On Tuesday, Oct. 4 at the W. Carroll Coyne Performing Arts Center, the Le Moyne College Chamber Orchestra and Singers ensembles presented an hour-long medley of classic Disney tunes to a packed theatre. The concert, entitled “Disney on Broadway,” featured songs from several Disney movies and Broadway musicals.
The show contained numbers from popular Disney movies like “Mary Poppins,” “The Lion King” and “Beauty and the Beast” as well as songs seen only in Broadway versions including “The Little Mermaid’s” “She’s in Love” and “The Lion King’s” “Endless Night.”
Overall, it was very heartwarming and the way the performers flowed through each number so smoothly was impressive. Throughout most of the show, rather than perform one song at a time, the ensembles (with the help of visiting assistant professor of music Ed Ruchalski, who arranged the pieces) blended two or more songs together into one. It was also nice to see that although there were several solo parts, each member of the ensembles seemed to be highlighted in some way during the night, and that everyone had a chance to shine.
After viewing “Disney on Broadway,” I found it very hard to believe that the two groups and their conductors had actually put the entire show together in fewer than 10 rehearsals. Both the Chamber Orchestra and the Singers looked and sounded very professional throughout the show and the audience appeared to enjoy them. Jocelyn Rauch, director of the Le Moyne Singers and Chamber Singers, and Travis Newton, director of the Le Moyne Chamber Orchestra, were very proud of how spectacularly their groups came together.
Before the start of each number, both directors commented on why certain songs were chosen. Most numbers, they said, were chosen simply because everyone agreed that they would enjoy performing them. However, “A Whole New World” from the movie “Aladdin” was actually dedicated to one of Rauch’s daughters. She said it was her daughter’s favorite Disney song and that she had to be “selfish” with that pick.
Overall, the “Disney on Broadway” performance was even better than I had expected and if I had to officially rate the show, I’d give it 5 out of 5 dolphins without a doubt.
