Four Lads News

Certainly, if you're lucky enough to spend a scant two hours in the company of Cumberland County Playhouse's Forever Plaid - comprised of Chris Hallowes, Ross Griffin, Paul Gary and Justin Burr - you'll feel like you've been good, thanks to their heavenly harmonies, delightful performances and all-around good-guy affability.

To celebrate the longstanding relationship between the United Kingdom and the United States, BritWeek launched its annual event in the Bram Goldsmith Theater at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills on Wed, 4-24-19 with the World Premiere of the new 60th anniversary documentary film 'THE CAVERN CLUB: The Beat Goes On' which shares the story of a Club whose fortunes have ebbed and flowed in tandem with that of the city of Liverpool itself. Not just the launch pad for The Beatles, The Cavern is landmark place that has embraced the ever-changing music scene, enduring the highs and lows, the dramas, the battles, the heartache, but above all… the music.

RICKIE LEE JONES is that rare musician who has transcended the singer/songwriter mantle by incorporating different radio genres from the get-go and she continues that tradition on the forthcoming album KICKS, her newest collection of songs from the great American songbook. Due out June 7, the album spans two decades (50s-70s) of pop, rock and jazz, presenting her unique and sophisticated interpretations of these songs.

John Godber talks about his life in theatre and about his Brexit flavoured play, Scary Bikers, running at Trafalgar Studios in April.

Bay Street Theater & Sag Harbor Center for the Arts is pleased to announce The British Invasion Years tribute concert on Saturday, March 9 at 8 pm. Tickets are $35 when purchased in advance and $45 when purchased the day of the event; on sale now at baystreet.org or by calling the Box Office at 631-725-9500. The Box Office is open Tuesday- Saturday 11 am - 5 pm or until showtime.

Throughout her spectacular career, singer, songwriter, and Broadway actress Morgan James has taken on beloved roles and songs to give them her unique perspective and make them her own. She rocked the stage as Christ herself in an all-female version of Jesus Christ Superstar, took on a full-album acoustic cover of D'Angelo's Black Messiah, and brought the critics to their feet with her cover of Joni Mitchell's classic Blue album.

Theatre fans and critics were all in attendance for the Opening Night  of Forever Plaid on Sunday, May 6 at Theatre at the Center in Munster.  Matt Edmonds, in the role of Sparky, Adam LaSalle as Francis, Yando Lopez as Jinx and Christopher Ratliff as Smudge star in Theatre at the Center's spring musical. Performances continue through June 3.

The International Festival of Arts & Ideas today announced complete details for Festival 2018, which opens on June 9 and continues for two weeks through June23 in New Haven, Connecticut.  

'No other record captures that period so perfectly,' says Elbow's Guy Garvey. 'The concerns of the songs, the stories, the experimental sounds. It was so brave for a band to record themselves at that time: it allowed a direct and undiluted account of the band as aspirational, big-hearted friends in love with making music and each other. It dared us to record ourselves. But they did it first. It's the most deserving recipient of the Mercury Prize in its history: a breathlessly ambitious and lovingly crafted masterpiece. It should be called Bring It 'The F***' On.'

For the 2017 season, enjoy the sights and sounds to Have a yule that's cool at Anoka's Lyric Arts. The retro greeting tag line recreates the theater's holiday show titled Forever Plaid: Plaid Tidings. Stuart Ross wrote the clever, lighthearted book to this festive musical in 1989, along with numerous composers creating the music and lyrics. The seasonal show delights audiences this December under Director Sean W. Byrd through a kitschy ambiance. Musical Director Bradley Beahen together with Choreographer Lauri Kraft give this all male quartet excellent stage presence for two acts. The four 'lads' who call themselves Forever Plaid deliver the holiday goods while Beahen accompanies on the ivories with Shannon Van der Reck plucking strings on bass,

Centenary Stage Company 2017 Summer Jamfest is jam packed with an array of exciting musical guests.  Set to rock the Lackland Performing Arts Center all summer long, Centenary Stage Company's 2017 Summer Jamfest will feature; Drive:  A Tribute to the Cars on Saturday, July 15 at 8pm; The Doo Wah Riders on Saturday, July 22 at 8pm; The British Invasion Years on Saturday, July 29 at 8pm; the Peacherine Ragtime Society Orchestra on Saturday, August 5 at 8pm and Dr. K's Motown Revue on Saturday, August 12 at 8pm.  All performances will be held in the Sitnik Theater of the Lackland Performing Arts Center.

Centenary Stage Company announces exciting line-up of musical guests for the 2017 Summer Jamfest.  Set to rock the Lackland Performing Arts Center all summer long, Centenary Stage Company's 2017 Summer Jamfest will feature; Drive:  A Tribute to the Cars on Saturday, July 15 at 8pm; The Doo Wah Riders on Saturday, July 22 at 8pm; The British Invasion Years on Saturday, July 29 at 8pm; the Peacherine Ragtime Society Orchestra on Saturday, August 5 at 8pm and Dr. K's Motown Revue on Saturday, August 12 at 8pm.  All performances will be held in the Sitnik Theater of the Lackland Performing Arts Center.

The McCallum Theatre presents "Salute to Benny Goodman at Carnegie Hall" on Monday, March 6, at 8:00pm. The performance features the Benny Goodman Tribute Orchestra with 18 of the country's top musicians, conducted by Terry Myers, and with Special Guest Vocalist Nancy Osborne. Relive the legendary concert that made Benny Goodman the most celebrated jazz bandleader of his day. Leading a band of musicians including Harry James, Ziggy Elman, Gene Krupa, Teddy Wilson, Lionel Hampton, Johnny Hodges and Count Basie, Benny Goodman played music ranging from "Honeysuckle Rose" to "Sing, Sing, Sing." We re-create that night in 1938 with today's best musicians. 

Come experience the music of the Beatles as you've never heard it before at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on February 2 at 8PM with Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra.

Come experience the music of the Beatles as you've never heard it before at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on February 2 at 8PM with Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra.

Totem Pole Playhouse, Pennsylvania's premiere summer theatre, located in Caledonia State Park between Gettysburg and Chambersburg, has announced that for the third year in a row it will offer a special 'pay what you can' performance of their current production during the Fourth of July holiday weekend.

Totem Pole Playhouse, Pennsylvania's premiere summer theatre located in Caledonia State Park between Gettysburg and Chambersburg, PA, presents the return of one of the most successful musicals in playhouse's 66-year history, Forever Plaid, running from June 17 through July 3. This all-new production is directed and choreographed by Christine O'Grady, who choreographed Totem Pole's critically-acclaimed production, Shenandoah, last season and audience favorite, Godspell, the previous summer. Ms. O'Grady has cast four current students from the prestigious Cincinnati Conservatory of Music (CCM), Louis Griffin, Derek Kastner, Stavros Koumbaros, and Gabe Wrobel as the 'Four Plaids' - a four-part close harmony singing group in the tradition of the Four Freshman, the Four Lads, the Four Aces, and the Hi-Lo's. The show features over 20 hit songs from the 1950s including such classics as: "Three Coins in the Fountain," "Heart and Soul," "Moments to Remember," "Perfidia," and "Love is a Many Splendored Thing." The show, which is being produced by Theatre A Go-Go, Inc., is sponsored by Edward Jones and Richards Orthopaedic Center. Franklin County Visitors Bureau serves as the sponsor for the 2016 season.

Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts announces a roster of upcoming shows confirmed, to date, for the 2016-2017 season.  These newly added performances will join the previously announced FAIRWINDS Broadway in Orlando season, resident companies Orlando Ballet and Orlando Philharmonic's seasons, as well as Maxwell, Alice Cooper, Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox, among others.

The McCallum Theatre announced today its new lineup of world-class entertainment scheduled for the 2016-2017 season that includes Broadway hits Mamma Mia, The Sound Of Music and Chicago, concerts with Bernadette Peters and Kristin Chenoweth, family-friendly musicals and entertainment, holiday surprises, comedy legends and solid gold memories, all part of a very full and exciting roster.  Subscriptions go on sale on Tuesday, April 5th at 8am for the Broadway Blockbuster Series, Broadway and Beyond Series, Fitz's Jazz Cafe at the McCallum Series, Keyboard Conversations® with Jeffrey Siegel Series, as well as a Create-Your-Own Series which allows patrons to mix, match, and program one performance or a full season of entertainment tailored to their own individual tastes. 

Legacy Recordings has just released SUMMERTIME: WILLIE NELSON SINGS GERSHWIN, available today, February 26, 2016.