HALL CONCERT HALL featuring guest artist featuring guest artist Cali Tucker Cali Tucker
Ryan Duff – Artistic Director
Ryan is a 2001 graduate of Ball State University. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Choral Music Education. He also completed a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration from Southern Utah University in 2017. Ryan is a proud member of American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). He has served as the Chair of the CCSD (Clark County School District) Honor Choir since 2015, and currently serves as the Nevada ACDA All-State Choir Chair. Duff has also served as the 2020 Western Region ACDA Honor Choir Chairman. He has served as President of the Nevada ACDA chapter, and currently serves as the Nevada ACDA Men’s Choir Repertoire & Resources Chairman. He was awarded a CCSD Heart of Education Award in 2017, recognizing Excellence in Teaching.
This year, Ryan is in his 17th year as a High School Choir Teacher in the Clark County School District; Duff is in his 14th year as the Choir Director at Basic Academy in Henderson, where he directs six choirs, and serves as the Department Chair for the Performing Arts. Before his career as a teacher, Ryan worked as a Professional Singer and Entertainer. Outside of Las Vegas, he worked as a Production Singer for Holland America Cruise Lines, Busch Gardens Theme Park Entertainment, Cedar Point Amusement Park Entertainment, and Harvey’s Lake Tahoe; he has also worked as Musical Director for several Professional Regional Musical Theatre Productions. His Las Vegas performing career as a singer and musician has included “Tony & Tina’s Wedding” at the Rio Hotel & Casino, “The Can-Can Cabaret” at the Paris Hotel & Casino, and as a Singing Gondolier at the Venetian Hotel & Casino.
Ryan is proud to serve as the Artistic Director for the Las Vegas Men’s Chorus. This season, he begins his 12th year at the podium, conducting and artistically leading the organization. He resides in Las Vegas with his husband and Las Vegas Men’s Chorus Choreographer, Justin McClendon.
From Our Artistic Director
Hello and welcome to our 2025 Spring Production entitled “The Ladies We Love.” With this concert, we continue our 32nd Season of bringing high-quality choral singing, exciting production value, and our unique entertainment to the Las Vegas community. Tonight, we celebrate all of the incredible ladies that we have come to love and adore for decades. Tonight, you’ll hear everyone from Barbra to Bette, and to Beyonce and beyond; we promise there is something for everyone in this show! Our ensemble members, staff, and Board of Directors have worked tirelessly to put this show together and we cannot wait to share! I continue to stand in awe of the cooperative spirit of our leadership team; this show represents a colossal collaborative effort - our village is mighty!
I feel that what our organization brings to the stage is needed now, more than ever. In a world that seeks to constantly divide us, I encourage you to unplug from all of that strife, and allow us to entertain you with songs you have rocked out to for your entire lives! As always, you can expect a few surprises, and of course, exciting numbers from not only our full company of singers, but also our Featured Vocal Ensemble and Dance Line. I am also thrilled to welcome guest artist Cali Tucker to share the stage with us tonight. She is definitely a lady that we love to pieces, and I can’t wait for you all to hear her amazing talent!
We are once again honored to be in our home, the beautiful Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall on the campus of UNLV, one of the finest concert halls in the state! I sincerely hope that you love this show as much as we have enjoyed putting it together for you. Every one of these artists and songs invokes a memory for me at some point in my life, and I hope that as we bring this music to life, it has the same impact for all of you - enjoy the show!
Ryan Duff Artistic Director
Jonathan Tuala Collaborative Pianist
Jonathan is a pianist, singer, actor, and educator. He began piano lessons at age five, competed in regional competitions in grade school, and started playing for church services in middle school. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Vocal Performance from the Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University in Chicago, IL.
In the Las Vegas Valley, he has been musical director and keyboardist for various churches, schools, and many local musical theatre productions with companies such as Signature Productions and Super Summer Theatre. Jonathan sang with the Las Vegas Men’s Chorus for three seasons as well as serving as Member-at-Large on the Board of Directors.
Jonathan serves as Assistant Program Manager at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts focusing on providing theatre opportunities for students.
From Our President
“I’ll be there, yes I will; you’ve got a friend.”
Carole King said it best, didn’t she? When nothin’ is goin’ right, when you’re down and troubled, when you need someone to brighten up your darkest night, when people can be so cold–all you have to do is call. You might not have called, but LVMC is there for you, my friend!
I can’t wait for you to hear that iconic work reimagined by our artistic director in his newest addition to the Ryan L. Duff Music Library. This simple message of reaching out and being there for folks seems to get lost in the day-to-day. One of the joys in my life is shifting the paradigm through LVMC’s work. We get to be the change we wish to see through our 13,000+ community service hours we give each year for the 5,000+ annual patrons we see.
A member recently shared “LVMC saved my life. Giving back and being part of something bigger than myself has given me a sense of purpose and meaning; I wouldn’t be here without this organization.” What a blessing we get to experience with you and share with the world, together!
LVMC had the pleasure to host 220+ GALA Chorus leaders here in Las Vegas last month. We lamented, strategized, shared best practices, made music, and the overarching theme was “This Work Changes Lives.” Thanks to folks like you, the arts are alive and well in Las Vegas–and thanks to you, LVMC’s impact will grow broader and deeper to change the world through song. We have big plans including expanding our free Community Concert Series even further to ensure art is accessible to all, regardless of where you find yourself on life’s journey.
None of this is possible without you. If the music moves you, consider giving a tax deductible donation. If a monetary donation is out of reach, consider sharing the love you experience today with someone you meet tomorrow, or the next day, or the day after that. We’ll be right there with you, because you’ll always have a friend in LVMC.
Ryan Miller President & Producer
About the Las Vegas Men’s Chorus….
Our Mission:
The Las Vegas Men’s Chorus creates safe spaces for our community and allies through musical experiences which inspire all of us to be stronger together.
Community | Harmony | Opportunity | Respect | Unity | Service
The Las Vegas Men’s Chorus (LVMC) was founded in 1993 by a small group of men who simply wanted to sing. Over the next 30 years, the LVMC found itself providing much more than music: a place to create and foster community and safe spaces through live performances. Social justice, inclusion, diversity, and equity are now at the forefront of LVMC’s programming. From humble beginnings of 10 members and 30 patrons, we now boast 100+ active members and 2,000+ patrons in the audience annually at three fully-produced Mainstage Concerts with our free Community Concert Series benefitting thousands more. Patrons describe attending an LVMC concert as “experiencing joy”.
Although not specifically a “gay” chorus, ~85% of members identify as LGBTQIA2+. ~40%+ of members have or are currently experiencing homelessness, addiction, mental and physical health issues, abuse, or incarceration. ~40% of members identify as BIPOC with age diversity ranging from 18 to 76. Membership has grown +300% since 2021 from 32 to 100+ members with consistent double-digit growth each concert cycle. We extend safe spaces to the Las Vegas Valley with members giving 13,000+ community service hours annually. We ensure we “use our voices for good” through Community Outreach events including World AIDS Day, Las Vegas Aviators Pride Night, Latin Grammy Awards “Los Producers” benefitting the Michael J. Fox Foundation, Las Vegas Pride, Ribbon of Life benefitting Golden Rainbow HIV/AIDS fund, Aid for AIDS of Nevada, Sin Sity Sisters, Las Vegas Prime- Timers, Las Vegas Clark County Library District benefits, Christ Church Episcopal Community Concerts, Arthur Murray Las Vegas Showcases, Harry Reid International Airport Showcases, and Gateway Arts Foundation. Each year in partnership with the Clark County School District, we co-produce “Sing Out: A Tenor/Bass Choral Festival” intended to bolster confidence and lifelong love of singing in our community’s young people. As a GALA (Gay and Lesbian Choruses of America) Chorus, we represent Las Vegas and Nevada at GALA Festival alongside 15,000+ singers in five days of singing, education, connecting, and creating at the largest LGBTQ choral event in the world.
Our in-person impact is typically conducted in Southern Nevada, specifically the Las Vegas Valley, although performance and community event requests are regularly submitted from the broader Southwestern U.S.. Our patrons are increasingly diverse ranging across income, age, sexual orientation, race, religion, and education. Our impact is amplified across the globe through digital channels including YouTube where viewers watched our inspiring content ~32,000 times across 15+ countries this past year alone. The LVMC is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.
On behalf of our Artistic Staff, Board of Directors, and our entire ensemble, we want to thank you for spending your Sunday evening with us and we sincerely hope that you enjoy tonight’s concert, a fun-filled tribute to our favorite lady entertainers of today and yesteryear. We are so excited to have you with us today in our beautiful home, UNLV’s Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall, as we continue our musical excellence in this, our 32nd Season! Your support here today means everything to us all; we hope that you enjoy the concert. We will see you back here for our Summer Concert “Broadway Our Way” on Sunday, June 29, 2025!
SAVE THE DATES:
VOCAL AUDITIONS FOR SUMMER 2025
Saturday, March 29, 2025 @ 10:00am
Arthur Murray Las Vegas West
4440 S. Durango Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89147
FIRST REHEARSAL FOR SUMMER 2025
Sunday, March 30, 2025 @ 1:00pm
Arthur Murray Las Vegas West
4440 S. Durango Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89147
“BROADWAY OUR WAY” SUMMER CONCERT
Sunday, June 29, 2025 @ 4:00pm
UNLV’s Artemus W. Ham Concert Hall
SEASON 33
Be the first to know about our 2025-2026 season by subscribing to our infrequent email updates, social media, and by joining us for our “Broadway Our Way” summer concert in June
Sing With Us!
Saturday, March 29th
UNLV Performing Arts Center Staff
Arthur Murray Las Vegas - Rehearsal Space
Justin McClendon - Choreographer, Arthur Murray Las Vegas
Ryan Miller - Producer
Jonathan Tuala - Collaborative Pianist
Cali Tucker - Guest Vocalist
Jennifer Williamson - Guest Dancer
Tim Thomas - Bass
Jeremy Meronuck - Percussion
Eric Fleischer - Auxiliary Keyboards
Catherine Pratt - Lighting Design
Erick Canfield - Head of Wardrobe & Props Master
Bud Weismiller - Floral Arrangements
Lamar Advertising - Billboards
Kristopher Minnich - Photographer
David Williamson - Videographer
PDQ Printing of Las Vegas - Program Book Design QVegas & Gipsy - Special Events Venue
Volunteers
Cali Tucker | Guest Artist
Born into Country Music Royalty - her mother is 70’s hitmaker LaCosta Tucker and her aunt is the legendary Tanya Tucker - Cali carries the torch of the Tucker name with grace, talent, and a modern twist that resonates with a new generation of country music fans. Cali’s remarkable journey, from winning the Miss Teen All American title at just fifteen to gracing the stage of the Grand Ole Opry and headlining at top Las Vegas venues has built a solid foundation for her current success. Her appearance as a finalist on NBC’s The Voice, under the mentorship of Blake Shelton, propelled her into the national spotlight where she continues to push boundaries and redefine what it means to be a country artist. A highly sought after live performer, Cali recently performed the National Anthem for NASCAR’s Penzoil 400 to a national television audience of nearly 3 Million.
Over the past year, Cali’s original singles and videos - Country Couture, Urban Cowboy, and Diandelion - have been streamed by listeners millions of times across Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Music. The music video for Country Couture has become the darling of film festivals around the globe, winning Best Music Video accolades from the LA Film Awards, The NY International Film Awards, and the Oniros Film Awards, where it also won the Grand Jury Prize. Cali’s latest single and video, Last Name, will be released this Spring. This new track promises to be as captivating and innovative as her prior work, further showcasing Cali’s versatility and artistic growth.
Bravo to Our Sponsors!
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Board of Directors
President: Ryan Miller
Vice-President: Gerry Allen
Treasurer: Jamie Richards
Secretary: Timothy Wells
Member-At-Large: Lee New
Board Member: Todd Gerber
Board Member: Frank Gregory
Board Member: Edwin Martinez
Board Member: Rebecca Moore
Board Member: Eduardo Ojeda-Passmore
Board Member: Geo Ojeda-Passmore
Board Member: Randee Stewart
Board Member: Jim Villela
Board Member: Shane Weckerly
tenor 1
Michael Amesquita
Erick Canfield
tenor 2
Gregory Acosta
Jared Baker
BASS 1
Gerry Allen
Marc Austin
Gary Baillargeon
Gary Binford
Erick Casallas
Luis Coro
Alex Espiritu
Bill Gould
Jair Guigui
Xavier Jackson
Robert King
Edwin Martinez
Alan McStravick
Brandon Mowles
Rick Mula
Jun Oliva
John Payne
Andy Phairas
* Isaac Roachford-Gould
Qari Walls
Timothy Wells
Jason Yocum
dance line
Michael Bond
Ari Christensen
Joey Doherty
Justin McClendon (Choreographer)
Rei Sta Ana
* Stephen Trumble
(Dance Captain)
Tim Vogl
FEATURED VOCAL ENSEMBLE
Gerry Allen
Marc Austin
Josh DoCanto
Alex Espiritu
David Lopez-Wade
Edwin Martinez
Rick Mula
Isaac Roachford-Gould
Graham Bates
Fred Crescente
Ari Christensen
Chris Doucette
Chris Kimura
* James Koperski
Ryan Miller
Newell Pangulayan
Marty Posner
Jamie Richards
Marco Roxas
Joric Salvador
Rei Sta Ana
Floyd Velasquez
Sherwood Wong
* Section Representative
Gilbert Baltazar
John Blake
Billy Chamberlin
MK Cordova
Josh DoCanto
Joey Doherty
Eric Endy
Frederick Foster
Todd Gerber
Ben Hensley
Aaron Johnson
Sammy Mendoza
* Mike Nagy
Lee New
Eduardo Ojeda-Passmore
David Pohl
Luis Quezada
Christopher Smith
Randee Stewart
Stephen Trumble
David Tyler
Jonathan Vargas-Ramirez
BASS 2
Dennis Aragon
Graham Bates
Michael Bond
Juno Buendia
Andres Costas
Fred Crescente
Phillip Fife
Frank Gregory
Troy Jordan
David Lopez-Wade
Nelson Lucero
Mark McCreery
Reed Merrell
Cesar Meza
Jeffrey Miller
Rebecca Moore
Aaron Schave
Rich Steinbock
* Matthew Vance
Tim Vogl
Ricard Zenter
Phillip Fife
Frank Gregory
Rebecca Moore
Matthew Vance
Timothy Wells
Michael Amesquita
Erick Canfield
Chris Doucette
James Koperski
Ryan Miller
Jamie Richards
Gregory Acosta
Jared Baker
Frederick Foster
Ben Hensley
Lee New
Randee Stewart
THE LADIES WE LOVE - ACT I
CELEBRATING THE LADIES OF BROADWAY & HOLLYWOOD
BEYONCE & JENNIFER HUDSON – ONE NIGHT ONLY
Words & Music by Henry Krieger & Tom Eyen • Arranged by Steve Milloy
LIZA MINELLI – CABARET
Words & Music by John Kander & Fred Ebb • Arranged by Kirby Shaw
BARBRA STREISAND – DON’T RAIN ON MY PARADE
Words & Music by Bob Merrill & Jule Styne • Arranged by Tim Sarsany
TRIBUTE TO THE GIRL GROUPS WE LOVE
THE SUPREMES – YOU KEEP ME HANGIN’ ON
Words & Music by Edward Holland, Jr., Lamont Dozier & Brian Holland
Arranged by Steve Milloy
THE POINTER SISTERS – I’M SO EXCITED
Words & Music by June, Bonnie & Anita Pointer with Trevor Lawrence
Arranged by David Maddux • Soloist: Jason Yocum
THE SPICE GIRLS – WANNABE
Words & Music by Halliwell, Bunton, Brown, Adams, Chisholm, Rowebottom & Stannard
Arranged by Tim Sarsany • FEATURING: LVMC Featured Vocal Ensemble
COUNTRY QUEENS
SHANIA TWAIN – ANY MAN OF MINE
Words & Music by Shania Twain & R.J. Lange • FEATURING: Cali Tucker & LVMC Dance Line
DOLLY PARTON – JOLENE
Words & Music by Dolly Parton • FEATURING: Cali Tucker
LEGENDARY
LADIES OF THE 60’S & 70’S
ARETHA FRANKLIN – QUEEN OF SOUL (THINK & RESPECT)
Words & Music by Aretha Franklin, Ted White & Otis Redding
Soloists: Chris Doucette & Timothy Wells • FEATURING: LVMC Featured Vocal Ensemble
BETTE MIDLER – THE ROSE
Word & Music by Amanda McBroom • Arranged by Alwyn Humphreys
Soloist: Erick Casallas
TINA TURNER – PROUD MARY
Words & Music by John Fogerty • Arranged by Chad Weirick
Solists: Gary Binford & John Blake
DONNA SUMMER – LAST DANCE
Words & Music by Paul Jabara • Arranged by David Maddux
FEATURING: LVMC Dance Line
THE LADIES WE LOVE - ACT II
LEGENDARY LADIES OF THE 80’S & 90’S
CELINE DION – RIVER DEEP, MOUNTAIN HIGH
Words & Music by Jeff Barry, Ellie Greenwood & Phil Spector • Arranged by Steve Milloy
GLORIA ESTEFAN – CONGA RHYTHM! (RHYTHM IS GONNA GET YOU & CONGA)
Words & Music by Gloria Estefan & Enrique Garcia • Arranged by Kirby Shaw
SELENA – DREAMING OF YOU
Words & Music by Tom Snow & Franne Golde • Arranged by Pak Hui
Soloist: Sammy Mendoza
JANET JACKSON – TOGETHER AGAIN
Words & Music by Janet Jackson, James Harris III, Terry Lewis & Renee Lizondo Jr. Arranged by Chad Weirick
MADONNA – VOGUE
Words & Music by Madonna & Shep Pettibone • FEATURING: LVMC Dance Line
WHITNEY HOUSTON – I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY
Words & Music by George Merrill & Shannon Rubicam • Arranged by Eric Knechtges
Soloists: Ben Hensley & Gregory Acosta • FEATURING: LVMC Featured Vocal Ensemble
FOREVER FAVORITES OF TODAY & YESTERYEAR
JENNIFER LOPEZ – WAITING FOR TONIGHT
Words & Music by Michael Garvin, Maria Christensen & Phil Temple FEATURING: Cali Tucker, Justin McClendon, Stephen Trumble & Jennifer Williamson
ADELE – SET FIRE TO THE RAIN
Words & Music by Adele Adkins & Fraser Thorneycroft-Smith FEATURING: Cali Tucker
LADY GAGA – APPLAUSE
Words & Music by Lady Gaga, DJ White Shadow, Dino Zisis and Nick Monson FEATURING: LVMC Dance Line
JUDY GARLAND, ELLA FITZGERALD & BILLIE HOLIDAY – EMBRACEABLE YOU
Words & Music by George & Ira Gershwin • Arranged by Jay Althouse
FEATURING: LVMC Featured Vocal Ensemble
KELLY CLARKSON – STRONGER (WHAT DOESN’T KILL YOU)
Words & Music by Greg Kurstin, Jorgen Elofsson, David Gamson & Alexander Tamposi
Arranged by Adam Anders, Peer Astrom & Ed Lojeski
Soloists: Rick Mula, Rei Sta Ana & Ari Christensen
CAROLE KING – YOU’VE GOT A FRIEND
Words & Music by Carole King • Arranged by Ryan Duff
CHER – SONG FOR THE LONELY
Words & Music by Paul Barry, Steven Torch & Mark Taylor • Arranged by David Maddux
