Broadway star Linda Eder will perform a mix of classic show tunes and songs from new musicals at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in Eisenhower Auditorium. The show is based on Eder's seventh and most recent solo album, Broadway My Way, which was released on Atlantic Records in February 2003.

Critics have compared the much-lauded Eder to Judy Garland, Barbra Streisand and Celine Dion. Her three-octave range has attracted a strong following since her Broadway debut as Lucy in the original Jekyll & Hyde.

Laura Sullivan, marketing and communications director of the Center for the Performing Arts, said, "Linda Eder is a top Broadway singer and performer. She really knows how to have a great rapport with the audience."

Fans who have devotedly tracked Eder's career since the beginning, called "jekkies," a reference to her start in Jekyll & Hyde, know that Eder stands out from other performers by not switching to her head voice as the notes go up; rather, she continues to belt in her chest voice, which is stronger.

Natalie Weiss (freshman-musical theatre) is excited for the upcoming concert.

"I'm excited to hear her belt," Weiss said. "When she's belting, she is perfectly on pitch and it sounds great."

The State College audience can expect strong but expressive vocals, as Eder's performances are never over-the-top and her belting is not excessive.

In a press release, Eder said, "I think only about the emotion of the song and the lyric; the way that it makes me feel, the way that it makes the audience feel. It's all about communicating emotionally."

After performing in nightclubs as a young adult and at a Holiday Inn in her hometown of Brainerd, Minn., Eder gained national exposure during her 13-week winning streak on Star Search. While working on Star Search, Eder met her future husband, composer Frank Wildhorn, who was planning the theater version of Jekyll & Hyde. Wildhorn realized that Eder was perfect for the role of Lucy.

Eder's portrayal of Lucy in Jekyll & Hyde won the Theatre World Award for Best Broadway Debut. She was also nominated for the Drama Desk and Outer Critics' Circle awards for Best Actress in a Musical.

After Jekyll & Hyde, Eder starred in another Wildhorn musical, The Scarlet Pimpernel on Broadway. Her next Broadway project is another Wildhorn creation, called Camille Claudel, which is set to debut in late 2003.

Much of Eder's repertoire includes songs written by Wildhorn, tailored to suit her voice perfectly. Wildhorn writes to showcase the singer's abilities.

Addi McDaniel (freshman-musical theatre) is looking forward to the concert.

"[Eder] is the epitome of female musical theater," McDaniel said. "She has artfully mastered the challenge of discovering her voice and emoting that quality onstage."

Although musical theater fans are familiar with Eder's work, Sullivan believes the concert will attract a wider audience.

"I think we will be introducing a whole lot more people to Linda Eder. Some people will be coming who aren't tremendously familiar with her, but they will leave tremendous fans," Sullivan said. "It really makes for an enjoyable experience. She makes you feel like you're in her living room."