UCO’S Broadway Tonight opens with NYC cabaret artist Klea Blackhurst

The University of Central Oklahoma’s Broadway Tonight series will kick off this year’s season with award-winning Broadway singer and New York Cabaret artist Klea Blackhurst performing “Everything the Traffic Will Allow” at 7:30pm Aug. 29 at the Mitchell Hall Theatre, located on campus.

“Truly the best word to describe Klea is powerhouse,” said Greg White, Ph.D., director of the Broadway Tonight series.

“She has a voice, a fantastic gift, that is just absolutely powerful.”

“Everything the Traffic Will Allow” is Blackhurst’s tribute to 1980’s Broadway star Ethel Merman. It was named one of the top ten show albums of 2002 by TalkinBroadway.com.

“In this performance, Klea emulates, embodies Merman’s style, her brassy, classic Broadway music, while still making the music [Klea’s] own, with warmth, charm and wit,” White said.

White described Blackhurst as one of the most talked about performers in the New York circle right now, with upcoming roles including playing the title character in “Hazel,” directed by Lucie Arnaz, Lucille Ball’s daughter.

Blackhurst also has more than a dozen credits to her name on Off-Broadway and throughout regional theatres and has made a splash on television with appearances on “Law and Order: SVU,” “The Rosie O’Donnell Show” and “Sesame Street,” among others.

Blackhurst will host a master class that is free and open to the public from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Aug. 28 at Radke Fine Arts Theatre, located in the Center for Transformative Learning.

Other artists who will share their talents with the community this season include the dancing duo Chicago Tap, Broadway veteran Linda Eder, a UCO original production “Side Story: Just West of the Musical” and Grammy Award-winner Melissa Manchester.

“This season’s performances all have such a fire to them, such a strength, something to really strike a flame within each attendee,” said White.

Individual tickets and season subscriptions can be purchased online at www.mitchellhalltheatre.com or by calling the Mitchell Hall box office at (405) 974-3375.

The 2015-2016 Broadway Tonight season is sponsored in part by a grant from the Oklahoma Arts Council.

The Gayly – August 14, 2015 @ 1:30pm.