Posted by Randi Bjornstad

Women composers and performers of Broadway music will be featured in artistic director Evynne Hollens’ eighth edition of her Contemporary Songbook Project 2023, which she calls, she is BROADWAY.

The show will be onstage at The Shedd Institute on the evening of Feb. 25 and the afternoon of Feb. 26 and, like the first seven iterations of Hollens’ productions, include a whole lot of the contemporary Broadway music that appeals to her most.

Hollens will be joined onstage by soloists Adriana Ripley, Nora Schell, Gabriela Gomez, Dylan Stasack, and Gemma Williams.

The cast also includes a chorus made up of Kenady Conforth, Sarah Battye, Lyric Rosa-O’Hayer, Anya Parco, Chloe Aaron-Montes, Sarah Aasheim, Emi Henrickson, Alexis Smith, Evie Hergenreter, Sage Pomlee-Solar, Brenna Scott, and Chelsea Young.

And of course there has to be accompaniment, provided by a band that includes Vicki Brabham on piano (she’s also music director for the show), Keri Davis (keyboard and synth), Alexandre Pabst (bass), Ruxton Schuh and Gemma Williams (guitar), and Amy Danziger (cello).

It used to be that women composers were rare in the Broadway realm, especially in the Golden Era of the 1940s and ’50s, but that began to change — very slowly — in the latter part of the 20th century, and even now does not include that many names.

But they are there, and the number is growing: This show includes songs with words, or music, or both, from women including Dolly Parton (9 to 5), Jeanine Tesori (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Shrek the Musical, Caroline, or Change, Fun Home), Lynn Ahrens (Once on this Island, Ragtime), Amanda Green (Bring It On), Kristen Anderson-Lopez (Frozen), Sara Bareilles (Waitress), Brenda Russell & Allee Willis (The Color Purple), Irene Sankoff (Come From Away), Cyndi Lauper (Kinky Boots), Marsha Norman (The Secret Garden), Edie Brickell, (Bright Star), Anaïs Mitchell (Hadestown) and Lucy Moss (SIX The Musical).

 

Evynne Hollens’ Contemporary Songbook Project 2023

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 25 and 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 26

Where: Jaqua Concert Hall, The Shedd Institute, 868 High St., Eugene

Show tickets: $18, $24, $28, $32; some discounts available; available at The Shedd ticket office, 541-434-7000 or online at theshedd.org/sheisBROADWAY

Dinner at 6 tickets: $25.75 for adults, $19.75 for children; available by reservation at 541-434-7000