Hershey Area Playhouse Announces Upcoming Dark Night Series Production ICONS OF SWING

Hershey Area Playhouse is proud to announce the third of its 2017 Dark Night Series productions, Icons of Swing - The Bands, The Singers, The Songs, an evening featuring a concert and dance by the Unforgettable Big Band, preceded by swing dance lessons for those interested in getting the most out of the event.

The two Icons of Swing performances will highlight music from the Swing era. Each evening will begin with a reception in The Playhouse lobby and optional dance lessons led by local choreographer, Kelly Strange, followed by the Unforgettable Big Band concert and dancing on The Playhouse stage.

Founded in the summer of 2000, the Unforgettable Big Band started out as just a bunch of local musicians playing for the enjoyment of traditional big band music. Since those early days, the band has played to raise thousands of dollars for local charities and boosted its annual schedule to help keep the music of the big bands alive and vital in central Pennsylvania. Showcasing iconic music from Glenn Miller, Benny Goodman, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and others, the band bridges generations with timeless melodies and toe-tapping rhythms from one of the 20th century's most important musical genres.

Icons of Swing will be held March 10-11, 2017, at The Playhouse, located at the corner of Sand Hill Road and Cherry Drive; the reception and swing dance lessons begin at 6 p.m., and the concert and dancing begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 and are available via The Playhouse's website, www.HersheyAreaPlayhouse.com or by calling The Playhouse's box office at 717-533-8525.

The Playhouse adopted the term "Dark Night," a term used by theatres when there is not a performance scheduled, a few years ago as part of a vision to incorporate a wider variety of entertainment to complement its five mainstage shows. The Playhouse relaunched its Dark Night Series in 2016, bringing additional entertainment options, including different, edgier content shows to its mainstage. Several Dark Night productions are already scheduled for 2017 to include musical acts, as well as original works, comedy acts, and special events.