Benefit raises funds for 2024 ECU summer theatre
East Carolina University faculty members with featured guest musical director Ana Flavia Zuim of New York University will present “A Musical Evening of Jaques Brel” on June 10-11.
Three shows will be performed over the two days to raise funds for East Carolina Summer Theatre, which returned in 2022 for the first time in nearly 10 years. All proceeds will go toward a June 2024 summer production, said Jayme Klinger Host, director of the School of Theatre and Dance, professor of dance and artistic director of ECU/Loessin Playhouse.
Performers rehearse in Archie Burnette Studio Theatre for East Carolina University’s School of Theatre and Dance’s summer fundraising event. (ECU photo by Cliff Hollis)
“Our goal is to raise funds that will help us continue to bring a high-quality production to our community and provide opportunities for talented actors and performers to showcase their skills next summer,” Host said.
Brel was a Belgian singer and songwriter who became popular in France in the late 1950s. His songs, often called satirical and religious, gained a worldwide audience. American recordings of Brel’s songs included Damita Jo’s “If You Go Away,” Judy Collins’ “The Dove,” David Bowie’s “Amsterdam” and “My Death,” and Terry Jacks’ “Seasons in the Sun.” Brel was best known in the U.S. through the Broadway production “Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris.”
ECU’s performance will feature original Brel adaptations by Arnold Johnston, professor emeritus at Western Michigan University, whose works are recognized as the “definitive” English translations by France Brel, Jacques Brel’s daughter, Host said.
Guest musical director Zuim is an award-winning director and conductor, accomplished pianist, singing health specialist and electric bassist. Her credits include Broadway and national tour productions of “Hamilton,” “Billy Elliot,” “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” “Matilda,” “Kinky Boots,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “Annie” and “The Sound of Music.” Zuim was one of the recipients of The American Prize award for conducting “Anything Goes” with the NYU Broadway Orchestra in 2020 and was a finalist for “City of Angels” in 2021.
Performers will include ECU theatre and dance faculty members Jessica Doyle-Mekkes, Rebecca Simon, Amanda Hudson, Trent Blanton and the ECU School of Music’s Daniel Shirley. Host serves as artistic producer. Bryan Conger is director and stage manager. Lighting design is by Michael Shoaf, set design is by Nolan O’Dell and technical director is Chad Rasor.
Tickets are $50 at tickets.ecu.edu. Performances will be at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and at 2 p.m. Sunday in the Archie Burnette Studio Theatre.
The first East Carolina Summer Theatre opened in 1964 with six full-scale musicals, which were rehearsed and performed in an eight-week period. Well-known Broadway hits including “West Side Story,” “My Fair Lady” and “Li’l Abner” were some of the shows that kicked off what would become a beloved summer tradition at ECU and in Greenville. For nearly 50 years, talented young performers took the stage with seasoned professionals to entertain audiences.
Last summer featured the hit musical “Mamma Mia!,” which had the audience dancing in the aisles of McGinnis Theatre with the cast.
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