Electric Youth, an International Touring Ensemble, Debuts at Showcase Live, 2/28

Electric Youth (EY) 2014, the international touring ensemble of talented singer-dancers trained at the Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA), will debut at Showcase Live, Patriot Place, in Foxboro on Friday, February 28 at 7:30 p.m. Backed by the eight-piece Boston Show Band, Electric Youth delivers a fun, energetic evening of high-powered family entertainment. EY's show features an extensive range of contemporary pop and classic rock hits fully choreographed to delight audiences of all ages. Hear the best of Aerosmith, The Beatles, Kelly Clarkson, Michael Jackson, Bruno Mars, Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder and more.

Selected by audition, the group is chosen for superior musicianship, stage presence, and triple threat accomplishments in voice, dance, and acting. This season's ensemble of ten performers, ages 14-17, studies multiple dance disciplines, voice, and acting at FSPA. Some are preparing to pursue a career in the performing arts, while all are gaining valuable life skills through their participation, extensive training and travel experiences with the ensemble. Electric Youth 2014 includes Madison Asgeirsson, 15, Kendra Dombroski, 15, Ali Funkhouser, 17, Graham Hancock, 17, Jocelyn Jones, 15, and Shaina McGillis, 15, of Franklin; Michael Fajardo, 15, of Hopkinton; Sam Evans, 14, of Medfield; Maddy Williams, 15, of Medway; and Jenna McDermott, 15, of Wrentham.

The EY singer-dancers are backed by an eight-piece band of Boston musicians who've performed, recorded and toured with such music legends as Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin, Dizzy Gillespie, B.B. King, Diana Ross, The Temptations and Van Morrison.

"The band that tours with EY really raises the level of experience for our singer-dancers and audiences alike," says Director Raye Lynn Mercer. "These musicians have performed with A-list entertainers, and the music is first-rate. The arranging team for Electric Youth, including several of the band members, writes custom arrangements for EY that allow the group to take classic songs and make them their own."

EY's show band features Kenny Hadley on drums, Arnie Krakowsky on tenor saxophone, Artie Montanaro on trombone, Walter Platt on trumpet, Bill Miele on bass, Ken Reid on baritone saxophone, Mark White on guitar and Mercer on piano. Under the direction of Mark Poniatowski, musical arrangers for Electric Youth are Rick Hammett, Jeff Perry, Walter Platt, Poniatowski, Mark White and Ben Whiting. Choreographers include Mercer, Cheryl Madeux, Nick Paone and Kellie Stamp.

Electric Youth has released five professional CDs and toured Europe ten times. The group's 2013 debut in England and France included performances at England's Arundel Festival and professional theaters in Bristol, London, Wimborne and Windsor, along with four shows at Disneyland Paris, where the group performed for enthusiastic crowds of 1,500 in the theater venue that formerly housed The Lion King. Concert tours of Italy and Austria have included performances at such renowned venues as Sanremo's Ariston Theatre and Vienna's Konzerthaus, Musikverein and Schonbrunn Palace. EY has also headlined Fourth of July shows for U.S. troops and their families stationed in Italy at Camp Ederle, Camp Darby, and Aviano Air Force Base. The ensemble has performed on Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas, on Fox-TV and WBZ Radio, and at Fenway Park, Gillette Stadium, Mechanics Hall, Smithsonian Museum Theater and the United Nations. EY's music is available on iTunes and CD Baby. Electric Youth 2014 will tour Austria, Germany and Italy this summer.

Ticket for Electric Youth In Concert at Showcase Live are $18 for Loge Seats and $28 for Premium Seating. For tickets, visit www.electric youth.com. Please call (508) 528-8668 for table reservations for larger parties. Doors open at 6 p.m. for best seat selection and dinner, featuring Showcase Live's menu of distinctive cuisine and kid-friendly fare. For more information, visit www.electricyouth.com.