Superpops Take On Hollywood

“Bravo Broadway!” knocked ‘em dead last year with the Spokane Symphony SuperPops.

Meet its sister, “Bravo Hollywood!”

Take the same formula - familiar standards, performed by three outstanding singers, backed by lush orchestral arrangements - and simply substitute familiar movie tunes for Broadway show tunes.

This is a formula that has been wildly successful in the three previous visits of “Bravo Broadway!” and promises to be just as successful on Saturday night with an entirely new repertoire of songs.

The program will include “Get Happy,” “Blue Moon,” “That Old Black Magic,” “Hooray for Hollywood” and “Strangers in the Night.” Music director Fabio Mechetti will conduct the Spokane Symphony.

One of the trio of singers in “Bravo Hollywood!” is tenor Doug LaBrecque, who appeared in last year’s “Bravo Broadway!” show. LaBrecque has performed in the national tours of “Les Miserables” and “Sugar Babies,” and he has appeared on Broadway in “Showboat” and “Phantom of the Opera.”

He’ll be joined by Jodi Benson, a soprano with remarkable credentials. She is best known as the voice of Ariel in the Walt Disney animated film “The Little Mermaid.”

She was nominated for a Tony Award for the role of Polly Baker in Broadway’s “Crazy for You.” She also was the voice of the title character in the animated movie “Thumbelina.”

The third member of the trio is Richard Muenz, a baritone who is on the soundtracks to Leonard Bernstein’s “New York” and Maltby and Shire’s “Closer than Ever.” He has been in numerous Broadway shows, and has also performed on Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie Home Companion.”

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MEMO: “Bravo Hollywood!” will be presented at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Spokane Opera House. Tickets range from $28.50 to $14, available at the symphony ticket office (624-1200), G&B Select-a-Seat outlets or call (800) 325-SEAT.