MT UM

Last weekend was a celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the University of Michigan (UM) School of Music's Musical Theatre Department (MT). Over the last 25 years MT has graduated about 375 folks. (Current graduating classes are about 20, but earlier year's classes were smaller.)

Out of those 375 folks, 125 returned for the weekend. That's an incredible alumni turnout.

The centerpiece of the weekend was an evening of musical theater at Hill Auditorium that was incredible. Current Broadway stars and all of the rest of the current MT's and MT alums performed an evening of stunning music. From the overture to the end, it was a first class performance. The overture was from Gypsy, but a few strains of "Hail to the Victors" crept in from time to time. And, if you have ever been to a Broadway show with a small orchestra in the pit, imagine the sound when you pu the entire University of Michigan Symphonic Band on stage.

The show ran about three and a half hours, but I heard not a single complaint. In fact, I would have voted to hear the whole thing again. The finale was spectacular. The entire group of alums, and the current MT's closed the evening with "Make Your Garden Grow," from "Candide." The alums plus current MT's put the chorus at over 200. With incredible sound and marvelous timing, the finale was a grand finish to a performance that brought more Musical Theater talent to a single show than ever before.

My wife and I LOVED IT.

Congratulations to all the folks who participated.