Broadway’s Ciaran Sheehan guest vocalist with Allentown Band for 106th Waldheim Park concert
The Allentown Band returns to Waldheim Park, 2400 S. Hall St., Allentown, for its 106th concert there, 7 p.m. Aug. 9.
The concert theme is “On Broadway with Ciaran Sheehan.”
Accompanying the Allentown Band is Ciaran Sheehan, who will sing Broadway favorites.
Sheehan was cast as Bebet in Broadway’s “Les Miserables, before winning the coveted role of Phantom in “Phantom of the Opera,” a role he performed more than 1,000 times on Broadway and in Toronto.
Allentown Band Conductor Ronald Demkee will lead the band and Sheehan in the program, which is:
“The National Anthem”
“Broadway Showstoppers Overture,” arranged by Warren Barker (“Everything’s Coming Up Roses,” “On a Clear Day,” “People,” “That’s Entertainment,” “Try to Remember,” “With a Little Bit of Luck”)
“Maria” from “West Side Story,” by Leonard Bernstein; sung by Sheehan
“Impossible Dream” from “Man of La Mancha,” Mitch Leigh; sung by Sheehan
“Marvin Hamlisch Showcase,” arranged by Warren Barker (“They’re Playing My Song,” “Nobody Does it Better,” “One,” “If You Remember Me,” “The Entertainer,” “What I Did For Love”)
“Anthem” from “Chess,” by Benny Anderson; sung by Sheehan
“Bring Him Home” from “Les Miserables,” Claude-Michel Shonberg; sung by Sheehan
“Audience Hymn Sing”
“Best Broadway Marches,” arranged by Jim Christensen (“Seventy-Six Trombones,” “Before The Parade Passes By,” “Hey Look Me Over,” “March Ot The Siamese Children,” “Consider Yourself,” “I Ain’t Down Yet,” “Comedy Tonight”)
“You’ll Never Walk Alone” from “Carousel,” by Richard Rodgers; sung by Sheehan
“Music of the Night” from “Phantom of the Opera,” by Andrew Lloyd Webber; sung by Sheehan
“Irving Berlin Showstoppers,” by John Higgins (“Puttin’ On the Ritz,” “Cheek to Cheek,” “Shaking the Blues Away,” “Steppin’ Out with My Baby,” “There’s No Business Like Show Business”)
“Con Te Partirò,” Quarantotto & Sartori; sung by Sheehan
Sheehan, born in Dublin, Ireland, grew up on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, dividing his time between Dublin and New York.
After an introduction to The Irish Repertory Theatre in New York City, Sheehan met legendary Broadway director Harold Prince during The Rep’s production of Prince’s award-winning play “Grandchild of Kings.”
Recognizing Sheehan’s talent, Prince placed him on Broadway six months after meeting him. Sheehan made his Broadway debut in “Les Miserables” (Babet, Marius). Shortly thereafter, Prince cast Sheehan as Raoul in “The Phantom of the Opera.”
After one year of playing Raoul on Broadway, Sheehan starred in the coveted role of The Phantom. Sheehan sang the role of the Phantom in more than 1,000 performances during the course of 2 1/2 years on Broadway and in Toronto.
Among Sheehan’s most memorable engagements have been four sold-out performances at Carnegie Hall, performing the “National Anthem” at New York Governor George Pataki’s inauguration, Giants Stadium (Giants), Continental Arena (Nets), and Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome (Twins), opening the dedication of the Irish Hunger Memorial in New York City, soloist at the internationally-televised memorial Mass for John and Carolyn Kennedy Jr., and soloist for President Joe Biden’s son Beau Biden’s funeral.
Sheehan is a member of the international tour, “The Four Phantoms In Concert.”