Event
Leona Sings Judy
Canyon Moon Theatre opens season XII with Leona Sings Judy, a delightful hit tribute to the music of the legendary Judy Garland. Starring verteran Broadway nightclub singer and actress, Leona Mitchell.
Mitchell has performed Leona Sings Judy in Southern Arizona, and throughout Oregon and Northern California to rave reviews and standing ovations. Tom Braman of the Daily Courier in Portland said of her performance, "You'll go in a fan of Judy Garland, but you'll come out a fan of Leona Mitchell." Mitchell reaches out through the music creating a magic that touches and delights her listeners.
Leona Sings Judy is not an impersonation of Judy Garland, but rather a tribute to the wonderful music that she made famous and which still entertains us today. The songs are particularly appealing to those who remember the movie musicals of the '40s, '50s, and 60's. Leona combines music, dance and occasional tidbits about Garland's life to offer the audience a memorable evening in the theatre reliving some of the greatest moments in entertainment including songs from "Meet Me in St. Louis," "For Me and My Gal," and Garland's most memorable film, "The Wizard of Oz."
The moment Judy Garland sang of her love to a photo of screen idol Clark Gable in the film Broadway Melodies of 1938, she found her way into the hearts of the American audience. The next year, MGM mogul Louis B. Mayer would cast Judy as the Kansas girl who takes a dream trip to the wonderful Land of OZ, and her legacy was assured in a film performance that children and parents continue to enjoy decades later. The little girl with the grown-up voice made an indelible mark on the entertainment industry, with a career that would span 45 of her short 47 years on earth. She remains one of the most beloved talents of all time.
Like Judy, Leona Mitchells's show business journey began singing with her family on the road. "Brother George and I would sing duets, as mom sang and played on the piano, and dad accompanied on violin," she says. Although not quite "born in a trunk," she grew up on stage, and entertaining came as naturally to her as breathing. New York was the necessary next step, and she immediately landed roles in New York-based touring productions of "Call Me Madam" with Ethel Merman, "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" with Tommy Sands and "Take Me Along", opposite the legendary Arthur Godfrey, and her first Broadway show, Burt Bacharach's hit, "Promises, Promises", as the shows lead singer with Jerry Orbach. When the Broadway production closed, Leona was asked to continue her role with the national touring company, travelling the country ending in Los Angeles, which became her new home.
Leona brings her fabulous one-woman tribute to the Canyon Moon Theatre stage for a special three-week engagement, performing the tunes that Judy Garland made famous, including "The Man That Got Away," "When You're Smiling," and of course Judy's signature song, "Over the Rainbow." But Leona adds some little-know tunes like "It Seems Happiness is Just a Thing Called Joe," and "I Happen to Like New York," which Judy sang on her TV show.
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LocationCanyon Moon Theatre
6601 State Road 179, Suite A6
Sedona, AZ 86351
United States
Categories
| Kid Friendly: No |
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Non-Smoking: No |
| Wheelchair Accessible: No |
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