Mauer, Murney, Runolfsson Set for Philly Pops’ Broadway Showstoppers Concert

Peter Nero and the Philly Pops will begin their 30th anniversary season with their Broadway Showstoppers! concert, which will feature special guests Gary Mauer, Julia Murney, and Anne Runolfsson. Performances will take place on September 27 at the Trenton War Memorial in Trenton, New Jersey; October 5, 8, 10, 11, and 12 at Verizon Hall in Philadelphia; and on October 19 at at West Chester University in West Chester, Pennsylvania.

The Pops season at Verizon Hall will continue with the annual Holiday POPS! concert (December 5-20), which will feature the von Trapp Children and the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas Gospel Choir, along with the 150-member Pops Festival Chorus.

2009 begins with Visions of America (January 25-February 1), a multimedia collaboration between the Pops and photographer Joseph Sohm, pianist-composer Roger Kellaway, and legendary lyricists Alan and Marilyn Bergman. Next on the roster is A Celebration of Ol’ Blue Eyes (February 15-22), a tribute to Frank Sinatra, with special guest Steve Lippia.

Jazz great Diane Schuur will join Nero for 88 Keys and a Voice (April 19-26). The season will conclude with Hooray for Hollywood! (May 10-17) with guest vocalists Jodi Benson and Keith Butterbaugh, and Thanks for the Memories: 30 Years of Peter Nero and the Philly Pops (June 20).

For tickets and information for the Philadelphia performances, call 215-893-1999 or visit www.phillypops.org. For Trenton, call 609-984-8400 and for West Chester, call 610-436-1000.