Fans of country singer-songwriter Tim Sullivan will want to save the date of Saturday evening, November 6 for a cabaret-style benefit concert in Durango showcasing the musical skills of three members of the remarkably talented Sullivan family, plus two other special guests.
Theme of the event is ‘Broadway in the Rockies’.
All concert proceeds go to the Jim and Elizabeth Sullivan Foundation for the Arts to provide scholarships for deserving local youth with a talent for music, dance or the visual arts in Archuleta and La Plata Counties.
Multiple Pagosa Springs youth have benefited from scholarships from the Sullivan Foundation. They include members of the Pagosa Springs Girls Choir, Kathleen Isberg’s piano student Jovanka Ponce de Leon, and Venita Burch’s vocal student Gustavo Palma and piano student Mark Holladay.
Concert performers
Headliner at the concert will be Tim’s sister KT Sullivan. She is the star of numerous Broadway productions and an internationally acclaimed singer and recording artist.
KT has sung in multiple venues in the U.S. including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Spoleto Festival and the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., as well as in London, China and Australia. Her theatre credits include Broadway where she starred in Marilyn Monroe’s role of Loralei in “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” and she performed and danced the tango with Sting in “Threepenny Opera.” KT was a guest star on Garrison Keillor’s “Prairie Home Companion” and twice was named one of the top 100 Irish Americans by Irish America magazine.
Tim Sullivan is well known in Pagosa Springs for his many local performances when the dance floor is jammed with people doing the Texas two-step and line dances to his music, both original and covers of such greats as George Jones and the Eagles. Tim has performed in seven countries. He also has played with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and in Carnegie Hall, and been a featured performer with country stars such as Alan Jackson, Willie Nelson, Vince Gill, Glen Campbell and Tammy Wynette.
In addition to Tim and KT, their mother, Elizabeth Sullivan, is coming from Oklahoma to perform. A brilliant vocalist, songwriter and piano player, Elizabeth is the matriarch of this accomplished musical family. When they were young, her eight children formed the Sullivan Family Gospel Singers with their mother, from whom they learned classical piano and voice as youngsters.
Tim and his family have performed in concert at Carnegie Hall four times. Their last performance was featured on NBC’s “Today Show” and NBC Nightly News.
Also on stage will be award-winning singer and recording artist Natalie Douglas as well as jazz pianist and composer Jon Weber, former host of Piano Jazz on NPR. Both Douglas and Weber have impressive U.S. and international performing credits and have wowed fans in Durango at previous Sullivan family benefit concerts.
Ticket information and COVID precautions
November 6 marks the eighth Sullivan family benefit concert. This year’s event takes place at 7 p.m. at the Durango Arts Center theatre. Reserved seats are $75, with 25 seats available at $100 each, the latter premium seating up front in the theatre. They are available by contacting Claudine McAnelly at (505) 259-5079 or ccmcanelly@gmail.com, or Tim at 970-749-5531 or timsullivanmusician@gmail.com.
Due to COVID restrictions and out of an abundance of caution for the concert performers and audience, the Sullivans are following CDC and Broadway-recommended precautions because of the rising number of Delta variant cases. Proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test within 72 hours will be required via email to purchase tickets. As well, only half of the theatre’s 250 seats will be occupied to ensure social distancing.
Submitting proof of vaccination at the time of ticket purchase or digitally submitting a negative COVID test in advance of the concert will allow attendees to avoid waiting in line at the event. Tests can be obtained free of charge through the San Juan Basin Health Department with results provided online.
Master classes available
While here, these gifted musicians will host master classes for local high school and college-age performers who want to take advantage of their knowledge and experience. The sessions will take place at the Durango Arts Center on Friday, November 5 from 2-5pm. and Saturday, November 6 from 11am – 2pm. Cost is $25 and scholarships are available through the Sullivan Foundation. Contact Tim for an application.
One of the master class participants will be chosen to receive a scholarship from the Sullivan Foundation to perform next year in New York City. Pagosa’s talented Allora Leonard was the 2018 winner. She sang at the International Cabaret Convention at Lincoln Center in New York City.
