#1
Posted: 6/14/09 at 10:11pm
For Immediate Release: June 9, 2009
World Premiere of THE ROCK TENOR Blends Classical, Broadway and Popular Song in a Unique Concert Experience
July 8 August 23, 2009 - Featuring vocalist Rob Evan, Directed by Vincent Marini
PHILADELPHIA The Rock Tenor makes its debut this summer beginning July 8, starring vocalist Rob Evan (Broadway performer and lead singer for the multi-platinum band The Trans-Siberian Orchestra), who conceived the show with director Vincent Marini (former Producing Artistic Director of New Jerseys Lenape Regional Performing Arts Center) officially opens July 15 and closes August 23. The Rock Tenor fuses rock and roll anthems, Broadway classics, opera favorites, country rhythms and classical melodies in a unique performance that showcases these familiar works in a whole new light. The Rock Tenor will be performed at The Wilma Theater, located at 265 South Broad Street. Tickets are $25-$40 and are available at http://www.therocktenor.comhttp://www.therocktenor.com or by phone at (215) 546-7824.
Performed with a live rock band featuring some of the top live musicians in the country, this new concert will appeal to even the most casual fan of Broadway, classical and rock and roll. The set list spans The Beatles, Puccini, Journey, Handel, The Police, Meatloaf, Les Miserables, Mozart, Sondheim, Bon Jovi, Andrea Bocelli, STYX, The Rolling Stones, Daughtry, Keith Urban and will also include music by The String Divas, who will be performing with the rock band. The String Divas, led by Betsy Goode, are an all string group that performs classical music and classic rock. Goode has performed with STYX, Rod Stewart, Josh Groban, Trans-Sibeiran Orchestra, and many others.
The Rock Tenor artfully marries rock and roll with music from a variety of other genres to produce a vivid concert experience that leaves audiences breathless one minute and joyous the next. Itis about songs that transcend time, age and race, delivered by performers who are as comfortable singing a Puccini aria as a Beatles classic. Imagine a Handel Aria that falls seamlessly into Journey?s iconic ballad Open Arms which then finds itself in a call and response with Sondheim?s Johanna. Imagine a Puccini aria married intimately to Led Zeppelin?s Kashmir. Evan and Marini worked with some of the top arrangers in the country to create the harmonious connections between these seemingly disparate pieces.
Rob Evan, a member of the platinum selling rock band, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, is also lead vocalist for Bat Out of Hell creator Jim Steinman?s band The Dream Engine and recently recorded the debut album for his new progressive rock band Menrva Realm. Other credits include starring in the original Broadway cast of Jekyll & Hyde where he played the title roles for three years and over 600 performances and appearing on Broadway as Jean Valjean in Les Miserables, becoming the youngest performer ever to play both of these roles on Broadway. He also toured the world in an all-new Jekyll & Hyde: The Concert. Most recently, he played the role of Kerchak in Disney?s Tarzan at the Richard Rodgers Theater. He also starred as the sadistic Orin Scrivello D.D.S. in the recent Broadway revival of Little Shop of Horrors. Evan has performed with REM, Phil Collins, John Mellencamp, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Bonnie Tyler, Usher, Trisha Yearwood, Michael Crawford, Joan Jett, Linda Eder, Savatage, and Sebastian Bach of Skid Row.
Also featured in the concert are: classically trained vocalist Morgan James, who will hit Broadway in the fall with The Adams Family Musical; Dustin Brayley from the international tour of RENT; and Aaron LaVigne, a singer-songwriter who recently won FAMECAST Season 4. Performing with the band is accomplished violinist Susan Aquila. Aqulia spent the past 20 years bridging the gap between her successful rock and classical careers. Trained at Juilliard and Rice University, Susan has traveled extensively throughout the world performing in France, Germany, Spain, Russia, Korea and Japan. She has been seen on stage with Billy Joel, Paul McCartney, Alicia Keys, Tony Bennett, K.D. Lang, John Mayer, Donna Summer, Whitney Houston, Willy Nelson, and Chuck Mangione, to name just a few.
The setlist was arranged by a team of some of the most talented arrangers in New York, including: Joe Church, the Musical Director of original Broadway productions of The Lion King and The Who's Tommy; Henry Aronson, Musical Director and conductor of the new Broadway hit Rock of Ages; Kim Scharnberg, who has arranged for several Broadway musicals including Jekyll and Hyde, The Scarlet Pimpernel, The Civil War and Little Women and for feature films (A River Runs Through It, Quiz Show, Made In America, The Net, Fly Away Home) and television; Jeremy Roberts, the Music Supervisor/Arranger for Jekyll & Hyde and Dracula on Broadway; and Linda Eder?s musical director/arranger/conductor for 18 years; and Nashville?s John Hinchey, noted for the progressive rock album Rewiring Genesis and his work with Sting on The Rainforest Foundation Fund Concerts.
The Rock Tenor is co-produced by Jay Harris, Blue Eyed Theatrical and Norus Productions. Jay Harris has produced all over the country. His productions have been nominated for multiple awards including: one Helen Hayes Award in Washington DC; three Lucille Lortel; eight Drama Desk; five Outer Critics Circle nominations; eight TonyTM nominations, and one TonyTM win.
The Rock Tenor Performance Dates:
Wednesday, Jul 8, 8:00PM
Thursday, Jul 9, 8:00PM
Friday, Jul 10, 8:00PM
Saturday, Jul 11, 3:00PM
Saturday, Jul 11, 8:00PM
Sunday, Jul 12, 2:00PM
Wednesday, Jul 15, 8:00PM OPENING NIGHT
Thursday, Jul 16, 8:00PM
Friday, Jul 17, 8:00PM
Saturday, Jul 18, 3:00PM
Saturday, Jul 18, 8:00PM
Sunday, Jul 19, 2:00PM
Tuesday, Jul 28, 8:00PM
Wednesday, Jul 29, 8:00PM
Thursday, Jul 30, 8:00PM
Friday, Jul 31, 8:00PM
Sunday, Aug 2, 2:00PM
Sunday, August 2, 8:00PM
Wednesday, August 5, 8:00PM
Thursday, August 6 8:00PM
Friday, August 7 8:00PM
Saturday, August 8, 3:00PM
Saturday, August 8, 8:00PM
Sunday, August 9, 2:00PM
Wednesday, August 12, 8:00PM
Thursday, August 13, 8:00PM
Friday, August 14, 8:00PM
Saturday, August 15, 3:00PM
Saturday, August 15, 8:00PM
Sunday, August 16, 2:00PM
Wednesday, August 19, 8:00PM
Thursday, August 20, 8:00PM
Friday, August 21, 8:00PM
Saturday, August 22, 3:00PM
Saturday, August 22, 8:00PM
Sunday, August 23, 2:00PM
Tickets $25-$40
(215) 546-7824
http://www.therocktenor.comhttp://www.therocktenor.com
Location: The Wilma Theater
265 South Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
#######
World Premiere of THE ROCK TENOR Blends Classical, Broadway and Popular Song in a Unique Concert Experience
July 8 August 23, 2009 - Featuring vocalist Rob Evan, Directed by Vincent Marini
PHILADELPHIA The Rock Tenor makes its debut this summer beginning July 8, starring vocalist Rob Evan (Broadway performer and lead singer for the multi-platinum band The Trans-Siberian Orchestra), who conceived the show with director Vincent Marini (former Producing Artistic Director of New Jerseys Lenape Regional Performing Arts Center) officially opens July 15 and closes August 23. The Rock Tenor fuses rock and roll anthems, Broadway classics, opera favorites, country rhythms and classical melodies in a unique performance that showcases these familiar works in a whole new light. The Rock Tenor will be performed at The Wilma Theater, located at 265 South Broad Street. Tickets are $25-$40 and are available at http://www.therocktenor.comhttp://www.therocktenor.com or by phone at (215) 546-7824.
Performed with a live rock band featuring some of the top live musicians in the country, this new concert will appeal to even the most casual fan of Broadway, classical and rock and roll. The set list spans The Beatles, Puccini, Journey, Handel, The Police, Meatloaf, Les Miserables, Mozart, Sondheim, Bon Jovi, Andrea Bocelli, STYX, The Rolling Stones, Daughtry, Keith Urban and will also include music by The String Divas, who will be performing with the rock band. The String Divas, led by Betsy Goode, are an all string group that performs classical music and classic rock. Goode has performed with STYX, Rod Stewart, Josh Groban, Trans-Sibeiran Orchestra, and many others.
The Rock Tenor artfully marries rock and roll with music from a variety of other genres to produce a vivid concert experience that leaves audiences breathless one minute and joyous the next. Itis about songs that transcend time, age and race, delivered by performers who are as comfortable singing a Puccini aria as a Beatles classic. Imagine a Handel Aria that falls seamlessly into Journey?s iconic ballad Open Arms which then finds itself in a call and response with Sondheim?s Johanna. Imagine a Puccini aria married intimately to Led Zeppelin?s Kashmir. Evan and Marini worked with some of the top arrangers in the country to create the harmonious connections between these seemingly disparate pieces.
Rob Evan, a member of the platinum selling rock band, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, is also lead vocalist for Bat Out of Hell creator Jim Steinman?s band The Dream Engine and recently recorded the debut album for his new progressive rock band Menrva Realm. Other credits include starring in the original Broadway cast of Jekyll & Hyde where he played the title roles for three years and over 600 performances and appearing on Broadway as Jean Valjean in Les Miserables, becoming the youngest performer ever to play both of these roles on Broadway. He also toured the world in an all-new Jekyll & Hyde: The Concert. Most recently, he played the role of Kerchak in Disney?s Tarzan at the Richard Rodgers Theater. He also starred as the sadistic Orin Scrivello D.D.S. in the recent Broadway revival of Little Shop of Horrors. Evan has performed with REM, Phil Collins, John Mellencamp, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Bonnie Tyler, Usher, Trisha Yearwood, Michael Crawford, Joan Jett, Linda Eder, Savatage, and Sebastian Bach of Skid Row.
Also featured in the concert are: classically trained vocalist Morgan James, who will hit Broadway in the fall with The Adams Family Musical; Dustin Brayley from the international tour of RENT; and Aaron LaVigne, a singer-songwriter who recently won FAMECAST Season 4. Performing with the band is accomplished violinist Susan Aquila. Aqulia spent the past 20 years bridging the gap between her successful rock and classical careers. Trained at Juilliard and Rice University, Susan has traveled extensively throughout the world performing in France, Germany, Spain, Russia, Korea and Japan. She has been seen on stage with Billy Joel, Paul McCartney, Alicia Keys, Tony Bennett, K.D. Lang, John Mayer, Donna Summer, Whitney Houston, Willy Nelson, and Chuck Mangione, to name just a few.
The setlist was arranged by a team of some of the most talented arrangers in New York, including: Joe Church, the Musical Director of original Broadway productions of The Lion King and The Who's Tommy; Henry Aronson, Musical Director and conductor of the new Broadway hit Rock of Ages; Kim Scharnberg, who has arranged for several Broadway musicals including Jekyll and Hyde, The Scarlet Pimpernel, The Civil War and Little Women and for feature films (A River Runs Through It, Quiz Show, Made In America, The Net, Fly Away Home) and television; Jeremy Roberts, the Music Supervisor/Arranger for Jekyll & Hyde and Dracula on Broadway; and Linda Eder?s musical director/arranger/conductor for 18 years; and Nashville?s John Hinchey, noted for the progressive rock album Rewiring Genesis and his work with Sting on The Rainforest Foundation Fund Concerts.
The Rock Tenor is co-produced by Jay Harris, Blue Eyed Theatrical and Norus Productions. Jay Harris has produced all over the country. His productions have been nominated for multiple awards including: one Helen Hayes Award in Washington DC; three Lucille Lortel; eight Drama Desk; five Outer Critics Circle nominations; eight TonyTM nominations, and one TonyTM win.
The Rock Tenor Performance Dates:
Wednesday, Jul 8, 8:00PM
Thursday, Jul 9, 8:00PM
Friday, Jul 10, 8:00PM
Saturday, Jul 11, 3:00PM
Saturday, Jul 11, 8:00PM
Sunday, Jul 12, 2:00PM
Wednesday, Jul 15, 8:00PM OPENING NIGHT
Thursday, Jul 16, 8:00PM
Friday, Jul 17, 8:00PM
Saturday, Jul 18, 3:00PM
Saturday, Jul 18, 8:00PM
Sunday, Jul 19, 2:00PM
Tuesday, Jul 28, 8:00PM
Wednesday, Jul 29, 8:00PM
Thursday, Jul 30, 8:00PM
Friday, Jul 31, 8:00PM
Sunday, Aug 2, 2:00PM
Sunday, August 2, 8:00PM
Wednesday, August 5, 8:00PM
Thursday, August 6 8:00PM
Friday, August 7 8:00PM
Saturday, August 8, 3:00PM
Saturday, August 8, 8:00PM
Sunday, August 9, 2:00PM
Wednesday, August 12, 8:00PM
Thursday, August 13, 8:00PM
Friday, August 14, 8:00PM
Saturday, August 15, 3:00PM
Saturday, August 15, 8:00PM
Sunday, August 16, 2:00PM
Wednesday, August 19, 8:00PM
Thursday, August 20, 8:00PM
Friday, August 21, 8:00PM
Saturday, August 22, 3:00PM
Saturday, August 22, 8:00PM
Sunday, August 23, 2:00PM
Tickets $25-$40
(215) 546-7824
http://www.therocktenor.comhttp://www.therocktenor.com
Location: The Wilma Theater
265 South Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
#######
www.pbentertainmentinc.com
BWW regional writer "Philadelphia/South Jersey"
Updated On: 6/14/09 at 10:11 PM
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