“Broadway Rocks!” will open the Fremont Symphony’s 2019-2020 season with a high-energy pairing of classic rock anthems and Broadway hits, including selections from “The Lion King,” “RENT,” “Hairspray,” "Dreamgirls," and “Phantom of the Opera.” The show features three of Broadway’s brightest stars, including American Idol finalist LaKisha Jones. Jones' expressive, full-bodied vocals propelled her into the top four in season six. Rounding out the trio are Anne Runolfsson, who recently completed a two-year run as “Carlotta” in "Phantom of the Opera," and Dan Domenech, who has toured with the Tony award-winning musical, "RENT," as well as "Wonderland," "Sister Act," "Rock of Ages," and "Kinky Boots." Led by Conductor Jung-Ho Pak, the symphony will be joined by The Logan High School Show Choir, under the direction of Erin McShane.
LaKisha Jones
Best known to millions of TV viewers as a top-four finalist during the 2007 season of American Idol, LaKisha Jones is ready to reclaim center stage in music, theatre, and television. Her last album, "So Glad I’m Me," was full of Jones’ expressive, full-bodied, and arresting vocals, the same voice that electrified American Idol viewers with the "Dreamgirls"' showstopper “And I Am Telling You,” and later the Broadway stage in the Oprah Winfrey-produced, Tony Award-winning musical, "The Color Purple."
A frequent soloist with symphonies around the world, Jones has performed as a guest soloist with the National Symphony, San Diego Symphony, Utah Symphony and Opera, Winnipeg Symphony, Evansville Philharmonic, Jacksonville Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, Utah Symphony and Opera, Colorado Symphony, Winnipeg Symphony, Windham Chamber Singers, Grand Rapids Symphony, Vancouver Symphony, Calgary Symphony, Battle Creek Symphony, and the Reno Philharmonic. Upcoming engagements include Houston Symphony, Phoenix Symphony, Oregon Symphony, Long Bay Symphony, and the Festival Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic.
Anne Runolfsson
Anne Runolfsson recently completed a two-year run on Broadway as the tempestuous diva Carlotta Giudacelli in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s "Phantom of the Opera," the longest-running show in Broadway history. Before that, she made an absolute splash in "Victor/Victoria" as standby to Dame Julie Andrews and Liza Minnelli. She performed the title role more than 120 times to great acclaim and went on to recreate the role in the National Tour. Other Broadway and national tour credits include the role of Gretta Conroy in James Joyce’s "The Dead," Fantine in Les Misérables, Roxane in "Cyrano–The Musical," Lily in "The Secret Garden," and "Aspects of Love." Off-Broadway and Regional credits include "Listen to My Heart (Studio 54)," "Rags," "Jack’s Holiday," "Cather County," "A Little Night Music," "Showboat," and "Funny Girl." Her many recordings include the International Cast Album of Les Misérables, "Listen to My Heart," "Broadway Musicals of 1933," and her solo debut recording "At Sea," which was critically acclaimed nationwide.
Dan Domenech
Dan Domenech’s versatile vocals have been heard in 49 states and eight countries. Touring with productions of the Tony award-winning "RENT," "Wonderland," "Sister Act," "Rock of Ages," and "Kinky Boots," Domenech has made his mark as one of the industry’s leading men. He recently performed the role of Che in "Evita." In concert, he appeared with the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra and the Missouri Symphony and will appear in the upcoming orchestral powerhouse "Rocktopia" and Nederlander Worldwide’s production of "Broadway Rox." He’s worked with composers Tom Kitt, Laurence O’Keefe, Frank Wildhorn, and Alan Menken on new shows, including the soon-to-be-released revamp of "Bat Boy the Musical." Domenech has made guest appearances on "Glee" (Fox), "Gotham" (Fox), and "Viva Laughlin" (CBS), and worked with directors Ben Stiller, Brett Ratner, Ivan Reitman and Adam McKay on several films and awards shows out of Los Angeles.