Statement issued Friday by the Fort Wayne Philharmonic:

Incomparable, versatile, electrifying, award winning – all these words describe one performer, the dazzling Bernadette Peters, a star of Broadway, movies, and television. Ms. Peters’ appearance in the Sweetwater Pops Series on Saturday, February 4th at 8PM at The Embassy promises to be a highlight of The Phil season. It will be an evening of Broadway music, beginning with the orchestra’s presentation of selections from My Fair Lady and West Side Story under the baton of Assistant Conductor Sameer Patel. Then, following intermission, Peters will join the orchestra to sing selections from her dynamic, varied musical career.

Peters made her Broadway debut in 1967 in Johnny No-Trump and the next year earned a Theatre World Award for her portrayal of Josie Cohan in George M! – plus a Drama Desk Award for her performance in the hit off-Broadway musical Dames at Sea. She soon became a sought-after star in musical theater and went on to win Tony Awards for the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Song and Dance and for the Broadway revival of Annie Get Your Gun. She also received Tony nominations for her work in The Goodbye Girl, Sunday in the Park With George, Mack and Mabel, On The Town and as Momma Rose in the Broadway revival of Gypsy. Peters’ critically acclaimed performance as Sally Durant Plummer in the current revival of Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman’s Follies will end its extended limited engagement Jan. 22, 2012.

Along with her prolific Broadway work, Peters has appeared in numerous television musical productions, including the PBS Great Performances Series, and has acted in the TV series Ally McBeal and in TV movies, such as Fall From Grace with Kevin Spacey and The Last Best Year with Mary Tyler Moore. Among her 17 film credits are roles in The Jerk with Steve Martin, The Longest Yard with Burt Reynolds, Silent Movie with Mel Brooks, Pink Cadillac with Clint Eastwood and It Runs in the Family, opposite Kirk and Michael Douglas.

In addition to numerous Grammy Award-winning cast albums, Peters has recorded six solo albums, three of which were nominated for Grammy awards. Along with the many professional accolades received throughout her career, Peters also has been named Woman of the Year by the Police Athletic League of New York and received a Special Advocate Award from the City of New York, among other civic and community honors. Her pet project is Broadway Barks, an annual star-studded dog adoption event, which she founded with friend Mary Tyler Moore, to benefit animal shelters throughout New York.

The multi-talented, raven-haired singer, actress and comedienne has been performing since age 3. A native of Ozone Park, New York, Peters now resides in New York and Los Angeles.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Special Orchestra Pit seating is now available. Tickets for this one-night-only event are limited, and can be purchased by calling The Phil box office at 481-0777 or online at www.fwphil.org.