Samford University’s School of the Arts will present Leonard Bernstein’s lively musical On the Town April 28–May 1 in Harrison Theatre. A 50-member cast will perform the show’s impressive choreography and some of Bernstein’s most recognizable Broadway songs, including “New York, New York.”  The show, which opened on Broadway in 1944 and was made into a film in 1949, tells the story of three sailors on a 24-hour shore leave in the Big Apple during World War II.

In addition to a main cast that alternates between matinee and evening performances, performers include 22 singers in male and female ensembles, all accompanied by a 29-member orchestra.

The Friday, April 29, show is an exclusive performance for guests at Samford Legacy League’s eighth annual Scholarship Gala Celebration. The evening also includes a private reception in the art gallery at 5:30 p.m. and dinner on the Wright Center stage at 6:30 p.m. prior to On the Town. Proceeds will help provide need-based scholarships for students pursuing a degree from Samford’s School of the Arts. Legacy League Vice President for Membership Suzanne Hopkins is chair of the event. Individual tickets for the scholarship gala are $100–$125 ($50–$70 tax-deductible). For reservations and more information, go to samford.edu/legacyleague.

The production, combining the talents of Samford’s Division of Music and Department of Theatre and Dance, is presented as part of the Dr. Chandler and Jane Paris Smith Opera Series.