This week, the CJO celebrates the holidays with Debbie Gravitte. From the Jazz Arts Group:
“The Jazz Arts Group of Columbus (JAG) returns to the historic Southern Theatre to celebrate the most wonderful time of the year in “Home for the Holidays,” December 4 – 8, including a special Wednesday night performance. Tony Award-winning vocal sensation Debbie Gravitte makes a special return engagement to Columbus for the annual holiday spectacular. Each year promises a special yuletide surprise, and this year is no exception!
Ms. Gravitte has previously lit up the Broadway stage and captivated Columbus audiences for the CJO’s “Big Band on Broadway” concert performances. Back by popular demand, she joins Artistic Director Byron Stripling for a sleigh ride of holiday favorites done CJO-style!
Debbie Gravitte has had a varied career that has taken her from Broadway to Symphony Hall stages and all points in between. She won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for Jerome Robbin’s Broadway, along with a Drama Desk Award Nomination and New York Showstopper Award for the same role. After making her Broadway debut in the original cast of They’re Playing Our Song, she went on to appear in Perfectly Frank (Drama Desk Award Nomination), Blues in the Night, Ain’t Broadway Grand, Zorba, Chicago, and Les Miserables. Debbie has appeared in the Encore series productions of The Boys From Syracuse, Tenderloin, and Carnival at New York’s City Center. On television, Debbie co-starred on the CBS series Trial and Error and NBC’s Pursuit of Happiness, and starred in several specials for PBS, including “Live from the Kennedy Center,” “Boston Pops Celebrate Bernstein,” “Rodgers & Hart for Great Performances,” and “Ira Gershwin’s 100th Birthday Celebration” from London’s Royal Albert Hall and Carnegie Hall.
The Jazz Arts Group is proud to partner with The Salvation Army of Central Ohio during its entire run of “Home for the Holidays.” In 2012, The Salvation Army distributed over 21,000 new toys and assisted over 8,000 families through its Adopt-a-Family and Christmas Cheer programs. Representatives from The Salvation Army will be on hand at each “Home for the Holidays” performance with their signature red kettles to accept donations.
The Jazz Academy also invites you to join us on Saturday, December 7 at 2 PM to sing the “Songs of the Season.” Led by Jim Masters, Mary McClendon and Bobby Floyd, this holiday sing-a-long is for anyone and everyone who would like to gather together, sing, have fun and celebrate the season! After the singing, enjoy cookies and punch and time to visit with one another at the Jazz Academy. This workshop is free with a donation of a new toy to The Salvation Army. Space is limited so please register in advance to secure your spot! For more information call 614-294-5200 or visit www.jazzartsgroup.org.
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