Viviano and Benson to Pay Tribute to Astaire and Rogers March 18

By Andrew Gans
March 5, 2006

Broadway actors Sal Viviano and Jodi Benson will take part in A Tribute to Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers March 18.

The evening, which will be held at the Chrysler Hall in Norfolk, VA, will feature The Virginia Symphony under the direction of Shizuo Kuwahara. Benson is scheduled to perform a host of Gershwin classics, while Viviano will offer several tunes that Fred Astaire introduced: "A Foggy Day," "They Can't Take That Away From Me" and "Begin the Beguine."

Sal Viviano has appeared on Broadway in The Full Monty, The Life, Falsettos, City of Angels, Romance/Romance and The Three Musketeers. Off-Broadway he was seen in Beau Jest, Cather County, Weird Romance, Catch Me If I Fall, Broadway Jukebox, Hamlet and The Opera. His film credits include "Black Roses," "The Jitters," "Spike of Bensonhurst" and "Life With Mikey."

A Tony Award nominee for her performance in Crazy for You, Jodi Benson also appeared on Broadway in Smile, Welcome to the Club and Marilyn: An American Fable. She created the voice of Ariel in Disney's animated feature "The Little Mermaid," and her voice has also been heard in "Toy Story II," "Flubber" and "Thumbelina."

For ticket information visit www.virginiasymphony.org.