Ocean State Theatre Company (OSTC), the not-for-profit professional theatre company, which will be opening its fourth season in its state-of-the-art theatre in Warwick this week, is pleased to present “Celebrating the Songs of Rodgers & Hammerstein,” a benefit concert to support their Live Music Initiative, for one performance only on Sunday, Oct. 18.

“Our very first special event concert, almost two years ago, was a celebration of the music of Rodgers and Hammerstein, after the huge success of our award-winning production of ‘The King & I.’ The event was incredibly popular at the time and patrons have continued to request a similar concert,” said Amiee Turner, CEO of Ocean State Theatre Company. “I am thrilled to be able to grant those requests by kicking off this season’s concert series by once again celebrating the enduring appeal of music written by the incomparable Rodgers and Hammerstein.”

The benefit concert will reunite exceptional vocalists, who have appeared in one or more of the 26 productions OSTC has produced in Warwick since December 2012. The concert will feature selections from “Oklahoma!,” “Carousel,” “The Sound of Music,” “South Pacific,” “The King & I,”  and more.

Performers scheduled to appear include Katie Clark (“42nd Street,” “Guys & Dolls,” “The Addams Family”), Joe DiPietro (“Into the Woods”), Steve Gagliastro (“The Addams Family”), Alyssa Gorgone (“Legally Blonde,” “Les Misérables”), Wayne Hu (“Into the Woods”), Brody Karn (“The Addams Family”), Tommy Labanaris (“Les Misérables,” “Into the Woods,” “Gypsy”), Jonathan Olivera (“Into the Woods,” “My Fair Lady”), Roger Reed (“My Fair Lady,” “Meet Me in St. Louis”), Helena Tafuri (“Gypsy”), Kristin Wetherington (“Gypsy”), and many more.

Although many theatres across the country have replaced their musicians with recordings in order to cut costs, OSTC firmly believes that live musicians enhance the audience’s experience, when attending a musical production. Ocean State Theatre Company established its Live Music Initiative in 2008 in order to support the $80,000 annual cost of continuing the tradition of professional musicians playing live during all musical theatre performances. Proceeds from the performance will benefit the initiative.

“Celebrating the Songs of Rodgers & Hammerstein” will be presented on Sunday, Oct. 18 6 p.m. The theatre is located at 1245 Jefferson Boulevard in Warwick. Tickets are $39. “Access to the Cast Party,” which will take place on stage following the performance, may be added for $15. OSTC 2015-16 season subscribers qualify for a $5 discount for each ticket ordered at the box office or over the phone (discount not available online.)

Tickets are on sale at the box office Monday through Friday from noon to 6 p.m., Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m., and from noon until curtain on performance days. Tickets are also available online 24 hours a day at OceanStateTheatre.org and via telephone during normal box office hours by calling 921-6800. Additional donations to OSTC’s Live Music Initiative are always welcome.