Berklee’s Signature Series Presents Singers Showcase: One Sweet Day—The Music of Mariah Carey
Berklee’s Signature Series will celebrate the musical legacy of Mariah Carey in Singers Showcase: One Sweet Day—The Music of Mariah Carey on Thursday, December 5, and Friday, December 6, at 8:00 p.m. at the Berklee Performance Center in Boston.
The two-night concert will feature more than 80 students from 30 countries including vocalists, instrumentalists, arrangers, conductors, dancers, choreographers, VJs and visual designers, and track producers from Berklee College of Music and Boston Conservatory at Berklee. Sharing their eclectic blend of styles and cultures, the interdisciplinary cast will explore, reinterpret, and breathe new life into Carey’s beloved repertoire alongside special musical guest Taylor Deneen ’21 BM. Last fall, Deneen made her TV debut and secured a top 20 spot on season 24 of NBC's The Voice, where she was praised by John Legend ’20H as the "best soul singer" of the blind auditions.
"Performing Mariah Carey's repertoire live entails significant musical and technical demands that require exceptional craft and dedication,” says Maureen McMullan ’09, senior concert producer. “Her signature blend of pop, R&B, gospel, and hip-hop, along with her incredible vocal range, intricate melodies, challenging runs, and emotional depth, pushes our outstanding student cast to fully utilize and refine the skills they've acquired in their training as musicians, writers, dancers, producers, and artists.”
The immersive concert will include an exciting collaboration with Boston Conservatory’s Dance Division, featuring the creations of world-class faculty choreographers Anthony Burrell and Raul Cruz. Burrell is Carey’s former creative director, choreographer, and dancer consultant, working with the icon for her #1 to Infinity residency in Las Vegas, her annual concert residency, All I Want for Christmas Is You, at the Beacon Theatre in New York, the Sweet Sweet Fantasy Tour, and other performances. Specializing in hip-hop and commercial dance composition and performance, Cruz has worked with pop artists Thea Austin of the Eurodance hit “Rhythm Is a Dancer,” Taboo from the Black Eyed Peas, and boy band Frequency 5.
“It’s a thrill to bring Mariah Carey’s iconic music to life once again for the Singers Showcase,” says Burrell. “Mariah’s artistry and stage presence are unmatched, and having worked with her as both her creative director and choreographer, I’ve seen firsthand the depth of her connection with her fans and her dedication to her craft.”
Blending singles and song remixes with creative medleys, the setlist will include “Vision of Love,” “Emotions,” “Dreamlover,” “Hero,” “Fantasy,” “One Sweet Day,” “Always Be My Baby,” “Heartbreaker,” “My All,” “Without You,” “We Belong Together,” “I’ll Be There,” “When You Believe,” “Make It Happen,” “Love Takes Time,” and “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” among others.
“This showcase is a unique opportunity for our performers to engage with her legacy and share that powerful energy with the audience,” Burrell adds. “It’s an honor to guide them through this journey of capturing Mariah’s essence on stage, paying tribute to her incredible impact on music and culture.”
Admission is $15/$20 in advance and $20/$25 day of the show. This show will be seated. Tickets are available online.