Pops by the Sea Conductor to also Serve as Guest Performer

Erich Bergen will serve as the guest conductor and guest performer at the annual Pops by the Sea concert August 11.

HYANNIS – For the first time, the Pops by the Sea Concert’s guest conductor will pull double duty and also be the guest performer.

The Arts Foundation of Cape Cod has announced that actor Erich Bergen will conduct and sing at this year’s concert.

Bergen is known for starring in the CBS show “Madam Secretary” and in “Jersey Boys,” both on stage and on film.

“He has quite the background on Broadway and on TV,” said Julie Wake, the Arts Foundation’s executive director. “I think our audience is in for a real treat with him to be fun and dynamic.”

Wake said she is excited to see the collaboration between Keith Lockhart, of the Boston Pops, and Bergen.

“We don’t know until the show on how they will coordinate their efforts transitioning from conducting to performing, but I bet it will be really interesting and fun,” Wake said.

Wake said it is always fun to have a celebrity to conduct, but that the guest performer usually steals the show.

Last year, actor Dermot Mulroney served as the guest conductor and also played the cello. Other celebrities who have conducted include Ray Romano, the Farrelly Brothers, Henry Winkler, Blythe Danner and state shark expert Dr. Greg Skomal.

This year’s concert is August 11 on the Hyannis Village Green.

The event is the largest fundraiser of the year for the Arts Foundation, which supports, promotes, and celebrates arts and culture on Cape Cod.

“It’s about raising money for the arts and raising awareness for the arts and the more that we can engage our audience and get more attendees to come the more money we can invest back into the creative economy,” Wake said. “It’s really important for us to create interest and have people want to attend the show.”

This year’s event also has a change when it comes to alcohol. Previously, the event had a loose BYOB policy, but this year the town asked to Arts Foundation to get a license and have more structure around the sale of alcohol.

The Arts Foundation has partnered with Josh Cellars Joseph Carr. A donation of wine was made for the organization.

“The sale of the wine will be a donation to the Arts Foundation,” Wake said.

Hog Island Beer and Nauti Seltzer will be available.

Tickets for the show can be purchased at www.artsfoundation.org.