Although many students will travel for spring break, those who are here on March 22 have a chance to enjoy “An Evening With Marvin Hamlisch,” in which the composer will perform with special guest vocalist Anne Lunolfsson.
Hamlisch, who scored numerous motion pictures and Broadway shows, has won three Oscars, four Grammy Awards, three Golden Globes, one Tony Award and the Pulitzer Prize.
“I think (students) will be familiar with some of his songs and I think they would enjoy the concert just because he is very affable; he’s friendly, he talks to the audience and tells a lot of stories,” said Peter Wilt, program manager for Cal Poly Arts. “It’s just a very pleasant evening of great new songs.”
The performance will feature Hamlisch on the grand piano and singing and Broadway singer Lunolfsson, whose most notable role was in the Broadway play “Les Misérables.” Songs from Hamlisch’s most successful and Pulitzer Prize winning Broadway show “A Chorus Line,” award-winning scores from “The Way We Were” and a tribute to Scott Joplin for “The Sting” will also be featured.
“He puts out a good show,” Wilt said. “He’s very talented. You’ll hear a lot of great stories about Broadway. He’s a down-to-earth, great guy.”
As the principal pops conductor for six major symphony orchestras including the San Diego Symphony, National Symphony, Colorado Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Seattle Symphony and Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Hamlisch is able to tour and travel across the country.
Cal Poly Arts had the opportunity to book the composer for the second time as he is scheduled to perform in San Diego.
“He’s a Broadway pop icon,” Wilt said. “When he was here before, he was very popular.”
Hamlisch was inducted into the American Hall of Fall last year and and most recently scored an upcoming film directed by Steven Soderbergh starring Matt Damon called “The Informant” scheduled for release in September. “Every Little Step,” a documentary that chronicles Hamlisch’s involvement in “A Chorus Line,” was released this month by Sony Pictures.
“Anybody who is still here, I would definitely recommend they see it,” Wilt said.
The show, held in the PAC, will start at 7 p.m. Student tickets range from $33 to $43, but a student ticket rush will be available one hour prior to the show for $10.