This year the Popovsky Performing Arts Studio presents the 4th annual Gifts from the Heart benefit. This concert benefits the Milagro House, which provides education, housing and counseling to women. It is a great event with an exciting night of entertainment, and provides support for a very good cause.
People frequently ask what they can expect when they attend this event. The answer is a wonderful night of entertainment that benefits a great cause. This event is unique in that it not only has magnificent local performers, but it also has artists who have performed on Broadway as well as students from Popovsky Performing Arts studio. There is a wonderful mix of talented performers that grace the stage at Gifts from the Heart, and it provides for a fantastic night of entertainment.
This year the Gifts from the Heart benefit showcases several local top performers and Broadway performers. Some local Lancaster artists that audiences can expect to see are: Jessica Dey who has been seen in several productions at the Fulton Theatre, Michael J. Austin who is a familiar face to audiences of American Music Theatre and Fulton Theatre, Jennifer Lobo who has performed at Opera Lancaster and is a member of the Jen Lobo Trio and Michael Popovsky who is the founder of Popovsky Performing Arts Studio and has performed with the Fulton Theatre, Opera Lancaster, and Ephrata Performing Arts Center. In addition, audiences will get to experience the talent of Alisa Endsley and Peter Matthew Smith. Alisa Endsley has credits from both the West End and Broadway. Endsley has worked with many well-known people such as Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, Patti LuPone, Betty Buckely and George Hearn. Peter Matthew Smith also has Broadway credits such as Mama Mia and Hairspray. Rounding out this talented group of performers is Break from Blue Collar, a lively local barbershop quartet. Additionally, on Friday night Annie Rosellini, Miss Pennsylvania 2013, will make an appearance.
When I talked to Michael Popovsky, who organizes this evening of entertainment, he called the Gifts from the Heart, “A perfect evening. Audiences get to see great professional performers backed up by twenty-five local performers, all benefiting a local charity.” I asked Mr. Popovsky for some songs audiences can expect to hear, and although he likes to keep the music a surprise for the audiences he did share with us that they will be performing “You Can’t Stop the Beat” from Haispray, “The Next Ten Minutes” from The Last Five Years, and “If I Loved You” from Carousel. This concert holds special meaning to Mr. Popovsky, and the excitement and passion he has for this concert and how it helps the community is inspiring. Popovsky is very enthusiastic about the concert, and he is very passionate about the mission of the Milagro House and helping them raise much needed funds for this important cause.
Gifts from the Heart benefit concert is Friday February 7, 2014. Tickets for the concert are still available. Tickets are available at gifts2014.eventbrite.com or through the Popovsky Performing Arts Studio.
Article originally appeared on the Fig Lancaster website
Kelli Curtin is editor and writer for theatresensation.com. In addition, she is a contributor for the online sites broadwayworld.com and figlancaster.com and is a freelance writer. Kelli is excited to share her passion about theatre and the arts with her readers. Kelli can be found on twitter @theatrescribe and on Facebook/theatresensation.