Elite composer to perform
tonight
 By
Beth Massura
Staff Writer
He has three Oscars, four Grammys, three Emmys,
a Tony and three Golden Globes.
He has a Pulitzer Prize for "A Chorus Line."
He is Broadway composer Marvin Hamlisch, and he's
coming to Purdue at 8 tonight.
Hamlisch will star in "One Singular Sensation!,"
accompanied by the Purdue Jazz Band, Glee Club, the Purduettes and Broadway
singer Stephen Lehew.
Hamlisch is an American music icon, said Purdue
Jazz Band director Mo Trout.
"He's written some of the great shows and great
songs of our time," he said.
Hamlisch is known for shows such as "A Chorus Line,"
"The Goodbye Girl" and "They're Playing Our Song," and films such as
"The Way We Were," "Sophie's Choice" and "Three Men and a Baby."
Larry Sommers, assistant director of marketing
for Purdue Convocations, said, "His biggest achievement was writing
the music for 'A Chorus Line.' It was revolutionary and changed the
way theater was done."
Trout and Purdue Musical Organizations director
Brian Breed said that for many students, this is a great opportunity
to work with and perform in a major show with one of the biggest names
in music.
The Purdue groups have practiced for two months,
preparing for the show. Although the music is not extremely difficult,
it is a different style than many of the students are used to, Trout
said.
"You can't jazz things up, no pun intended, this
being show music," said Trout. "You have to play by the book and still
spice it up."
Hamlisch will sing and play several of his hit
tunes on the piano including a medley of ragtime songs he adapted from
Scott Joplin's music. He will also share his New York sense of humor
and stories.
"His shows are funny and entertaining, beyond just
being good musically," said Sommers.
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