Thursday night, I had the wonderful opportunity, presented by my university, to attend a performance in our auditorium by Kelli O’Hara, a true Broadway legend. I went with my roommate, and we were both equally blown away! With every note that came out of her mouth, we couldn't believe what we were hearing.

Seeing her sing live in a more intimate setting than a Broadway theatre was truly pleasant. She performed songs from several of the musicals she has performed in, along with a few truly beautiful originals and one original song written by her husband, Greg Naughton, for his band. In every song, she exhibited complete vocal control and demonstrated her opera talent! She described us as a very “clap-happy” audience, but it really all was because of her talent and that twinkle in her eye that shows her true passion for what she does. Her accompanist, Dan Lipton, is also a very talented pianist and actually helped with arrangements for Kelli’s solo album. Never in a million years did I think I would have an opportunity like this, let alone at an affordable rate! My thanks go out to Kutztown University for arranging this and to Kelli O’Hara and Dan Lipton for giving me a night to remember.

For those of you who don't know who Kelli O'Hara is, here's some background information.

Kelli grew up in a small town in Oklahoma. Later on, she attended Oklahoma City University and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in vocal performance/opera. Fun fact: She was taught by the same woman who four years earlier had trained another Broadway legend, Kristin Chenoweth.

Kelli O’Hara has been in many theatrical productions, both on and off-Broadway. Her first performance that earned her the recognition of the Tony Award nominating committee for the award of Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Musical was her role as Clara in The Light in the Piazza in 2005. From this point on, every show she would be in would earn her a Tony nomination.(Awkward sentences, flip order) In the 2006 revival of The Pajama Game, she played the role of Babe, which she earned her second Tony nomination, her first as Best Leading Actress in a Musical. Her next nomination came from her portrayal as Nellie Forbush in South Pacific in 2008 to 2010. The fourth nomination was for her role as Billie Bendix in Nice Work if You Can Get It, which she was a cast member in from April of 2012 to March of 2013. From January to May of 2014, O’Hara would play the role of Francesca in a movie adapted to a musical, The Bridges of Madison County, and receive her fifth Tony Award nomination. The sixth came in 2015 for her role as Anna Leonowens in the Broadway revival of The King and I. This would be the role that finally earned Kelli O’Hara her first Tony Award as the Best Leading Actress in a Musical. Kelli O'Hara is considered to be one of Broadway's legends, and I absolutely encourage you to listen to her smooth soprano voice.

(All infromation was taken from the Wikipedia page on Kelli O'Hara.)