Jazz legend Ann Hampton Callaway will headline the Mercyhurst Institute for Arts & Culture (MIAC)\u2019s annual Summer Soir\u00e9e on Saturday, Aug. 8. The evening will begin with an elegant outdoor reception on the Mercyhurst campus from 6 to 7 p.m., followed by an intimate concert in Walker Recital Hall at 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n
For this special performance, Callaway brings her acclaimed program, “I Get a Kick Out of Cole,” a vibrant tribute to the music and legacy of Cole Porter. Blending wit, warmth, and impeccable musicality, the evening features timeless classics including “Night and Day,” “Just One of Those Things,” and “Every Time We Say Goodbye.\u201d A highlight of the program is “I Gaze in Your Eyes,” a song Callaway composed using previously unpublished lyrics by Porter, making her the only composer to set music to his unrecorded work. Throughout the evening, Callaway shares stories that illuminate Porter\u2019s life and artistry, bringing audiences closer to the man she says \u201chad so much savoir it isn\u2019t fair.\u201d<\/p>\n
“For sheer vocal beauty, no contemporary singer matches Ms. Callaway,” said Stephen Holden, The New York Times.<\/p>\n
“Just as Ella Fitzgerald was the greatest jazz singer of her era, so too is the magnificent Ann Hampton Callaway of hers,” expressed Musical Theatre Review.<\/p>\n
The 501 & The Silver Circle<\/p>\n
The Summer Soir\u00e9e serves as the signature event for The 501 and The Silver Circle, two membership societies that provide vital support for the MIAC.<\/p>\n
Established in 2017, The 501 was created to recognize and engage MIAC\u2019s most dedicated supporters. In 2021, The Silver Circle was introduced to expand this premier membership opportunity to a broader community of arts patrons. Together, these societies unite individuals who share a commitment to the performing arts, ensuring that MIAC continues to bring world-class programming to the Erie region.<\/p>\n
In appreciation of their support, members receive a range of exclusive benefits designed to enhance their experience, including priority ticket access, invitations to private receptions, valet parking, and more.<\/p>\n
“Members of The 501 and The Silver Circle are more than supporters of the arts\u2014they are philanthropic leaders whose generosity sustains MIAC\u2019s mission and makes world-class performances accessible to our community,” said MIAC Artistic Director Dr. Brett D. Johnson. “Their commitment ensures that the cultural landscape of Erie continues to thrive.”<\/p>\n
Memberships for the upcoming season, which include tickets to Callaway\u2019s performance at the Summer Soir\u00e9e, will be available beginning Monday, May 11, at https:\/\/miac.mercyhurst.edu\/501<\/a>. Current members who wish to retain or upgrade their seats must renew by Friday, June 5. New memberships will be processed in the order they are received.<\/p>\n About Ann Hampton Callaway<\/p>\n Ann Hampton Callaway is one of America\u2019s most gifted artists in pop and jazz. A leading champion of the Great American Songbook, she has made her mark as a singer, pianist, composer, lyricist, arranger, actress, educator, TV host, and producer. Voted “Celebrity of the Year” by BroadwayWorld and “Best Jazz Vocalist” two years in a row, Callaway is a born entertainer.<\/p>\n She is best known for her Tony-nominated performance in the Broadway musical “Swing!” and for writing and singing the theme song to the hit TV series “The Nanny.” She made her feature film debut opposite Angelina Jolie and Matt Damon in the Robert De Niro film “The Good Shepherd.”<\/p>\n A multi-platinum-selling songwriter, Callaway\u2019s work has been featured on seven albums by Barbra Streisand. She has recorded 83 albums as a soloist and guest artist, and her latest release, “Finding Beauty: Originals Volume 1,” debuted at No. 1 on the iTunes Jazz chart.<\/p>\n Her honors include the Theater World Award, 17 MAC Awards, several Bistro Awards, the Mabel Mercer Award, the Johnny Mercer Award for Songwriting, the Blanton Peale Award for Positive Thinking, and induction into the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame.<\/p>\n