“Sing-A- Long Broadway” is a unique show which invites audience members to an opportunity to celebrate Broadway music, from a variety of shows, through a guided sing-along stage experience on Sunday, Jan. 25.
According to a Popejoy press release, the show is designed to include attendees of all ages and levels of experience to participate in the show.
“Hosted by a two-person emcee team, the duo will lead the audience through musical highlights, thematic medleys, and interactive moments,” the press release reads.
The concept was written and created by Kevin Hammonds, with the idea of creating a Broadway experience for people who aren’t in the performing business, Hammonds said.
“Why should performers that are on stage have all the fun? Maybe there are people out there that want to sing and love to sing in public and love to belt all these tunes out, but, for whatever reason, they're not able to do it on stage as a professional performer,” Hammonds said.
Hammonds said he got into theater after his babysitter took him to her “Sound of Music” rehearsal, which she was acting in.
“I was mesmerized and wanted to do exactly what they were doing on stage,” Hammonds said.
Hammonds led the drama department in his high school and studied drama at Sam Houston State University to become an actor. After finding that opportunities were lacking, he wrote material for himself to perform.
“I discovered that I got more attention as a writer than a performer. So I still performed occasionally, but I started writing and mostly focusing on immersive, interactive entertainment, you know, where audience participation is a big key of it,” he said.
Hammonds said he and his co-host, Kerry Ipema, will create an interactive experience that invites audience members to play games, have singing contests and participate in the show on stage and throughout the theater.
“This show will fail or succeed according to who's in the audience because it's called ‘Sing Along Broadway.’ So if they refuse to sing along, I don't know how that's going to go down,” Hammonds said. “But I think people buy tickets because they love Broadway, they love musicals, and they do want to sing along.”
Some of the musicals included in the show are Wicked, Hairspray, Les Miserables, Moulin Rouge and Sweeney Todd, Hammonds said.
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Albuquerque is the first stop on the “Sing-Along Broadway” tour.
“Come out and be ready to sing your rear ends off, it's going to be a high-voltage, entertaining, funny party celebrating Broadway and people who love Broadway,” Hammonds said. ”Even if you don't love musicals, we do have a lot of stuff for you too.”
Leila Chapa is the photo and social media editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at socialmedia@dailylobo.com or on X @lchapa06
Leila Chapa is the social media editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at socialmedia@dailylobo.com or on X @lchapa06
