The concert will be recorded for broadcast on the popular music station on Dec. 26.
Groban both hosts the event and is scheduled to perform "When You Wish Upon a Star," the Acadmey Award-winning classic song from Pinocchio as the concert's finale. Recently discovered in the Disney archives, this marks the first time that the full concert orchestration has been performed outside of the recording for the film in 1939.
In a recent press statement, Lewis Carnie, the acting controller for Radio 2, said, "The name Disney immediately conjures up a wealth of well loved characters and songs, many of which feature in this unique concert recognising Disney's major contribution to film and stage music. I'm delighted that Josh Groban is joining the stellar cast in what I'm sure will be a hugely enjoyable evening for both the audience and for Radio 2 listeners."
The concert features the 70-piece BBC Concert Orchestra performing Oscar, Grammy and Tony Award-winning music spanning over 65 years of the Disney songbook. They will accompany an array of Broadway and West End stars including Ashley Brown (Broadway's original Mary Poppins and a take-over Belle in Disney's Beauty and the Beast on Broadway), Tituss Burgess (original Broadway casts of The Little Mermaid and Jersey Boys), Kerry Butler (original Broadway casts of Xanadu and Little Shop of Horrors), Maria Friedman (original West End/Broadway cast of The Woman in White, and The Witches of Eastwick, Passion and Ragtime in the West End), Heather Headley (Broadway's original Aida and Nala in The Lion King), Adam Pascal (original Broadway casts of Aida and Rent), Matt Rawle (original West End cast of the 2006 revival of Evita and the current Zorro) and Drew Sarich (original Quasimodo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Les Miserables in the West End).
The current West End company of The Lion King, currently playing at the Lyceum, will also perform concert versions of "Circle of Life" and "One by One." Groban's CD releases include his self-titled debut album in 2001 and his follow-up album "Closer." He has appeared on TV in "Ally McBeal" and in countless appearances on Oprah Winfrey, "Good Morning America," "The Today Show," the Superbowl, the Oscars and the closing ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics. He also appeared in the New York and London Chess concerts.
To book tickets, priced £17.50-£52, contact the box office at 0844 412 1742 or visit www.ticketmaster.co.uk.
