Radio 2 gala concert to star Broadway composer Herman

Published Wednesday 29 August 2007 at 11:30 by Matthew Hemley

Mack and Mabel composer Jerry Herman is to make a rare London appearance for a BBC Radio 2 gala concert celebrating his career.

Herman will join a host of musical theatre stars at the event, which will be recorded for the broadcaster’s Friday Night is Music Night strand. It will air later this year as a Christmas special. John Barrowman will host the concert, which will feature music from Hello Dolly, La Cage Aux Folles and Mack and Mabel.

Actress Maria Friedman has been lined up to perform at the concert, alongside Donald Pippin, Herman’s long-time musical director, and Broadway star Debbie Gravitte.

The music will be played by the BBC Concert Orchestra and the show is being produced by Anthony Cherry, who put together the recent Andrew Lloyd Webber gala concert, featuring Lee Mead and Connie Fisher.

Cherry said: “We’re always looking for a big thing to do at Christmas and you can’t get more showy than Jerry. It’s a coup to get him because he is not very well. It’s a very rare appearance.”

BBC Radio 2 head of live music, events and talent Lewis Carnie added: “Jerry Herman is a truly legendary composer with a songbook that’s stunning. Radio 2 is delighted to be producing this event that will showcase the best of his work with some of the greatest performers in musical theatre.”

The Herman gala concert will be conducted by Larry Blank, who orchestrated the music for The Drowsy Chaperone and the new London production of Fiddler on the Roof.

It will be held at the Prince Edward Theatre on September 23.