A pair of Tony Award winners are coming to Columbus for the 2019 spring season of the popular Cabaret at The Commons series, with tickets available starting Monday.
Gavin Creel, Tony and Olivier Award-winning actor and musician (“Hello, Dolly!” and “The Book of Mormon”), will appear on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14.
Lea Salonga, Disney’s singing voice of Jasmine (from “Aladdin”) and Fa Mulan (from “Mulan” and “Mulan II”) and “Miss Saigon” star, will perform May 1.
Both shows, presented by the Columbus Indiana Philharmonic, begin at 7:30 p.m. at The Commons, 300 Washington St., in Columbus.
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Creel is also known for his Broadway roles in “Thoroughly Modern Millie” (opposite Sutton Foster), “Hair,” “She Loves Me (with Laura Benanti)” and “Mary Poppins.” He will be on Broadway in a limited engagement of “Waitress,” from Jan. 7 through Feb. 3 just before coming to Columbus.
Salonga is known across the world for her powerful voice and perfect pitch. The singer and actress originated the lead role of Kim in “Miss Saigon” at the age of 18, which she won a Tony Award. She was also the first Asian to play Eponine in the Broadway musical “Les Misérables.” Most recently, she starred as “Erzulie, the Goddess of Love,” and in “Once on This Island.”
The cabaret music series, highlighting top-tier performers performing mostly acoustic sets, is a partnership with The Cabaret in Indianapolis. It launched with a sold-out show in January 2015 with Columbus native and now-Broadway performer Mary Claire King. And it has steadily and regularly attracted top vocal and musical talent from Broadway, television and the movies.
Regular attendees give the series high marks for elements ranging from parking convenience to a chance to mix and mingle with the visiting stars after the performances.
Series attendance has been steadily trending upward. The average attendance for this calendar year is 338 people. Thursday’s sold-out show drew 424 people for Broadway performer Norm Lewis.
“More people are hearing about it,” said David Bowden, the Philharmonic’s longtime music director, likening it to the orchestra’s growth for its classical concert sales in the late 1980s. “And we also are doing an even better job of marketing.”
Bowden said he was particularly pleased to be able to bring in Salonga, who was able to fit Columbus into her already-set touring schedule.
“She’s unbelievable,” Bowden said of singer, who has been performing for more than 30 years and doing cabaret shows since 2010.
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Ticket prices the Feb. 14 Gavin Creel and May 1 Lea Salonga concerts are $110 for the Gold Series Ticket and $80 for the Silver Series Ticket, both two-show combinations. Platinum tickets, which include seats at the front of the venue and a post-concert meet-and-greet, are sold out.
Tickets for individual concerts go on sale Jan. 2, priced at $55 for Gold tickets and $40 for Silver tickets.
Patrons can order series tickets in person at the Philharmonic Box Office, 315 Franklin St. in Columbus; calling 812-376-2638, extension 1; or ordering online at thecip.org.
The office will be closed the week of Dec. 24 and will reopen Jan. 2.
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