By Debbie Hall
From beloved Broadway show tunes to contemporary Hollywood movie musicals, Broadway Goes Hollywood promises an evening of unforgettable melodies, powerhouse vocals and theatrical flair. Presented by Community Lutheran Church’s Spotlight Cabaret series on Oct. 16, the 90-minute musical revue brings together an accomplished cast of performers for a concert gala that celebrates the songs audiences know and love while supporting a special musical journey to Carnegie Hall.
For Niki Scalera, whose Broadway credits include Hairspray, Tarzan and Footloose, the production offers a chance to celebrate the nostalgia, emotion and excitement that make musical theatre such a lasting part of popular culture.
“You can expect to hear classic Broadway show tunes along with some more contemporary music from Hollywood movie musicals,” Scalera said. “There will be a 12-person orchestra and lots of sparkly costumes!”
This lively revue will include an assortment of classic and current songs from Broadway and Hollywood, brought to life in a new style. This show features music from a full orchestra, plus fantastic costumes and performers with years of entertainment experience.
Scalera will perform alongside Broadway star Brent Barrett, Maren Wade, Ron Remke and famous pianist Philip Fortenberry.
“Absolutely wonderful!” she said of sharing the stage with her fellow cast members. “There’s a group number called ‘Family,’ and that’s exactly how this cast feels! We have the best time performing together!”
That camaraderie adds another dimension to a show built around music that has connected generations of theatre and movie fans. The cast includes Barrett, known for Chicago, Annie Get Your Gun, Grand Hotel, Phantom and The Las Vegas Spectacular; Wade, whose credits include Lady Like, Confessions of a Showgirl and The Cocktail Cabaret; and Remke, whose performance history includes the West End production of The Book of Mormon, BAZ, The Cocktail Cabaret and Jubilee.
Fortenberry brings an equally impressive résumé to the production. His career has taken him to Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center and the White House, as well as 10 Broadway shows and eight national tours. His acclaimed solo performances include The Man at the Piano, The Hands of Liberace and Salute to Broadway. One of the evening’s highlights will feature Fortenberry performing a Rodgers and Hammerstein favorite accompanied by the full orchestra.
The musical selections span a wide range of audience favorites, including songs from West Side Story, Funny Girl, Chicago, The Phantom of the Opera, Cats and Dreamgirls. The program will also pay tribute to the Golden Age of Broadway and Hollywood, with special musical nods to George Gershwin and the celebrated songwriting team of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II.
The production is the brainchild of PK Music composer, arranger and producer Keith Thompson, whose credits include The Composers Showcase of Las Vegas, The Cocktail Cabaret, Jersey Boys and Idaho! The Comedy Musical. Thompson will conduct a 12-piece orchestra featuring musicians with experience in major Las Vegas productions, including The Producers, Spamalot and Jersey Boys, as well as artists associated with Santa Fe and the Fat City Horns, Adele, Celine Dion and Lady Gaga.
Proceeds from the gala will help fund God Lives in Glass in Concert, scheduled for May 1, 2027, at Carnegie Hall in New York City. The production will bring together a 150-voice choir and cast, accompanied by a 12-piece orchestra, for a special performance at the iconic venue.
“Proceeds from this Spotlight Cabaret fundraising gala presentation of Broadway Goes Hollywood will be very helpful to our effort to take God Lives in Glass in Concert to Carnegie Hall to perform in the iconic concert venue,” Thompson said. “We are very honored and humbled by the generosity of those who are willing to contribute to this extraordinary effort.”
The cast and choir for God Lives in Glass will include members of Community Lutheran Church’s Celebration Choir and performers from the Las Vegas entertainment community, including young artists from Positively Arts. Students from the University of Nevada, Reno, and Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia, will also participate, alongside singers and musicians from around the country who have been involved with previous productions or want to be part of this special opportunity.
Community Lutheran Church’s 5th Sunday Cabaret series, which includes Spotlight Cabarets, supports special musical projects, helps hire musicians and advances the church’s commitment to live performance and original music.
For Las Vegas audiences, Broadway Goes Hollywood offers a lively night of music, theatrical sparkle and familiar favorites, all delivered by performers who share a genuine enthusiasm for the material and one another. The evening also gives patrons a chance to support a production that will bring local talent and a broad musical community to one of the world’s most renowned concert halls.
Broadway Goes Hollywood will be presented as a concert gala fundraiser by the Spotlight Cabaret series of Community Lutheran Church, 3720 E Tropicana Ave., on Friday, Oct. 16. Tickets are $20 per person for the concert at cur8.com/projects/5thSunday and include admission to the 5:30 pm silent auction, 50/50 drawing, mocktails and snacks. On-demand access will also be available for purchase online for $20 from Oct 18 to Nov. 17.
