WAF presents 'Taste of Broadway IV'
The Walker Area Foundation (WAF) is gearing up for its fourth annual musical revue dinner/theater fundraiser, "A Taste of Broadway IV." The 2012 event is set for Monday evening, Aug. 20, at the Northern Lights Hotel Event Center just east of Walker.
"Taste of Broadway IV" will again feature a wide assortment of show tunes from Broadway musicals plus American and patriotic favorites performed by the WAF Chorale and guest soloists under the direction of former WAF board member Joanna Aamodt. Soloists in this year's production include Linda Barber, Barbara Brownlow, Heather Doughty, Rick James, Julie Keiser and Leslie Raddatz.
Songs from "The King and I," "My Fair Lady," "42nd Street," "Gypsy," and other shows, will be featured this year along with a number of selections that highlight American composers such as Irving Berlin, George Gershwin and many others. For the second year, a moving salute to America's military service branches with audience participation will close the show. The stage performance will be preceded by a social hour and fabulous gourmet dinner.
Accompanying the chorale and soloists will be the incomparable Wayne Hoff on the keyboard. Hoff has shared his extraordinary talents with Taste of Broadway since the first show and hails from Bemidji where is a mainstay in accompanying vocal and instrumental students at Bemidji State University (BSU), along with accompanying many musical events at BSU. Hoff is often found at The Chief Theater in downtown Bemidji where his musical gifts round out the best in musical performances.
The show's producer and emcee, former WAF chairman John Warren, said the idea of doing a musical revue dinner theater came when the foundation board was brainstorming ideas for a major fundraiser in early 2009. "A number of non-profit organizations in the Walker area conduct major fundraisers each year, but nobody was doing a big musical event. WAF just happened to have a new board member with a professional background as both a music director and performer in musical productions. That was Joanna Aamodt, of course, and the rest is history," said Warren.
Aamodt praised the Northern Lights Hotel Event Center staff and facilities for helping make last year's Taste of Broadway the most successful ever with a record attendance of 350 patrons. "The move to Northern Lights not only enabled more people to see 'A Taste of Broadway,' but our larger audience enjoyed much improved visibility, professional sound and lighting and a fabulous dinner," said Aamodt. As in past years, residents of area assisted living homes will be invited to attend the show's dress rehearsal on Sunday afternoon, Aug. 19, as guests of the WAF board.
Reservations remain at $50 per person for the Aug. 20 dinner show and are available by calling 218-547-2865. As a non-profit community foundation, WAF places all proceeds from the show in its endowment fund to benefit the Greater Walker area.
Aamodt said rehearsals for this year's Taste of Broadway will be held at 7 p.m. each Monday through Aug. 13, beginning Monday, June 18. Anyone interested in joining the chorale for this year's show should contact Joanna at 218-224-3562.
