“Love The Symphony” Scheduled For February 14

WILSON, N.C. — Celebrate Valentine’s Day in gala fashion with the Barton College/Wilson Symphony Orchestra on Thursday, Feb. 14, at the twenty-second annual “Love the Symphony.” A much-anticipated annual event, this season’s “Love the Symphony” concert will feature Broadway star, recording artist, and international celebrity Lauren Kennedy.

The event will begin with a reception at 6:30 p.m., followed by the concert at 7 p.m. A candlelight buffet dinner will immediately follow the program at 8 p.m. Tickets are $60 per person, and reservations may be made by calling Laura Ashley Lamm at 252-399-6309. Please note that tables for eight are available by reservation. The reservation deadline is Friday, Feb. 8. No tickets will be mailed.

Born and raised in Raleigh, Kennedy has had a brilliant stage career that boasts leading roles in musical productions in New York, London, and in numerous other locations around the world.  She has appeared on Broadway as Lady of the Lake in Monty Python’s “Spamalot,” “Sunset Boulevard” with Glenn Close, “Side Show” as Daisy Hilton, and in “Les Miserables” as Fantine.

Other performances include “Cinderella” at New York City Opera and Off-Broadway she starred in “Vanities” and “Good Ol’ Girls.” In London she stared in Trevor Nunn’s revival of “South Pacific” as Nellie Forbush at The Royal National Theatre. Lauren appeared opposite Val Kilmer in “The Ten Commandments” at the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles. Kennedy also was featured in the pre-Broadway production of “Lone Star Love” with Randy Quaid, and she made a national tour with the production of “Sunset Boulevard” as Betty Schaeffer.

Her new album “Here And Now” as well as debut album “Lauren Kennedy, Songs Of Jason Robert Brown” have received rave reviews and are available on PS Classics. Most recently, Kennedy has taken on the role of artistic director at “Hot Summer Night’s At the Kennedy,” making a dynamic impact on the theater scene in Raleigh.

Kennedy is most proud of her collaboration with husband Alan Campbell, their daughter Riley.

The Barton College/Wilson Symphony Orchestra will perform the overture to “Donna Dianna” by Emil von Reznicek, and Jaques Offenbach’s overture to “Orpheus in the Underworld.”  Also on the program will be two works for solo Bass Viol featuring the orchestra’s long-time principal bassist, Emily Rupp.

As this distinguished event’s popularity continues to grow with an ever-increasing number of guest reservations each year, Wilson Gymnasium on the Barton campus provides a spacious and elegantly transformed environment to provide the perfect backdrop for sweethearts and friends to enjoy time-honored classics performed by the orchestra.

“Love the Symphony” is sponsored by BB&T WEALTH.

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Questions?  Please contact Kathy Daughety, director of public relations, at 252-399-6529 or email: kdaughety@barton.edu.