BONITA CHOIRS TO NEW YORK CITY
FEBRUARY 17-22, 2016
MANHATTAN CONCERT PRODUCTIONS PRESENT
“The Secret Garden” at Lincoln Center.
Featuring Broadway actors, professional orchestra,
and the Bonita High School Chamber Singers and Concert Choir
Bonita High School Chamber Singers and Concert Choir will be participating in a concert performance of the Broadway musical “The Secret Garden” on February 21 at the Geffen Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City. The choirs were selected last spring through an audition process. The performance will include a chorus of 200 singers from schools and professional choirs from around the country.
“The Secret Garden” originally premiered on Broadway in 1991 and won several Tony Awards. This production will feature Broadway actors Ramin Karimloo (Les Miserables), Sierra Boggess (Phantom of the Opera), Cheyenne Jackson (All Shook Up, 30 Rock), Ben Platt (Pitch Perfect) and Sydney Lucas (Fun Home). Daisy Eagan, who won a Tony Award for playing Mary in the original production will be playing Martha. The show is conducted by Broadway veteran music director Michael Kosarin and will feature the New York Chamber Orchestra.
During their 5-day trip to New York, the 91 students and 10 chaperones will be staying in Times Square. In addition to rehearsals leading up to the Lincoln Center performance, they will be attending a Broadway show, touring Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty, and experiencing the sites of the city. .
Under the 32-year leadership of Todd Helm, the Bonita choirs have performed throughout Southern California, including almost 100 performances at the Disneyland Resort. Most recently, the Chamber Singers were invited to perform a “test” concert at the Fantasyland Theater and both Concert Choir and Chamber Singers participated in the Candlelight Procession on Main Street in December. Outside the southern California area, the choirs have performed at Carnegie Hall, Chicago Symphony Hall, San Francisco Davies Symphony Hall, Epcot Center/Disney World and have twice participated in music festivals in Honolulu, Hawaii.
The Bonita Choral Boosters have been very busy organizing fund-raisers to make this $200,000 trip a reality. Students have sold See’s Candy, poinsettias, program ads, and Tupperware, and have received many donations from local businesses and patrons.
The Bonita Choir Program includes 285 students singing in 5 different performance ensembles.
