The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum will present, Broadway at the Mansion, a concert hosted by Norwalk native and Broadway veteran, Raissa Katona Bennett. She will be joined by her friend, Broadway veteran and Fairfield county’s own, Arbender Robinson, with Mark Janas as musical director for the evening.

This will be a memorable performance and multifaceted artistic experience where the guests will be treated to an eclectic blend of Standards, Pop, Classic Broadway and the newest generation of theatre songwriters as the Great American songbook resonates throughout the magnificent Rotunda known for its soaring vaulted ceilings and terrific acoustics.

Following the concert, guests will have an opportunity to visit the Period Rooms and view the award-winning holiday decorations as well as gather in the Mansion’s “Green Room” for delightful refreshments and the opportunity to meet the artists. All proceeds will benefit the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum’s educational and cultural programs. (Artists subject to change without notice.)

Purchase $125 Tickets >>

Raissa Katona Bennett appeared on Broadway as “Christine Daae” in Phantom Of The Opera, and in Chess, as a benefit for the Actor’s Fund.  Her Broadway First National Tours include: Cats, A Child’s Christmas In Wales and Parade, where she worked with the original creative team of director Harold Prince, choreographer Patricia Birch, author Alfred Uhry, and composer Jason Robert Brown.  Off-Broadway, Raissa created the roles of “Mother – Annie McGrath” in Water From The Moon and “Mother Hawkins” in Devil And The Deep, a musical retelling of “Treasure Island” with music by Air Supply’s Graham Russell. Regionally, she created the role of “Grace” in Saving Aimee, where she worked with the creative team: book by Kathie Lee Gifford and music by David Pomeranz and David Friedman. Raissa has soloed with many symphony orchestras including the Annapolis Chamber, Bridgeport, Erie and Rochester Symphonies, and was guest soloist at the estate of the legendary Cal Ripken, Jr. As a MAC and BISTRO award winning cabaret artist, Raissa has headlined at: Feinstein’s, Metropolitan Room, Iridium, The Laurie Beechman Theatre and Green Room 42. She has guest starred at: 54 Below, The Supper Club, Rainbow Room, 88’s, Don’t Tell Mama, Chita’s, The Algonquin, Radio City Music Hall and at Lincoln Center’s Rose Hall and the Town Hall in the Mabel Mercer Cabaret Conventions. Locally she appeared as “Helen” in Fun Home and “Truvy” in Steel Magnolias, both at the Music Theatre of CT, and “Mrs. Potts” in Beauty And The Beast at Summer Theatre of New Canaan. On television, she has guest starred on Law And Order: SVU and Unsolved Mysteries. Raissa lives in her hometown of Norwalk, CT with her husband Dr. Garrett Bennett, a Facial Plastic and Sinus surgeon, and their 2 tiny rescue Chihuahuas, (and assorted foster dogs available for adoption!) Buddy and Chloe. www.raissakatonabennett.com

Arbender Robinson made his Broadway debut in the Tony Award-winning production of Hairspray. In the original cast of Disney’s The Little Mermaid, he covered the role of Prince Eric. He also appeared in the Broadway revivals of Hair and Ragtime. His other Broadway credits include: The Book of Mormon, The Lion King, the original cast of Beautiful: The Carole King Musical and the 2014 production of Les Miserables where he was the first African American ever to play “Marius” on Broadway. Arbender starred in the 2016 Broadway hit musical Shuffle Along alongside many Broadway Legends, including Audra McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Billy Porter, Brandon Victor Dixon, and Joshua Henry. The show was directed by Tony Award Winner George C Wolfe and Choreographed by Savionne Glover. Arbender was a featured Vocalist with Royal Caribbean Cruises and an actor and vocalist for numerous Disney productions at Walt Disney World. He spent four years as a studio session Vocalist for the Disney Organization and can be heard in various parades and attractions worldwide. On television, he has appeared in: The Last O.G., Nurse Jackie, Little Voice, The Tony Awards, Good Morning America, The Today Show and CBS Sunday Morning. As a teaching artist, Arbender has worked with many organizations around the country with a unique teaching style that’s accessible to all and works significantly at bringing art awareness to programs throughout the country while serving as a huge advocate for Autism awareness and research. Arbender makes his home in Stamford, CT. www.arbender.com

Mark Janas (musical director) is a nationally renowned pianist, composer, arranger and conductor. He music directed the world’s largest production of Hello Dolly! with Marilyn Maye in the title role. Later he conducted for Texas Opera Theatre, the Houston Symphony, and the 1^st & 3^rd National Tours of Les Miserables. As a protégé of Leonard Bernstein, he conducted his music in two International Bernstein Festivals and was assistant to Bernstein with the New York Philharmonic and Boston Symphony Orchestras. He is a multiple MAC and Bistro Award Winner for Musical Direction and is the music director for Broadway and Television star Len Cariou and film star, Kathleen Turner.  Mark has also accompanied Marilyn Maye, Betty Buckley, Liza Minnelli, Judy Kaye, Sandy Duncan, Neil Patrick Harris, Cheyenne Jackson, Karen Mason, Anthony Rapp, Lee Roy Reams, Liz Callaway, Julie Wilson and Raissa Katona Bennett, to name a few.