Assistant professor of music Marge Bennett Folger will hit the “Big” time tonight as she makes her solo performance debut.

Folger will be doing a musical revue titled “All My Life I’ve Been a Dreamer …” which includes various songs and monologues compiled from popular musicals and three monologues of her own.

Presumably the most familiar components to the audience of her hour-long performance will be two numbers from the stage production of “Big,” written by the composer/lyricist team of Richard Maltby, Jr. and David Shire.

Like Tom Hanks’ young counterpart in the movie “Big,” Folger said she has always been a dreamer. However, she won’t be putting on airs to make her performance grown up in the slightest.

She described the show as a mixed bag of comedic, dramatic and touching musical numbers.

“It’s kind of a cabaret show,” Folger said. “The songs are from musicals that I like.”

Besides singing “Big” tunes, Folger will perform musical numbers and monologues from “Closer Than Ever,” “A … My Name is Still Alice” and “They’re Playing Our Song.”

Three of the monologues come from a compilation of tales she began writing last spring called “Margie Stories.”

The stories are centered around an elderly fictional theater character named Margie Bennett who has accumulated a wide array of stories from her years under the spotlight.

Folger said the Bennett character likes to hold a pretend cigar and “always has got a story to tell.”

Telling stories not just through her monologues but through song is what Folger is aspiring for in “All My Life.”

“The point of the show is not whether I have this trained opera voice. The point is there is a story to tell,” she said.

Folger has been with the ISU music department since 1993. During the past school year, she directed and choreographed both “School House Rock Live” and “The Music Man” for Stars Over Veishea.

She has also choreographed “Jesus Christ Superstar,” which ran during September and October at the Des Moines Playhouse.

Between instructing students and directing performances, Folger hasn’t been able to perform as much as she would like to.

She said “All My Life” will give her a break from the director’s chair.

“It’s nice to have the opportunity [to perform],” she said.

Accompanying Folger on piano will be longtime friend and collaborator Mark Forbis.

“I think they are all strong songs and tell wonderful stories,” he said of the revue.

Folger’s “hour of musical theater musings” will begin at 7 p.m. in the Brunnier Art Museum. Admission is free and open to the public.

The event is sponsored by University Museums.