The Showcase is an hour-long multimedia show that celebrates American music, the impact it has had on music worldwide and will be part of the hand off of the World Choir Games from China to Cincinnati, which will play host to the event July 4-14, 2012. It is the first time the WCG will be in the United States.
Others selected for the cast: Ward Billeisen, Bernard Dotson, Carly Hughes, Kelly King, Monica Moran and Erin West. Learn more about them here. Tryouts were held in New York and Cincinnati the week of April 26-May 1.
The performers will rehearse July 7-18 in Cincinnati and travel to China from July 19-27.
LoBuono, a LaSalle High School graduate who grew up in White Oak, has performed on Broadway in Grease and been part of national tours for Grease and Starlight Express. He has also performed in Pippin, Smokey Joe's Café, Best Little Whore House in Texas, Hot ’n Cole and West Side Story.
Byrum, who lives in Clifton, teaches musical theatre at CCM, where he is completing his master’s in directing with an emphasis in musical theatre. He has a bachelor’s degree in musical theatre with a minor in dance from Catawba College in North Carolina and is going to be head of the Musical Theatre program at Columbia College in Chicago. Byrum was an actor for 15 years, performing in The Producers, A Christmas Carol, Fiddler On The Roof, Grease, Will Rogers Follies, I Love New York, My Fair Lady, West Side Story, The Secret Garden and Cats.
The World Choir Games is the largest international choral competition in the world, taking place every two years. It is the signature event of INTERKULTUR, an organization that helps produce international choral events all over the world. Inspired by the Olympic ideal, the goal of the World Choir Games is to unite people from all nations through singing in peaceful competition. Amateur choirs from a variety of musical genres compete for gold, silver and bronze medals.
The American Music Showcase is being produced by Cincinnati’s Moening Presentation Group. President Scott Moening is a Cheviot native, a graduate of the School for the Creative and Performance Arts and was a musical theatre major at CCM. Vice president Kim Moening is a CCM graduate and former Fox 19 and WB64 news anchor. The Moenings live in Cleves. Producer Mark Eckhoff is a LaSalle High School and UC business school graduate who lives in Fairfield. Producer Suzy Ziller, a Fairfield resident, grew up in Mount Healthy and attended McAuley High School and UC before graduating from the Christ Hospital School of Nursing. Also involved: Music director Jeff Smith (Mason) and video director Don Regensburger (Anderson Township).