‘I Can Dream’ — and so can you — with the Dallas Street Choir & Credo Choir on Sunday at the Stewpot downtown

Members of the Dallas Street Choir with Frederica von Stade (far left) in January at the Dallas City Performance Hall. 

Full disclosure: I’m a member of Credo Choir, Dallas’ only ecumenical, faith-based volunteer choir, directed by the brilliant Jonathan Palant (formerly of the Turtle Creek Chorale) and hosted by Kessler Park United Methodist Church. We comprise a variety of religions and come from various churches, but we unite in our ministry: to worship and praise God through song. In January, we sang the Western Hemisphere premiere of Street Requiem (written in honor of those who have died while living on the street) joined by the Australian composers and with renowned mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade as our female soloist. Jonathan also conducts the Dallas Street Choir, at downtown’s Stewpot ministry, and this Sunday at 3 p.m. we’ll all come together for something VERY special. Special in MANY ways, some of which will be a surprise for just about everyone there.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The venue has been changed from the outdoor Encore Park Amphitheater to the Stewpot, on the same block, at 508 Park Ave. downtown, just south of Young Street. Plenty of free parking will be available at the First Presbyterian Church (the Stewpot is its ministry) garage right across Young Street. The concert itself is also free, and the more the merrier.

We’ll present the concert I Can Dream, which will feature music by the Dallas Street Choir (made entirely of people who have been or are currently homeless). I don’t know what they’re planning, repertoire-wise, but I can promise it’ll be fabulous. Credo Choir will also perform songs from the repertoire planned for our upcoming cultural mission trip to Iceland, in June. We travel every summer to share musical experiences with choirs and audiences abroad — in 2013, Cuba; in 2014, Latvia, Estonia and Finland; this year, Iceland; next year, Australia.

Credo Choir, the Dallas Street Choir and Frederica von Stade (center, in red) at Dallas City Performance Hall in January, with Jonathan Palant conducting. 

So, to recap: Sunday, May 17, 3 p.m. at 508 Park Ave., downtown Dallas. Free. Be there. No poncho necessary; we’ll be inside. For more information, visit credochoir.org or dallasstreetchoir.org, or check out the Facebook pages for each organization.

Star cabaret artist Ann Hampton Callaway sings the Barbra Streisand songbook tonight & Sunday with the DSO

Acclaimed cabaret singer Ann Hampton Callaway will perform tonight and Sunday at the Meyerson Symphony Center with an all-Barbra Streisand repertoire.

Got super-duper plans for the evening? No? Or even yes? If so, cancel them; I’ve got something better for you. Acclaimed New York-based cabaret singer; TV, touring and recording star; and Tony Award-nominee (for Swing!) Ann Hampton Callaway will sing the hits of Miss Barbra Streisand tonight at the Meyerson Symphony Center with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Lawrence Loh will conduct. The New York Times wrote of Callaway, “For sheer vocal beauty, no contemporary singer matches Ms. Callaway.” I take that as a pretty good endorsement.

There are two shows left: tonight (Saturday, May 2) at 7:30 p.m..and Sunday (May 3) at 2:30 p.m. at the Meyerson, 2301 Flora St., Dallas.

Here’s the program as listed at mydso.com (it’s irresistible, if you ask me). You can also get tickets at that site, or by calling 214-849-4376 (214-TIX-4DSO).

A Chorus Line Medley
Starting Here, Starting Now
A Sleepin’ Bee
Cry Me A River
A Cockeyed Optimist
The Way We Were
I’ve Dreamed of You
Don’t Rain On My Parade

INTERMISSION

The Wizard of Oz Medley
Come Rain Or Come Shine
At the Same Time
Evergreen
People /Being Alive
Lover Come Back to Me
A Piece of Sky

Hope to see you there — I’ll be there tonight!