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ENLARGE
For the last seven years, the Lake Dillon Theatre has brought some of the best singers on Broadway to Summit County, and this year is no different.
Saturday's Broadway at the Summit features a salute to the Rat Pack with Lee Lessack, Brian Lane Green and John Boswell in concert. While the annual fundraiser usually presents only one Broadway performer, this year artistic director Chris Alleman wanted to do something special to celebrate its 15th year anniversary.
“In the past, we haven't done a lot of men, and we wanted something fun, accessible and a little bit different,” Alleman said. “I thought this was a way to spice things up. They're going to sing (songs) audiences know and want to hear.”
Individually Lessack, Green and Boswell bring Broadway star power to the stage, but together, they bring down the house — and always sell it out.
Rather than stay true to the Rat Pack's original shows, which featured each artist solo, Lessack, Green and Boswell have created tight harmonies and incredible arrangements from the Pack's hits that all three of them can perform on stage at the same time.
The trio has toured together as 3 Men and a Baby ... Grand for about a decade, but it wasn't until about four years ago that they established the Rat Pack Salute. It came after a venue in Orange County, Calif., wanted to bill the 3 Men and a Baby ... Grand show as a premiere. The Rat Pack Salute was born, and it's been extraordinarily popular ever since. And, it's no wonder, particulary with the star's credits.
Boswell has worked as the musical director for Andy Williams and Judy Collins and was last seen on Broadway in Cy Coleman's “The Life.” He also has been the music collaborator on three of Lessack's recordings.
“John is absolutely one of the most brilliant musicians I have ever worked with,” Lessack said. “He can sit down and play anything, anytime.”
In fact, at Rat Pack Salutes he asks for audience song suggestions and then writes a medley on the spot.
Lane boasts credits in theater, television and film. He earned a Tony Award nominee for best actor in a musical with his performance as Spacepunk in “Starmites” and played Huck Finn, and later Jo Jo in “The Life” on Broadway. He has appeared on numerous prime-time television shows and soap operas. He recently debuted as a playwright and composer with “Waiting for Glaciers to Melt.”
“Brian is an amazing artist,” Lessack said. “When I'm performing with him, it raises the bar. There's a fire in him that I think is pretty remarkable.”
And, Lessack's baritone vocals and charisma have led him to gain critical acclaim on the international cabaret scene. One of his songs, “Too Marvelous,” earned a spot on the preliminary ballot for the 2002 Grammy Awards.
When the three close friends take the stage, it's effortless.
“We know where each other is going to breathe and where we're going to land on a note,” Lessack said, adding that those elements make the performances fun.
Though the Rat Pack Salute has taken the men coast to coast, as well as to such places as South America and Antarctica, the gig never gets old, partially because the songs are timeless. Plus, audiences in smaller venues seem to eat up the show the most.
“Often they are our greatest audiences,” Lessack said, “because they don't get (large acts a lot), so they appreciate having live entertainment — and I love it.”
Saturday's Broadway at the Summit features a salute to the Rat Pack with Lee Lessack, Brian Lane Green and John Boswell in concert. While the annual fundraiser usually presents only one Broadway performer, this year artistic director Chris Alleman wanted to do something special to celebrate its 15th year anniversary.
“In the past, we haven't done a lot of men, and we wanted something fun, accessible and a little bit different,” Alleman said. “I thought this was a way to spice things up. They're going to sing (songs) audiences know and want to hear.”
Individually Lessack, Green and Boswell bring Broadway star power to the stage, but together, they bring down the house — and always sell it out.
Rather than stay true to the Rat Pack's original shows, which featured each artist solo, Lessack, Green and Boswell have created tight harmonies and incredible arrangements from the Pack's hits that all three of them can perform on stage at the same time.
The trio has toured together as 3 Men and a Baby ... Grand for about a decade, but it wasn't until about four years ago that they established the Rat Pack Salute. It came after a venue in Orange County, Calif., wanted to bill the 3 Men and a Baby ... Grand show as a premiere. The Rat Pack Salute was born, and it's been extraordinarily popular ever since. And, it's no wonder, particulary with the star's credits.
Boswell has worked as the musical director for Andy Williams and Judy Collins and was last seen on Broadway in Cy Coleman's “The Life.” He also has been the music collaborator on three of Lessack's recordings.
“John is absolutely one of the most brilliant musicians I have ever worked with,” Lessack said. “He can sit down and play anything, anytime.”
In fact, at Rat Pack Salutes he asks for audience song suggestions and then writes a medley on the spot.
Lane boasts credits in theater, television and film. He earned a Tony Award nominee for best actor in a musical with his performance as Spacepunk in “Starmites” and played Huck Finn, and later Jo Jo in “The Life” on Broadway. He has appeared on numerous prime-time television shows and soap operas. He recently debuted as a playwright and composer with “Waiting for Glaciers to Melt.”
“Brian is an amazing artist,” Lessack said. “When I'm performing with him, it raises the bar. There's a fire in him that I think is pretty remarkable.”
And, Lessack's baritone vocals and charisma have led him to gain critical acclaim on the international cabaret scene. One of his songs, “Too Marvelous,” earned a spot on the preliminary ballot for the 2002 Grammy Awards.
When the three close friends take the stage, it's effortless.
“We know where each other is going to breathe and where we're going to land on a note,” Lessack said, adding that those elements make the performances fun.
Though the Rat Pack Salute has taken the men coast to coast, as well as to such places as South America and Antarctica, the gig never gets old, partially because the songs are timeless. Plus, audiences in smaller venues seem to eat up the show the most.
“Often they are our greatest audiences,” Lessack said, “because they don't get (large acts a lot), so they appreciate having live entertainment — and I love it.”
