OKC Philharmonic presents "A Cole Porter Songbook"
Staff Report
(Oklahoma City, OK) Joel Levine and the Philharmonic Pops series present the wit and magic of Cole Porter in a two night performance of Anything Goes! A Cole Porter Songbook, in Oklahoma City February 22nd & 23rd.
Unlike most successful Broadway composers of the time, Cole Porter wrote both the words and the music to his songs, and both have become classics. "You're the Top," "Night and Day," "Begin the Beguine," and "Let's Do It" are just the start of the list. An array of special guests will join in this delightful evening of music.
Porter was born in Indiana and was classically trained in music. He began to achieve his success in the 20's and 30's, soon becoming a major songwriter for the Broadway musical stage.
In 1948, Porter had a comeback with his most successful musical, Kiss Me, Kate. It won the first Tony Award for Best Musical. The show garnered four more Tony Awards in the same year: Best Musical, Best Produced Show, Best Script, Best Score and Best Costumes.
According to GLBTQ arts, although Porter maintained a heterosexual facade while married to the beautiful socialite Linda Lee Thomas, he was, in fact, gay. Porter's sexual orientation became more and more open during their time living in Hollywood. But, fearing that the music-buying public would not take seriously love songs written by a homosexual, he lived the paradoxical life of an “openly closeted” gay man.
Anything Goes! A Cole Porter Songbook, stars Ted Keegan & Beth Leavel and will be presented February 22nd & 23rd, 8pm at the Civic Center Music Hall located at 201 N. Walker in Oklahoma City.
Concert tickets and more information can be found at the Oklahoma City Philharmonic’s website at www.okcphilharmonic.org or by calling 405.TICKETS (405.842.5387). Toll Free 1-800-364-7111.