La Cañada Presbyterian Church to Present POPS: “Rhapsody in Gershwin”

The timeless music of George and Ira Gershwin will be celebrated in song, dance and big band accompaniment when La Cañada Presbyterian Church presents POPS: “Rhapsody in Gershwin” on Friday, June 15, at 8 p.m. and on Saturday, June 16, at 4 p.m.

The church’s 50-voice Chancel Choir, the Jack Lantz Little Big Band, a premier lineup of soloists and the LCPC Pops Dancers will bring to life Gershwin classics from Tin Pan Alley to Broadway to Hollywood, including “Love Is Here to Stay,” “Someone to Watch Over Me,” “Nice Work If You Can Get It,” “I Got Rhythm” and “Strike Up the Band,” as well as solos and duets from the popular musical “Porgy and Bess.”

“The singing, dancing and comedy are infectious, and will send you out with a smile on your face and a song (or two) in your heart,” promised Jack Lantz, LCPC’s Director of Music and Worship Arts, who will direct the program.

Soloists will include Lori Stinson and Gregory Geiger (in a duet of “I Loves You, Porgy”), Diane Wallace, Matthew Thomas, Tom Malcom, Ellen Kirstein, Deanna Murray, Lori MacDonald and Joanne Horne. The Pops Dancers will kick up their heels in a black-light dance to the Gershwin rag “Rialto Ripples” and will dance in swimming pools to “‘S Wonderful” – “People might get wet,” Lantz joked.

Another highlight will be excerpts from “Of Thee I Sing,” a Gershwin satire of presidential elections from the early 1930s. It figures to
be particularly apropos in this election year.

The La Cañada Presbyterian Church Sanctuary will be transformed into a Broadway theater for “Rhapsody in Gershwin,” a program that will be “a delightful blend of pops music, dance, frolic and fun, geared to the whole family,” Lantz promised.

Tickets are $15 general admission, $20 reserved, $10 children under 12 and $50 for a general admission family plan. They may be purchased from Lori MacDonald at (626) 794-1522, at the church office (818) 790-6708)or at the door. La Cañada Presbyterian Church is located at 626 Foothill Blvd., La Cañada. For further information, visit www.lacanadapc.org.

About La Cañada Presbyterian Church

La Cañada Presbyterian Church (LCPC) began in 1948 with 158 members and a vision to reach the world for Jesus Christ. That early church was built quite literally on faith and charity from remainder brick and an operating budget that turned just about all of its revenue into active ministry. Through 65 years of outreach, LCPC grew to 2,000 active attendees doing ministry throughout Southern California and in 40 countries around the world. In 2010 the church completed a campus expansion which doubled its physical base for ministry and kept its historical sanctuary as the heart of the new grounds.

La Cañada Presbyterian Church, 626 Foothill Boulevard, La Cañada, (818) 790-6708 or visit www.lacanadapc.org.