Devotees of musical theatre and opera in the Sandhills community are buzzing with anticipation as Tony Award-winning Broadway and Metropolitan Opera star, Paulo Szot, is set to grace the stage on Friday, Feb. 23, at 7 p.m. at Bradshaw Performing Arts Center’s Owens Auditorium (on campus at Sandhills Community College, 3395 Airport Rd., Pinehurst). Szot, currently dazzling audiences in the Broadway hit “& Juliet,” brings his extraordinary talent and commanding vocal presence to Pinehurst for an unforgettable evening of music.
Hailing from São Paulo, Brazil, Paulo Szot has achieved international acclaim as both an opera singer and actor. Making history as the first Brazilian male voice to sing at The Metropolitan Opera, Szot completed his 10th season with the prestigious company in 2023. His Broadway debut in 2008, portraying Emile De Becque in “South Pacific” at Lincoln Center Theatre, earned him a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical, along with a cornucopia of other accolades, including Drama Desk, Theater World, and Outer Critics Circle Awards. Apart from his operatic and musical theatre achievements, Szot has graced concert stages across the globe, collaborating with renowned symphonic orchestras such as The New York Philharmonic and the Chicago Symphony.
Adding to the excitement of the concert, Szot’s musical director and pianist is Ben Cohn, known for his work on the Broadway smash “Dear Evan Hansen” and the Britney Spears jukebox musical “Once Upon a One More Time.” Cohn recently served as Musical Director and conductor for “tick, tick … BOOM!” at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. Joining Szot and Cohn are Alexandra Emily Eckhardt on bass and Richard Mercúrio on drums.
The program features a bountiful bouquet of songs from Broadway and beyond, including the timeless “Some Enchanted Evening” from “South Pacific”, “Stars” from “Les Misérables”, and many more.
The concert is part of BPAC’s Mainstage Series, inaugurated in 2022 by Executive Director Morgan Sills. Though it is only the series’ second season, a wide variety of artists have been presented in past concerts, from The Gatlin Brothers to Charo to Szot’s “South Pacific” co-star, Kelli O’Hara.
Adding an educational dimension to Szot’s visit, he will be conducting a master class on campus on Saturday, Feb. 24, at 1 p.m., providing a unique opportunity for local performers and enthusiasts to learn from a true master singer. The master class is a separate, ticketed event.
With an illustrious career spanning opera, Broadway, and the concert stage, Paulo Szot’s performance at Bradshaw Performing Arts Center is a must-attend event for anyone who loves beautiful music. Concert tickets, as well as Working Participant and Observer slots for the master class, are available online at SandhillsBPAC.com or TicketMeSandhills.com.
Photo credit: Priscila Prade.
Contributed.
