Theater will host an evening of Mercer tunes

MIDDLEBURY — Town Hall Theater in Middlebury is celebrating the fifth successful year of its education program with a musical tribute to lyricist Johnny Mercer called “He Wrote That Too,” a reference to the extraordinary number of famous songs Mercer wrote. THT’s students, teachers and friends will present an evening of songs you didn’t know you knew Friday and Saturday, Nov. 13 and 14, at 7 p.m.
Mercer is the writer behind smash hits “Moon River,” “That Old Black Magic,” “You Must’ve Been a Beautiful Baby,” “Hooray for Hollywood” and many, many more. Mercer won four Academy Awards, was the founder of Capitol Records, and wrote the lyrics to over 1,000 songs.
Education Director and show coordinator Lindsay Pontius says, “I remember becoming acquainted with Gershwin, Porter and Berlin as I was growing up, but the name Johnny Mercer never really surfaced, and now I am astonished by how many songs he wrote that are part of the American Songbook as well as a part of my life. As we work on his songs, we’re finding that Mercer was a magician with words. It’s clear why he was the chosen favorite of many composers.”
“He Wrote That Too” will feature 36 performers and span multiple generations in an entertaining evening of music for the whole family. While Mercer’s work with be featured, the show will also include an original work based on his style. THT Executive Director Douglas Anderson will be performing with his wife Debbie Anderson. Instructors Nikki Juvan, Alisa Endsley and Kendra Gratton will also take turns interpreting Mercer’s work. Other performers include Kari Hansen, Wendy White, Hadley Evans Nash, Lilly Isham, Lydia Deppman, Hilary Delisle, Beatrice Porter, Connor Bachand, Megan Balparda, Melody Berenbaum, Amanda Kearns, Camille Maglienti, Anya Hardy-Mittell, Jayden Rushton, Carter Lee, Jack Lyons, Alice Livesay, Theodore Porter, Zachary Lounsbury, Georgia Krause, Chance Allen Tae Koenig, Kaden Orozco Hammond, Madeleine Stroup, Phoebe Raphael, Tanner Hoffman, Rhylee Macedo, Cooper Cannon, Zach Jette, Sofia Boise and Theodora Porter.
Tickets are $10, $5 for children younger than 12, and are available from the THT Box Office tickets, call 802.382.9222 come by in person Monday-Saturday, noon-5 p.m., or visit www.townhalltheater.org.

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