Broadway’s classic tunes are headed to Northern Virginia as Todd Ellison and friends take center stage at the Center for the Arts with a tribute to “Classic Broadway.” He has put together a gem of a performance that will be like a “cocktail party full of great songs, great music, and a great time for the audience” said the pianist and entertainer.

Ellison has a major list of credits from his work on Broadway including Tony Award-winning productions of “Spamalot,” “La Cage aux Folles” and “42nd Street.” He is the music supervisor for “An American in Paris,” opening soon on Broadway. He has also conducted for many Broadway cast albums.

Joining Ellisson for the “Classic Broadway” concert will be a number “of Broadway’s finest vocalists.” Together they want to give the audience not only the opportunity to listen to wonderful music, but “to have the time to come to know each of the performers” who not only sing, but chat along the way.

Each of the four performers joining Ellison has selected songs that “they really love and want to share with the audience.” The music will range from composers such as Gershwin, Irving Berlin, Rogers and Hammerstein and Stephen Schwartz. There will be songs from “Hello Dolly,” “The King and I,” “Wicked” and more.

The performers joining Ellison will include Jose Llana, who grew up in Springfield, Va., and graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology. Llana has performed in “Rent” and the original “25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.”

In a recent interview, Llana paid great tribute to his choir teacher, Laura Edelbrock at TJHS. Edelbrock helped Llana lay the foundation for his start in the performing arts.

The upcoming performance at the Center for the Arts is a “celebration of all things Broadway and the wonderful work of great writers and composers,” said Llana. He was happy that he will also be able to spend some time in the local area where he grew up.

Performers in “Classic Broadway” will also be Erin Mackey from Broadway’s “Wicked,” Clea Blackhurst with a voice that may remind many of Ethel Merman, and Gavin Lodge recently in Broadway’s revival of “Annie,” who will sing and tap dance.