Bozeman Magazine

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Broadway musical star and Big Sky part-time resident Bobby Conte Thornton joins WMPAC for an evening of audience favorites and newly arranged classics. Thornton’s Broadway debut came in A Bronx Tale, directed by Robert De Niro and Jerry Zaks. He has also appeared on television’s Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Madam Secretary. Thornton will perform a selection of Broadway tunes and be accompanied by Broadway music director James Sampliner on piano and Michael Steele on standup and electric bass.

Bobby Conte Thornton is a New York-based actor and singer who made his Broadway debut originating the role of Calogero in A Bronx Tale, directed by Robert De Niro and Jerry Zaks. He returned to Broadway this spring singing “Another Hundred People” as P.J. in Marianne Elliott’s gender-bent revival of Company. Other New York stage credits include My Fair Lady directed by Michael Arden and Starting Here, Starting Now directed by its lyricist, Richard Maltby, Jr. A graduate of the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance, BCT starred as Danny Zuko in Grease at Paper Mill Playhouse and Enjolras in Les Misérables at the Muny while pursuing his BFA. He subsequently trained in London at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Upon graduation, his regional stage credits include the new musical Last Days of Summer at George Street Playhouse, Two River Theater’s all-male A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, the world premiere co-production of Ken Ludwig’s A Comedy of Tenors at McCarter Theatre Center and Cleveland Play House, and three seasons at the Muny. BCT made his feature film debut in If Beale Street Could Talk, adapted and directed by Barry Jenkins. Television credits include Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Madam Secretary, and The Code. His debut studio album, Along the Way, is available across all digital music providers. The record is based off his touring solo cabaret, Blame It on My Youth, which premiered at the historic Venetian Room in the Fairmont San Francisco prior to a sold-out engagement at Feinstein’s/54 Below. As a concert artist, he has headlined at Lincoln Center, the Carolina Philharmonic and as Tony in Oakland Symphony’s concert version of West Side Story. A native of San Francisco, California, BCT currently resides in Manhattan, and is grateful to be quarantining in Big Sky, Montana. Follow @bobby_conte.

James Sampliner is a highly regarded music director, keyboardist, record producer, arranger and orchestrator in the NYC theatrical community and beyond. New York theater credits include: (Bway) Prince Of Broadway, Honeymoon In Vegas, Legally Blonde, The Wedding Singer, BKLYN, Never Gonna Dance. (Off-Bway) Songs For A New World, Himself & Nora, The Mistress Cycle, Ghetto Superstar, Radiant Baby. He also has over 20 regional productions under his belt as MD and/or orchestrator. Mr. Sampliner serves as music director for countless Broadway artists, and collaborates with them for small venues and concert halls worldwide. Artists on his revolving roster include his 18-year association with Billy Porter, Patina Miller (both represented also on PBS’ “Live From Lincoln Center”), Tituss Burgess, Mandy Gonzalez, Norm Lewis, Chuck Cooper, Shoshana Bean, Eden Espinosa, Lillias White, Amanda Green, Rob McClure, Bobby Conte Thornton, Javier Muñoz, and countless others. He also was fortunate enough to be an arranger on an episode of FX’s hit television show “Pose” (S2, Ep 6). Recordings include Songs For A New World (City Center 2018), Prince Of Broadway, Honeymoon In Vegas, Legally Blonde, The Wedding Singer, BKLYN as well as albums he has produced for Billy Porter (At The Corner Of Broadway & Soul, The Soul Of Richard Rodgers), Tituss Burgess (St. Tituss), Julie Reiber (Love Travels), The Broadway Boys (Hark!, upcoming untitled project), and Bobby Conte Thornton (Along the Way).