Glee Club hits Broadway

and Doree Shafrir Performing on Broadway is every actor's fantasy. And members of the Penn Glee Club fulfilled this dream Wednesday night, as they serenaded the star of Sunset Boulevard, Betty Buckley, on the production's Broadway set. After watching the performance, the group went on stage and performed for Buckley, singing, "Let the River Run," by Carly Simon and "As if We Never Said Goodbye," a song Buckley sings in Sunset. Buckley, who plays aging movie star Norma Desmond in the production, was visibly pleased with the group's efforts. "The performance was fabulous," Buckley said after the songs. "They have beautiful voices. It was wonderful for us to be able to sit and be entertained." The club's trip to New York was arranged by Glee Club President Todd Shotz, a College senior. He explained that he first met Buckley when he was in London two summers ago. After seeing Sunset there, he wrote Buckley a letter telling her how much he enjoyed her performance. A few days later, Shotz said, he received a note in return from Buckley's assistant, thanking him and inviting him to meet with the star. But the date the assistant proposed was the day Shotz was leaving London. So instead, he decided to see the second act of the show again -- and afterward, was invited up to Buckley's dressing room. In December, Shotz wrote to Buckley again, telling her the Glee Club was planning to come to see the show and asking if it would be possible to sing for her. "It was really neat that the connection with Betty Buckley was me -- and I'm only a 22-year-old," he said. Glee Club Director Bruce Montgomery, who has been in charge of the club for 40 years, said he has met many celebrities during his tenure -- and that often, they are "not the nicest" people. Montgomery added that he thought Buckley was "surprised" that the club was able to perform a song that she sings in the show. Since the Glee Club is all male, Montgomery said he had to arrange the song differently for the group. "There is no way we could sing it like she does," he said. "I had to come up with some of the things that sounded great in the orchestra pit -- but we aren't french horns." Glee Club Vice President Michael Manolas, a College senior, said he got an "incredible" feeling while performing for the actress. "It was so amazing to stand on the stage and look out and see all those seats -- to be standing on a stage that cost thousands or a million dollars, and to be able to stand next to Betty Buckley," he said.