Former Broadway star and actor Ivan Rutherford will be performing a benefit
concert for the university’s Wind Symphony this Friday. 
Courtesy of Public Information

Former Broadway star Ivan Rutherford, who played Jean Valjean in Les Miserables more than 2,000 times, will sing to benefit the university’s Wind Symphony. 

The concert will be held in the Ralph R. Pottle Music Building Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 27. The funds raised will allow the Wind Symphony to perform at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. on May 31.

Rutherford, who has performed his show in dozens of cities including New York City, Boston and Hong Kong, invites Southeastern students to share in the honor of being able to support the Wind Symphony. 

“I want the students here to know and embrace the beauty of the Pottle Music Building, the gift of collaborating with some of these talents of the Wind Symphony joining me onstage and the extraordinary blessing of having an amazing conductor like Dr. Glen Hemberger,” said Rutherford.

For Hemberger, director of bands and professor of music, the feeling is mutual. 

“It is rare to have the opportunity to meet and hear an artist the calibre of Ivan Rutherford, a mega-star from Broadway, on our campus,” said Hemberger. “Ivan has become a good friend, and we keep in contact frequently. This will be a very special night for Southeastern, and for the Hammond community. He will be singing some of his most famous selections.”

Rutherford has also toured the nation and been nominated for “Best Actor” for the first annual National Broadway Theatre Awards in New York City. 

“Fans are welcome to bring Les Miserables or Ivan Rutherford items for autographs,” said Hemberger.  

Although he is best known for playing Jean Valjean, he has also played the Caliph in “Kismet,” Tony in “West Side Story,” Lt. Joe Cable in “South Pacific” and 2nd Officer Charles Lightoller in the Broadway version of “Titanic.” 

When Rutherford sings and acts, it is not to elicit a certain response in the audience, but to express his love for the music.

“I love what I do and for me it’s never about ‘wowing’ the crowd, but sharing my passion for the music,” said Rutherford. “The comments I usually hear are about how they were moved by my stories and interpretation of the music.”

When Rutherford visited Southeastern in 2013 to perform alongside the Wind Symphony for their spring concert, the audience was moved. According to Hemberger, it was a “tremendous hit.” 

This time, he will present an exclusively-designed collaboration of his favorite songs as well as humorous and clever songs to

shape the Hammond performance. Some of these are the famous “Bring Him Home” and “I Dreamed a Dream,”  both from “Les Miserables,” “Somewhere” from “West Side Story,” “Some Enchanted Evening” from “South Pacific” and “Music of the Night” from “The Phantom of the Opera.” 

Seeing what a unique opportunity the Wind Symphony has in travelling to their upcoming performance, Rutherford wants to fully support them by allowing 100 percent of the proceeds go to the band. 

“Every music ensemble wants to perform in the great venues of the world,” said Rutherford. “The Southeastern Wind Symphony performed in Chicago’s Orchestra Hall in 2013, and having the opportunity to represent Southeastern and the State of Louisiana by performing in the ‘nation’s hall,’ the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, is a huge honor. It is extra special that Dr. Hemberger has arranged for Lt. Col. Jason Fettig, conductor of the United States Marine Band, to guest conduct a selection with the Wind Symphony on the program.”

Aside from helping the band, Rutherford also hopes to inspire the Hammond community and enjoy the South’s signature food.

“I’m living proof that by following your dream, anything can happen. I had a vision of being a performer at a very young age without ever knowing the ‘how.’ I never lost sight of it and opportunities magically became available to me as time passed,” said Rutherford. “I’m a believer in ‘dreaming big’ as I still believe that someday I will perform a duet with Paul McCartney. Besides all that, I’m addicted to po’boys and grilled oysters.”

Tickets are $25 and with the presentation of a university ID, student tickets are $15. All tickets can be bought in Room 106 of the Pottle Music Building. Tickets can be purchased at connect.southeastern.edu/rutherford or at the Pottle Box Office the night of the performance beginning at 6:15 p.m.