Ravinia will also welcome performances from Broadway veterans George Hearn, Victoria Clark, David Hyde Pierce, Paulo Szot and Kelli O'Hara as part of the summer presentations that include a Camelot concert and evenings devoted to the work of Cole Porter, Kurt Weill and Rodgers and Hammerstein.
The season opens June 5 with the concert presentation of Lerner and Loewe's Camelot starring Tony winner George Hearn (The Visit, Sweeney Todd) as King Arthur, as well as Sylvia McNair as Guenevere and Rod Gilfry as Lancelot. Marc Robin directs with musical direction by Erich Kunzel.
Two-time Tony Award-winning actress LuPone returns to the Ravinia Festival (her booking was previously mentioned), having presented her performances of Mama Rose and Mrs. Lovett there in previous seasons, for an evening of Kurt Weill music on Aug. 8. Joining LuPone are Hudson Shad and James Conlon leading the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for selections from The Seven Deadly Sins and Lady in the Dark.
Tony Award winners Hyde Pierce and Clark will join conductor Rob Fisher to celebrate the work of Kiss, Me Kate and Anything Goes tunesmith Cole Porter on Aug. 16. The duo performed a similar evening as part of the American Songbook Series at the Allen Room in Manhattan last winter.
On Sept. 6 the music of Rodgers and Hammerstein will be honored with performances by Tony Award winner Szot and Tony nominee Kelli O'Hara, the stars of the Lincoln Center Theater revival of South Pacific. Tony Award winner Ted Sperling will conduct the Ravinia Festival Orchestra in selections from Oklahoma!, Carousel, South Pacific, The King and I and The Sound of Music. Tony Award-winning Spring Awakening choreographer Bill T. Jones will present his commissioned work. Fondly Do We Hope... Fervently Do We Pray, commemorating the Lincoln Bicentennial on Sept. 17.
Online ticket sales for the Ravinia Festival events go on sale April 16 at Ravinia. Beginning May 17, phone sales will be available by calling (847) 266-5100.
Ravinia is located 20 miles north of Chicago at Lake Cook and Green Bay roads in Highland Park.
