Star-studded Odyssey set for April 8 at UM

A prominent musician and a talented actor/singer/playwright will headline the sixth-annual Odyssey of the Stars — A Celebration of Artistic Journeys at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 8, in the University Theatre.

Performing artist Gary Herbig ’69 and actor Dennis Kozeluh ’82 will return to the UM stage during the event, which raises money for UM’s School of Fine Arts scholarship fund. Odyssey of the Stars showcases fine arts alumni who have gone on to successful careers.

Herbig, a Billboard Top-10 jazz artist, is one of the most successful studio musicians in the business today. An accomplished soloist on all woodwind instruments, he has toured with Tower of Power, the Percy Faith Orchestra and Seawind, as well as with bands led by Lee Ritenour, David Benoit and Elvis Presley. He also played the clarinet solo on the theme song for the TV program “Cheers” and the bluesy sax on “Roseanne.” In addition, he played on chart toppers such as Olivia Newton John’s “Physical” and Donna Summer’s “Bad Girl,” and jazz records by legends Herbie Hancock and George Benson.

Kozeluh, a bass-baritone, has performed on musical, operatic and theatrical stages for more than 20 years. Living and performing in Vienna since 1983, he has appeared in more than 60 productions, including “Phantom of the Opera,” “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” “The Rocky Horror Show” and “Mozart.” He has performed lead roles in “Anything Goes,” “Sweeney Todd,” “Evita,” “Jungle Book” and “Footloose.” His non-musical roles include Frank in “Educating Rita” and Mortimer in “Arsenic and Old Lace.”

For more information on Odyssey of the Stars, call (406) 243-4971.