Names of University of Dubuque and Local High School Students Selected to Perform with Q. Smith Announced

DUBUQUE, Iowa - The University of Dubuque Department of Fine and Performing Arts is excited to announce the names of the UD students and local high school students selected to perform at A Broadway Cabaret with Special Guest Q. Smith at 7:00 p.m. Friday, September 26, 2025, in John and Alice Butler Hall, Heritage Center.

During A Broadway Cabaret with Special Guest Q. Smith, students will perform a showcase of songs on Heritage Center's stage. Smith will headline the evening with several solo songs. Jill Klinebriel, UD choral accompanist, will accompany the singers. The cabaret will end with a special group song featuring Smith and all the participating students.

University of Dubuque and Local High School Performers

• Liliana Asta, Galena High School, Galena, Illinois
• Riley Beck, Dubuque Senior High School, Dubuque, Iowa
• Kailey Bedtka, Hempstead High School, Dubuque, Iowa
• Julien Derks, Dubuque Senior High School, Dubuque, Iowa
• Lucas Federonich, a sophomore music and theatre double major from Dubuque, Iowa
• Olivia Gennings, a first-year theatre and psychology double major from Dubuque, Iowa
• Gabriel Green, a sophomore theatre major from Dubuque, Iowa
• Blake Harris, Hempstead High School, Dubuque, Iowa
• Avery Kane, Dubuque Senior High School, Dubuque, Iowa
• Chase Kreimeyer, Dubuque Senior High School, Dubuque, Iowa
• Hayley Mills, Hempstead High School, Dubuque, Iowa
• Ashley Nank, Hempstead High School, Dubuque Iowa
• Jameson Norton, Dubuque Senior High School, Dubuque, Iowa
• Ali Olechowski, Hempstead High School, Dubuque, Iowa
• Andy Pecora, a junior marketing major from Poplar Grove, Illinois
• Hailey Reichel, a first-year pre-education and music education K-12 double major from Peosta, Iowa
• Ethan Renne, a junior music and theatre double major from Asbury, Iowa
• Bri Richey, a sophomore sport marketing and management major from Lawrenceville, Illinois
• Owen Smith, a junior flight operations major from Dubuque, Iowa
• Austin Thomson, a first-year music and theatre double major from Clinton, Iowa

Before the evening performance, nine students will have the unique opportunity to participate in a master class with Smith. Here are those students:

• Kelsey Ahlers, Dubuque Senior High School, Dubuque, Iowa
• Lucas Federonich, a sophomore music and theatre double major from Dubuque, Iowa
• Olivia Gennings, a first-year theatre and psychology double major from Dubuque, Iowa
• Gabriel Green, a sophomore theatre major from Dubuque, Iowa
• Sydney Haxmeier, Western Dubuque High School, Epworth, Iowa
• Rowyn Kay, Hempstead High School, Dubuque, Iowa
• Chris Marriott, a senior theatre and theology double major from Dubuque, Iowa
• Reid Postma, Dubuque Senior High School, Dubuque, Iowa
• Winnie Schroeder, Wahlert Catholic High School, Dubuque, Iowa

Smith was last seen on Broadway in the seven-time Tony-nominated play The Hills of California, directed by Sam Mendes. She is perhaps best known for creating the role of Hannah and others in the Tony Award-winning musical Come From Away and was also in the film version on Apple TV+. Smith has toured with the North American Broadway show A Night With Janis Joplin, playing the roles of Aretha Franklin and Nina Simone. She was the first African American to have a leading role in the Broadway production of Mary Poppins.

Other noted credits for Smith include Abyssinia: A Gospel Celebration with Wynton Marsalis at the Lincoln Center, Show Boat in concert at Carnegie Hall, guest soloist for Hillary Clinton's Vital Voices Global Leadership Awards at the Kennedy Center, and guest soloist at Barack Obama's inauguration ceremonies representing the state of Nebraska. Smith has shared the stage with Gladys Knight, Rita Coolidge, and more. She has traveled the world with various productions including Central America, Germany, and the entire United States.

Tickets may be purchased now! Stop by the Farber Box Office, Heritage Center, 2255 Bennett Street; call 563.585.7469; or visit www.dbq.edu/heritagecenter to purchase tickets. The box office is open from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 90 minutes prior to events.