CLARKSVILLE, Mo — There’s a good reason many people know Donna Grote by her nickname, Songbird.

The Bowling Green performer wowed an audience of more than 100 people during “A Salute to Broadway” Feb. 23 at The Apple Shed in Clarksville.

The two-hour concert, sponsored by Grote and Raintree Arts Council, featured 22 songs from 21 musicals spanning eight decades.

For most tunes, Grote sang to recorded accompaniment, but her strong, soaring voice came through loudly and clearly to the thrilled audience. Raintree technicians created perfect lighting that enhanced the experience.

The songstress did have a little help. She and Tom Wallace of Louisiana did a rousing “You’re the One That I Want” from “Grease,” with Wallace dressed in a leather jacket to complete the part of Danny Zuko to Grote’s Sandy Olsson.

Grote and Angela Maier of Bowling Green donned habits and clasped their hands in prayer for the duet “I Will Follow Him” from “Sister Act.”

An elegantly-dressed Jeff Hickerson of Hannibal played piano for “Spoonful of Sugar” and “Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious” from “Mary Poppins” and “I Dreamed a Dream” from “Les Miserables.”

Other tunes featured in the first half were “Over the Rainbow” from “The Wizard of Oz,” “Dancing Queen” from “Mama Mia,” “Everything’s Coming Up Roses” from “Gypsy,” “Meet Me in St. Louis” from the show of the same name, “Good Morning, Baltimore” from “Hairspray,” “Singin’ in the Rain” from the show of the same name, “Don’t Rain on My Parade” from “Funny Girl,” “Tomorrow” from “Annie” and  “Circle of Life” from “The Lion King.”

The second half offered “Aquarius” from “Hair,” “Popular” from “Wicked,” “Mame” from the show of the same name, “All That Jazz” from “Chicago,” “What I Did for Love” from “A Chorus Line,” “Hello, Dolly” from the show of the same name, “This is Me” from “The Greatest Showman” and “This is the Moment” from “Jekyll and Hyde.”

Grote explained the stories behind many songs, and mixed things up with different clothing and stylish adornments to set the mood for each number.

Raintree is hosting its annual fund-raiser, Encore, with an Elvis Presley theme on April 5, and staging the musical “The Addams Family” in June.

 

CUTLINE FOR PHOTOS:

Donna Grote sings the glitzy, sexy romp “All That Jazz” from the musical “Chicago.”

Donna Grote, right, performed with Angela Maier, Tom Wallace and Jeff Hickerson (seated at piano) for her Feb. 23 concert “A Salute to Broadway” at The Apple Shed in Clarksville.