Performance takes place Tuesday, May 11th in Grand Rapids
EAST LANSING -- Tickets are on sale for Izzo Goes To Broadway, a Broadway-style performance featuring Tom and Lupe Izzo and accomplished Broadway performers. A high-energy, family-friendly, 75-minute production, Izzo Goes To Broadway will be held on Tuesday, May 11 at the DeVos Performance Hall in Grand Rapids at 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the DeVos Place Box Office, online at ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000.
Izzo Goes To Broadway was written exclusively as a mini-Broadway show telling the story of Coach Izzo's journey from high school to Michigan State to making it to the top on Broadway. The performance features music from several Broadway standards, including 42nd Street, Cats, Chicago, The Phantom of the Opera and A Chorus Line as sung by professional Broadway performers. Among the six-member cast is one actor with 13 Broadway credits on his resume. One of the other professionals is a Lansing native who attended Waverly schools. Several of the performers are taking a break from their current Broadway roles to be a part of this special production. The cast has performed in Broadway shows such as Phantom of the Opera, The Little Mermaid, Les Miserables, Beauty and the Beast, Sweeney Todd, Tarzan and The Color Purple.
The show is written and directed by East Lansing native Greg Ganakas (son of former Spartan basketball coach and current radio broadcaster Gus Ganakas). Ganakas is an award-winning director, choreographer and teacher. His credits include direction of many musical theatre productions, as well as opera and television. He has collaborated with Disney Live Entertainment and Radio City Music Hall Productions. Ganakas is a committed educator. He has served on the faculty of New York University, where he founded their nationally-renown Music Theatre program. Accomplished musical director Keith Thompson will serve as conductor for the band. Thompson has many Broadway credits including Jersey Boys, Les Miserables and Little Shop of Horrors. Costumes were designed by Gregory Gale, currently represented on Broadway by the new-hit musical Rock of Ages.
