John Michael Coppola Performs At Fundraiser for Early Childhood Center

John Michael Coppola, who performed the role of Frankie Valli in the Chicago production of Broadway's Jersey Boys and who has been seen throughout Chicagoland in several sold out performances of Michael Ingersoll's Under The Streetlamp is launching a new solo career. This new venture will be kicked off with two concerts, one a fundraiser for JRC in Evanston and the other a concert at the Metropolis Performing Arts Center.

Metropolis Performing Arts Center
111 W. Campbell Street
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
February 25, 2011
8:00 PM
Tickets $35, Stage Tables $40
http://www.metropolisarts.com

JRC Evanston
A Fundraiser for the Early Childhood Center's Playground Fund
303 Dodge Avenue
Evanston, IL 60202
February 27, 2011
6:45 PM - Reception, 7:30 PM - Performance
JRC Members & Early Childhood Center Families $25; Non-Members $30.
http://www.jrc-evanston.org
http://jrcbroadway.eventbrite.com/

Backed by a seven piece band, the concert titled A Broadway Voice - Songs and Stories from Beyond the Footlights features songs that celebrate the journey of life peppered with stories from his life and career. Filled with songs from the 40's through today, it is certain to be a great evening of entertainment. The concerts will be the same format at each venue. Here's a promo video for your review/preview - http://www.vimeo.com/18567730

This a great (belated) Valentine's present while doing some good will too as there are quite a few love songs in the mix!

Quote from John regarding using sign language within two songs --
"When we were growing up, my brother and I performed together all the time. After all, being twins we were practically born to be a novelty act. While planning this concert I came up with the idea for a medley of two different folk songs that dealt with the environment; One has the question of "What has happened to our earth?" and the other as a the answer of 'What we can do now.'"

"The medley worked musically but in my head something was missing and I couldn't quite put my finger on it. It dawned on me that for it to be more theatrically engaging it needed a visual to go along with the lyrics. Not "multimedia" visual but something "story telling" like. I remembered that my brother recently began studying American Sign Language as a serious hobby and the idea hit me like a thunderbolt!"

"The natural solution was to bring out my life long stage partner to a duet with me in a way we've never have before. Finally, it occurred to me that the deaf don't have concerts that are catered to them. Producing a concert that would be signed for the deaf would be a uniqueness all its own. So the two song medley as it stands rights now is a test run to see if could work for a 90 minute concert."

More about John Michael Coppola:
During his 15 year career, John Michael Coppola has appeared on the stages of some of the top regional and Off Broadway theatres in the US. His greatest success was his appearance in the Chicago and Las Vegas companies of the Tony Award winning musical Jersey Boys where he understudied and performed the role of Frankie Valli of The Four Seasons.

Most recently, John was seen in the Ravinia Festival's production of Annie Get Your Gun starring two time Tony Award winners, Patti LuPone and George Hearn. He has also been seen on tour throughout the United States, Canada and Europe, including multiple productions of: She Loves Me, Singin' in the Rain, Flight Of The Lawnchair Man, Hot Shoe Shuffle and 42nd Street.

John Michael Coppola lives in Skokie, Illinois, with his family.