigi, and medleys from Star Wars and Victor Victoria, among the many treasured tunes performed.
Wiley and his orchestra join forces with four musical theater stars, all of who are making their Philharmonic debuts. The performers present a diverse range of talents: Matt Cavenaugh, who starred as “Tony” in the 2009 Broadway revival of West Side Story; Jenn Gambatese, who originated the leading role of “Natalie/Ed” in the hit musical All Shook Up; Sean MacLaughlin, most recently playing “Raoul” in Broadway’s longest running show, The Phantom of the Opera; and Michele Ragusa, who starred as “Elizabeth” in Mel Brooks’ Young
Frankenstein.
