Broadway veteran Rebecca Spencer will perform at the Blue Heron Art Center this weekend, accompanied by renowned pianist Phillip Fortenberry.
Spencer’s Island debut, dubbed “Broadway Passages,” will feature songs from her two albums, “Wide Awake and Dreaming” and “Fair Warning,” as well as other selected pieces.
Spencer brings a wealth of experience at the highest realms of show-biz to her concert.
She was recently hand-picked by Tony Award-winning director and producer Harold Prince to play Madame Giry in the Las Vegas production of “Phantom of the Opera,” and she was also an original Broadway cast member of “Jekyll and Hyde.”
Other highlights of her long career include touring with composer Marvin Hamlisch and being cast in the 30th anniversary production of “Man of La Mancha.” She has sung at Carnegie Hall, and her television credits include “Third Watch” and “Law and Order: SVU.”
Spencer and her husband, James D’Asaro, landed on Vashon a year ago, when D’Asaro became the executive director for Seattle’s children’s theater, Broadway Bound.
“Vashon reminds me of Dobbs Ferry, New York, where we still own a home.” Spencer said. “It’s a neighborhood.”
Spencer met pianist Fortenberry when auditioning for a Rodgers and Hammerstein tribute show in the 1980s.
“I gave him my number, and it took him 10 years to call me back,” she laughed.
Fortenberry has performed with the shows “Hairspray,” “We Will Rock You” and “Mamma Mia!” He currently performs with “Jersey Boys.”
Janice Randall, the director of performing arts at Vashon Allied Arts, said she is thrilled to bring Spencer to the Blue Heron.
“Don’t miss this night of Broadway on Vashon,” she said. “We are so lucky to have her caliber of musicianship.”
Rebecca Spencer’s Blue Heron concert is at 8 p.m. Saturday, March 13. Tickets, $15 and $17, include champagne and desserts and are on sale at the Blue Heron, Heron’s Nest, Books by the Way, www.brownpapertickets.com and by phone at 463-5131.