“Michele McConnell: In Concert” Second Event for Western Theatre Department’s 2023-24 Season

Western Wyoming Community College’s (Western’s) Theatre Department will present an evening of musical theatre favorites and standards performed by Adjunct Instructor of Musical Theatre Michele McConnell, Broadway's longest-running Carlotta in The Phantom of the Opera, on November 17 and 18, at 7:30PM. She will be joined onstage by special guests, baritone Duane McDevitt and tenor Steve Cramer. Their accompanist is the American conductor and pianist Jerry Steichen. The performances will be presented onstage in a black box setting in the Western Theatre.  

McConnell made her Broadway debut in February 2010 in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera. In July 2011 she took over the role of opera diva Carlotta Giudicelli, singing over 2,200 performances. In addition, she has a long list of professional credits, which include the national tour of Camelot starring Robert Goulet, Beauty and the Beast in Montreal and Las Vegas, and the title role of La Perichole at DiCapo Opera. She can be heard on the original Broadway cast recording for Anna Karenina, and numerous recordings for Hal Leonard Publishing via Aireborn Recordings. In addition, she has traveled to over 115 countries performing on luxury cruise ships with her husband, baritone Duane McDevitt.  

Currently, Michele is on the musical theatre faculty at New Jersey City University. The Mannes School of Music at The New School, and Western Wyoming Community College. She is a proud member of Actor’s Equity Association and a Mary Kay consultant. 

Jerry Steichen holds music degrees from Oklahoma City University and the University of Southern California. He has conducted opera and symphony orchestras (including twelve seasons as Principal Pops conductor of the Utah Symphony) and conducted both on Broadway (Cats for two years including its final performance), and the U.S. tours of The Phantom of the Opera, The Secret Garden, The King and I, and Peter Pan. 

Tickets are $13 for adults and $8 for youth and seniors. Tickets are available online or by calling the Box Office Monday – Friday, 9am – 4pm at (307) 382-1721. For questions and tickets, please call the Performing Arts Office at (307) 382-1721, or visit: westernwyoming.edu/theatre. For information on enrolling in the Musical Theater Program at Western, visit their academic page at westernwyoming.edu/theatre.