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March 21, 2016 | By Cole Hatcher

Ohio Wesleyan will present five performances of ‘Red Hot & Cole’ beginning April 8. Starring in the musical revue are, from left, Hannah Simpson as Ethel Merman, Colette Siddle as Elsa Maxwell, Gabe Caldwell as Cole Porter, Hannah Wargo as Linda Porter, Reginald Hemphill as Monty Woolley, and T.J. Galamba as Noel Coward. (Photo by Christian Sanford)

Ohio Wesleyan Departments of Theatre & Dance, Music to Present ‘Red Hot & Cole’ Musical Revue April 8-17

DELAWARE, Ohio – Ohio Wesleyan University’s Department of Theatre & Dance, in collaboration with the Department of Music, will present five performances of the musical revue “Red Hot and Cole!” in April. The show, described as “a champagne tribute to a glittering age gone by,” involves more than 50 Ohio Wesleyan students and features more than two dozen classic Cole Porter songs.

During his lifetime, Porter wrote more than 800 songs and is considered one of the 20th century’s greatest musical geniuses. “Red Hot & Cole” is a musical revue of his life with guest appearances from such Hollywood icons as Ethel Merman, Noel Coward, and playwrights George Kaufman and Moss Hart. The show includes such Porter standards as “Night And Day,” “I Love Paris,” “Anything Goes,” and “Miss Otis Regrets.”

“Red Hot & Cole” is directed by OWU theatre professor Elane Denny-Todd, with music direction by associate professor Jason Hiester, scenic design by professor D. Glen Vanderbilt Jr., choreography by assistant professor Rashana Smith, lighting design by Chad Knutson, and costume design by Donna Williamson.

Performances will be held at 8 p.m. April 8, 9, 15, and 16, and at 2 p.m. April 17 – all on the Main Stage of OWU’s Chappelear Drama Center, 45 Rowland Ave., Delaware. Music and lyrics by Cole Porter; book by James Bianchi, Muriel McAuley, and Randy Strawderman.

Tickets are $10 for general admission and $5 for senior citizens, Ohio Wesleyan employees, and non-Ohio Wesleyan students. Admission is free for OWU students with a valid university ID. To reserve tickets, call the Theatre Box Office at (740) 368-3855. For more information, visit www.owu.edu/theatre or www.owu.edu/music.

Founded in 1842, Ohio Wesleyan University is one of the nation’s premier liberal arts universities. Located in Delaware, Ohio, the private university offers 87 undergraduate majors and competes in 23 NCAA Division III varsity sports. Ohio Wesleyan combines a challenging, internationally focused curriculum with off-campus learning and leadership opportunities to connect classroom theory with real-world experience. OWU’s 1,675 students represent 43 U.S. states and territories and 33 countries. Ohio Wesleyan is featured in the book “Colleges That Change Lives,” listed on the latest President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction, and included in the U.S. News & World Report and Princeton Review “best colleges” lists. Learn more at www.owu.edu.