Bethany to present Broadway on the Beach Sept. 17

As part of its Seaside Concert Series fall lineup, the Town of Bethany Beach will present a new type of show at 6:30 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 17, at the Bethany Beach Bandstand on the boardwalk.

Broadway on the Beach will feature an evening of Broadway songs performed by national and regional talent with local ties.

“My goal with the series is to offer a diversity of entertainment,” said Julie Malewski, Bethany events director. “Not everyone has been fortunate to attend a Broadway show, so we’re bringing a bit of musical theater to them.”

Performer Jennifer Hope Wills is originally from Ocean City, Md., where her parents owned and operated Parker Productions theatre company for over 20 years. Since that time, she spent almost another 20 years living and working out of New York City. She spent nearly four years starring as Christine in “The Phantom of the Opera,” performing the role nearly 1,000 times. Other Broadway credits include her portrayal of Eileen in “Wonderful Town” opposite Brooke Shields, and roles in“The Woman in White” and “Disney's Beauty & the Beast.” She has returned home to the Eastern Shore where her most important role is mom to Vincent.

Pianist Glenn Pearson and bassist Jeff Cooper have been friends and professional musicians for over 40 years. After meeting in high school in Washington, D.C., they formed their first band and then attended Peabody Conservatory of Music together. After graduating, Cooper focused on musical theater while Pearson concentrated on piano performance. Even with their different musical directions, they always returned to their true passion - engaging audiences with their talent, wit and style to share their love of iconic American music.

Cooper has performed at the Kennedy Center, National and Ford's theaters in Washington, D.C., as well as on Broadway.

As a bandleader and solo pianist, Pearson has performed at the White House, Vice President's residence, Kennedy Center, countless embassies, galleries and private homes.

They will be joined by Ken Schleifer on drums. He has performed as a drummer/percussionist for many musical organizations around the Delmarva Region including the Possum Point Players, Clear Space Theatre Company, Southern Delaware Chorale and the CAMP Rehoboth Chorus.

Julia Graviet is an actress and vocalist from Rehoboth Beach. She has been performing in local and regional theater since she was 8 years old when she appeared as Annie in Milton Theatre’s production of “Annie.”  She is currently a senior at Cape Henlopen High School in Lewes where she has played Miss Honey in “Matilda, “Sandy” in Grease, and “Snout” in A Mid-Summer Nights Dream.

Fall concerts continue at 6:30 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays through the end of October.