On Friday night, when president/chief executive officer Doug Price introduced benefactors Bill and Joanie Grier as “indefatigable supporters” of Rocky Mountain PBS, his description also applied to everyone who braved a blizzard to attend the PBS benefit that the Griers were underwriting: a Ben Vereen concert at the University of Denver’s Newman Center.
Treacherous roads and icy temps caused quite a few of those who’d purchased tickets to stay home, but those who did come make sure were happy that they did. Vereen was on the Gates Concert Hall stage for 2½ hours, with no intermission, to offer a preview of “Tenacity,” the autobiographical show being developed for a July opening on Broadway. In addition, the S.T.A.R.S. Trio — Natalie Oliver-Atherton, Carolyne Fuqua and Nadine Risha — sang several numbers and the Colorado Ballet’s Caitlin Valentine-Ellis and Christopher Ellis danced to “The Greatest Love.”
“If you’ve ever wondered how to assemble an intimate crowd for a Ben Vereen concert, it’s simple,” Price said. “You start with a very big crowd and then have a snowstorm.”
This is the third time the Griers have hosted a benefit concert for Rocky Mountain PBS, and they enlisted a number of their high-profile friends to serve on the host committee, folks like Danae Falliers and her parents, Electra and Dr. Constantine Falliers; Thomas Edmonds Hardy; Sharon and Lanny Martin; Enid Slack; Gloria and Landri Taylor; Don Greco; Barbara and Dennis Baldwin; Carol Moore; Joan and Hugh Manchester; Lin Lee; Trudy and Wayne Fower; and Bill Tinsley.
They also asked Charlie Burrell, whose 90th birthday had been the focus of the 2011 benefit, to serve as honorary chairman. A jazz and classical musician (he plays contrabass), Burrell is often referred to as the Jackie Robinson of classical music out of respect for the number of doors he has opened during a career with symphony orchestras in San Francisco and Denver. Burrell also is the uncle of award-winning jazz singer Dianne Reeves.
The Tony Award-winning Vereen, who just last week was inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame, last appeared in Denver for the gala that celebrated the 1995 opening of Denver International Airport. At the reception that followed his concert, he said he eagerly accepted the Rocky Mountain PBS invite because it would give him the chance to appear on the same stage as the S.T.A.R.S. Trio, whose members are all friends of his.
Plus, he’s a big fan of PBS. “When I hear Rocky Mountain PBS is in need of some financial help, I get on my horse and ride,” he joked.
Colorado Ballet executive director Marie Belew Wheatley, who had a front row seat for the show, recalled the last time she had enjoyed one of Vereen’s performances. “It must be 30 years ago, at least. He was in ‘Pippin’ on Broadway and I was in heaven to be sitting in the second row. So tonight was extra special.”
Wheatley also clarified that the look of love on the faces of the Colorado Ballet dancers was not for showbiz purposes only. “They’re newlyweds; it’s real,” she shared.
Joanne Davidson: 303-809-1314 or jdavidson@denverpost.com; also, and
