Seth Rudetsky (photo: Coyle Entertainment via The Broadway Blog).
Perhaps your high school days were filled with pranks and hijinks… or late-night rehearsals of The Music Man, Grease, or some other teen-friendly production. Whatever your memories, relive them again with Sirius XM Broadway host Seth Rudetsky for a one-night-only benefit concert, Not Since High School.
The August 24 performance will include: Tony winners Christine Ebersole, LaChanze and James Monroe Iglehart; Sierra Boggess, Jose Llana, Julia Murney, Mario Cantone, Anthony Rapp, Jerry Dixon; Tony Nominees Keala Settle and Emily Skinner and more, with proceeds benefiting the Middle School 245 Music Program. These Broadway performers will sing the classic roles they played as teens while wearing braces and/or breaking out. Roles performed will include Sarah Brown from Guys and Dolls, Seymor from Little Shop, Rizzo from Grease—as well as ones that are hilariously inappropriate for teens, like Carlotta from Follies (“I’m Still Here” sung at age 15).
Tickets are $45 or $100 for VIP seating (with special treats!). To purchase tickets got to notsincehighschool42west.eventbrite.com
Wondering how the antics may play out? Check out the last such concert that Rudetsky hosted.
“When I was growing up, I was able to take chorus, chorale, special chorus, band, orchestra and theater. All part of the regular school day! Now public schools have cut most of the arts and they are only available after school with an incredibly limited budget,” says Rudetsky, Seth who has worked as the music director, pianist or conductor for some of Broadway’s biggest stars. “I wound up volunteering as the chorus teacher in my kid’s middle school because they didn’t have one. I want kids growing up today to have the same opportunities my generation had, or we’ll miss out on the next generation of artistic titans. Kids won’t know if they have talent as a musician, actor artist etc. if they don’t have the chance to try it.”
Not Since High School
42West (512 West 42nd Street)
Sunday, August 24
Doors open at 6 p.m. for cocktails and silent auction followed by 7:30 p.m. performance.