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This was a curtain call Kylee Bates ‘27 will never forget.
First, the sophomore from New Kent County, Va. in the Department of Performing Arts - Theatre and Dance was selected with a small group of students for a remarkable opportunity. She participated in a masterclass at the Ferguson Center with veterans of the Broadway stage. They had come to campus to perform in the Jerry Herman Broadway Legacy Concert.
Herman (1931-2019) was a legendary composer and lyricist, known for his timeless classics such as Hello, Dolly!, Mame, and La Cage aux Folles.
At four locations in the U.S., the Herman Concert performers conducted a masterclass and selected one student to receive the $1,000 ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) Jerry Herman Legacy Prize.
"Opportunities like this are so important to student performers; the chance to connect with seasoned professionals in addition to their regular teachers and professors adds tremendously to our musical theatre program, and the Ferguson Center makes it all possible," said Doug Carpenter, Visiting Assistant Professor and Artist in Residence, Department of Performing Arts - Theatre and Dance.
“It was an incredible opportunity and a tremendous honor for Christopher Newport’s musical theatre students to work with veteran Broadway performers during their masterclass," said Bruce Bronstein, Ferguson Center Executive Director.
After the class, a panel of performers and mentors selected one student to receive the scholarship and the opportunity to perform that night on the Diamonstein Concert Hall stage with the Broadway stars. That student would be Kylee Bates .
She knows her way around the big time. Earlier this year, Bates joined 19 other CNU students in a rousing and well-received performance at 54 Below, a New York City venue known as “Broadway’s Living Room.”
So in front of a large and appreciative crowd including many of her classmates and professors, Kylee Bates sang “I Don’t Want To Know” from Dear World by Jerry Herman, capping a day when she learned her craft from the very best, was awarded a sizable prize and then performed music written by a legendary lyricist.
"I had a wonderful experience performing in the Broadway Legacy concert for ASCAP,” Bates said. “I am so grateful to CNU Musical Theatre and the Ferguson Center for providing me with these amazing opportunities."