The University of Central Arkansas Public Appearances presents âSome Enchanted Eveningâ at the Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts on Saturday, Oct. 12, at 7 p.m. Â
Produced and managed by IMG Artists, âSome Enchanted Eveningâ  includes a trio of fast-rising gifted artists, all veterans of the popular musical collective Postmodern Jukebox.
Benny Benack III
Stella Cole
EmmyÂŽ nominated trumpeter Benny Benack III and internet sensation vocalist Stella Cole share top-billing in âSome Enchanted Eveningâ, a jazz-steeped sojourn exploring a bevy of The Great American Songbookâs most enduring hits from the Golden Age of Broadway to today. The two exceptionally talented artists will be joined by tap dance phenom Jabu Graybeal as well as a five-piece band. The concert program includes selections from many shows from Broadway and the Silver Screen including âThe Wizard of Oz,â âThe Sound of Music,â âGuys & Dolls,â âHamilton,â âOliver!â and of course, âSouth Pacific.â
Jabu Graybeal
âSome Enchanted Eveningâ Â celebrates a century of music from Broadway favorites, seamlessly blending timeless music and dance, with jazzy takes on beloved classics (âOver the Rainbow,â âThe Sound of Musicâ) to contemporary hits (âMy Shotâ). âSome Enchanted Eveningâ Â is more than a show. It’s an unforgettable experience that pays homage to the enduring legacy of Broadway, bringing together music and dance in a way that resonates with audiences of all ages.Â
Ahead of the anticipated tour, Benack stated, âOur concert is the perfect marriage between the majesty of musical theatre, with the spontaneity of Swing! So many songs from the Golden Era of Broadway have become part of the jazz canon, so itâs a perfect fusion. Stella Cole is a modern-day starlet of stage and screen, and Jabu is the most exciting and show-stopping tap dancer in the world right now. Combining all of these talents together feels like we just assembled the Avengers of showbiz – get your popcorn ready!â
Cole said, âIâm excited to perform alongside Benny and Jabu because weâre all such different artists, and weâll all have really different takes on this repertoire. Itâs going to feel like a night out at an old-school variety show, where they had lots of musicians, singers, and dancers. Seriously, I canât wait!â
BTĚěĚĂPublic Appearances is celebrating 25 years in Reynolds Performances Hall. Highly acclaimed artists such as Ray Charles, Wayne Newton, Common, Amy Grant, Dione Warwick, Ricky Skaggs and more have performed in the 1,200-seat theater.Â
BTĚěĚĂPublic Appearances has continued to grow each year and now has five unique series that are offered: Broadway, POPS, Night Out, Speaker, and the Windgate Collection. Reynolds Performance Hall has also welcomed over 65,000 preK-12th grade students from across the state of Arkansas to experience live performing arts through the Main Stage Education Series. This series educates while entertaining and provides arts accessibility to all students.Â
Tickets range from $20-$40 for adults and $10 for children/students. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased at the Reynolds box office or Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts box office Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., online at uca.edu/publicappearances or by calling BTĚěĚĂTicket Central at (501) 450-3265 or toll-free at (866) 810-0012.
