What is it like to be a performer going from singing in a chorus as little kid, all the way to working as an actor and singer in some of the world’s premier venues in places like Chicago and New York?
Just ask Devin DeSantis, Colorado native and former Colorado Children’s Chorale member who now lives in Chicago and regularly travels the country performing in major shows like Les Miserables and Hairspray. We were lucky enough to get the below pictures of Devin directly from the Colorado Children’s Chorale, so we caught up with Devin to ask him more about what he’s up to now.
Devin grew up in Colorado, and was part of the Children’s Chorale from 3rd grade until 8th grade. During that time he performed all across the state, the U.S., and the world. However some of his best times were the many hours spent here in Boettcher Concert Hall performing along with the Colorado Symphony.
In fact, Devin even worked with Marin Alsop when she was conducting the Colorado Symphony in Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms for which Devin performed as the boy alto. That was actually his first big solo with the Colorado Symphony.
Now, Devin is preparing to return to Colorado once again for this Mel Brooks tribute concert, and is looking forward to getting back on the Boettcher stage. Devin’s family still lives in Colorado. “My immediate family, fortunately, gets to see my perform quite a bit,” says Devin. “As for the rest of my family, neighbors, old high school friends and teachers who are still in the area–I’m excited to get back and show them what I’ve been up to for the last decade of my life.”
A SYMPHONIC TRIBUTE TO MEL BROOKS
Three years ago, Devin performed in Blazing Saddles. More recently, he and fellow actor and singer Allison Sill performed in Young Frankenstein, another one of Mel Brook’s iconic shows. Devin says that all of Mel Brooks’ music is fantastic. “They are hilarious, I love doing them,” he says. “You can get anything from the dramatic that feels like classic theater, to the fun and wild.”
Devin and Allison join the Colorado Symphony and conductor Andres Lopera, along with the Colorado Symphony Chorus and Associate Director Mary Louise Burke for an evening of Mel Brooks’ classic numbers like Men in Tights and When You’ve Got it, Flaunt It.
Mel Brooks, the comedy icon responsible for some of the greatest film and stage music of our generation. This symphonic tribute to Brooks brings performances from films including Blazing Saddles as well as more recent music from the Broadway adaptations of The Producers and Young Frankenstein.