Michael Cavanaugh to Perform Music of Billy Joel and Elton John at Heritage Center

DUBUQUE, Iowa - Michael Cavanaugh, star of Billy Joel's Broadway musical Movin' Out, will perform the greatest hits of two rock piano legends at 8:00 p.m. Saturday, October 21, 2023, in John and Alice Butler Hall, Heritage Center, University of Dubuque. The performance, titled The Music of Billy Joel and Elton John with Michael Cavanaugh - Homecoming at UD!, is part of the 11th annual Live at Heritage Center Performing Arts Series.

Grammy- and Tony-nominated vocalist and pianist Michael Cavanaugh is a charismatic performer and musician famous for his piano/lead vocals in the Broadway musical Movin' Out. Handpicked by Billy Joel to star in Movin' Out, Cavanaugh evokes a style rivaling the Piano Man. He appeared in the show for three years with over 1,200 performances and received multiple accolades.

With the close of Movin' Out at the end of 2005, Cavanaugh began touring in his own right by creating a show that reinterprets the modern pop/rock songbook. He soon became one of the hottest artists in the private events market, and he continues to perform worldwide for company and charity events as well as sporting events including many PGA tour events, the Super Bowl, and the Indy 500. Cavanaugh's interpretation of the modern rock/pop songbook led to Billboard calling him "The New Voice of the American Rock and Roll Songbook," and he was recognized by Reuters as "Entertainer of the Year" for the private events market. Broadway World referred to Cavanaugh as "The New Piano Man."

It wasn't long before symphony orchestras discovered Cavanaugh's talents and audience appeal. His first orchestral booking, Michael Cavanaugh - The Songs of Billy Joel and More, debuted in April 2008 with the Indianapolis Symphony. Today, he tours four symphony productions along with performing with his band in performing arts centers and other public venues.

The Music of Billy Joel and Elton John with Michael Cavanaugh - Homecoming at UD! will be a rocking evening with hits including "Piano Man," "Rocket Man," "Bennie and the Jets," "Movin' Out," "I'm Still Standing," "My Life," and more. PollStar ranked the show in the Top 50 touring acts/shows the last two years.

A free pre-show reception for "Bagatelle: Recent European Drawings by Alan Garfield" will be held from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. in the Bisignano Art Gallery before The Music of Billy Joel and Elton John with Michael Cavanaugh - Homecoming at UD! The exhibit will be open Monday, October 2, 2023, through Friday, October 27, 2023.

"Beethoven created some of his most beautiful pieces as short, piano sketches. We call those bagatelles. My black and white drawings are small pieces of paper that I stuff in my carry-on when I bring students to explore England or France or Spain or Italy or Greece. I sketch these when I have a moment, usually late at night with a fresh cup of Earl Grey tea, my favorite. I hope, like the musical bagatelles, these are light, mellow, unpretentious compositions of what I took the students to see that day," said Garfield, director of the art gallery.

Tickets for The Music of Billy Joel and Elton John with Michael Cavanaugh - Homecoming at UD! may be purchased by visiting the Farber Box Office, Heritage Center, University of Dubuque, 2255 Bennett Street; by calling 563.585.7469; or by visiting www.dbq.edu/Heritagecenter. Patrons are encouraged to purchase tickets online for reduced ticket handling fees.

The Farber Box Office is open 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 90 minutes prior to events.

In its second year, the Heritage Performing Arts Loyalty System (H-PALS) continues to allow patrons to earn rewards with most ticket purchases. For every $200 spent on eligible events, patrons will receive one free ticket (valued up to $50) to their choice of eligible event. Reward points are redeemable for Live at Heritage Center Performing Arts Series events only. Please visit www.dbq.edu/HeritageCenter and click on "PURCHASE TICKETS" for more details.