Evening of song, laughter at IHCC

OTTUMWA ? ?An Evening of Song and Laughter,? featuring Kate Crist, will be presented at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 24 in St. John Auditorium at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa.

The presentation is part of the 2011-12 Performing and Visual Arts Series at the college. The concert is free and open to the public.

Crist is a graduate of Cardinal High School and the University of Northern Iowa. Her voice teachers have included Anne Larson, Jean McDonald and Becky Diebold. Crist also has been a participant in the Merola summer program, which is affiliated with the San Francisco Opera.

?Anyone who has heard her sing will not likely forget the power and beauty of her voice,? IHCC Director of Performing and Visual Arts Michael Philipsen said. ?The program will include a variety of styles and music including old popular standards, musical theatre, opera and some selections with dark humor and lighter humor.?

Philipsen, who will provide piano accompaniment, said the atmosphere will be a casual evening reminiscent of a cabaret-type setting.

Roy Belzer, a second-year student at Indian Hills and a graduate of Ottumwa High School, will sing in several of the selections. He has appeared in numerous theatre and music performances at both schools, and this past summer appeared on stage at Fairfield?s Sondheim Center for the Performing Arts as an apprentice with the Way Off Broadway musical theatre company.