New McCree Theatre Presents a Gala Reception & World Premiere Performance of A NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK: THE STORY OF THE VELVELETTES

The Board of Directors and Friends of the New McCree Theatre are presenting a Gala Reception and World Premiere Performance of the original musical, A Needle in a Haystack: the Story of the Velvelettes, a tribute to Motown's longest lasting girl group that still performs with all of its original members today. The event will take place at the New McCree Theatre, 2040 W. Carpenter Road, Flint, on Saturday, April 29, 2017. A red carpet reception, with refreshments, will begin at 5:30 p.m. while curtain for the premiere performance of the musical is at 7:00 p.m. Organizers are requesting a $50.00 donation from each patron. Funds will be utilized to enable the New McCree Theatre to carry on its plethora of performing arts activities on behalf of the underserved residents of north Flint for the remainder of the program year. Tickets can be purchased by telephone or online at www.thenewmccreetheatre.com.

The odyssey of the Velvelettes began in 1962 when two cousins from Flint-Bertha Barbee and Norma Barbee- joined with two sisters and a friend from Kalamazoo-Mildred Gill, Caldin Ann Gill, and Betty Kelley-to form the singing group. After winning a talent contest at Western Michigan University, the girls were encouraged to go to Detroit to audition for Motown records. The audition was successful. Two years later the group recorded its first hit record, Needle in a Haystack. It was followed by He Was Really Saying Something, which also charted in the Top 100 pop hits in the country in 1965.

Although the girls were on the verge of becoming mega stars at Motown like the Marvelettes, the Vandellas, and The Supremes, three of them left the group to concentrate on raising their families. Cal, the lead singer carried on for another two years with fill-in Velvelettes, but the group eventually disbanded. Fifteen years later, now divorced, the girls reunited and picked up where they left off, without missing a beat.

Needle in a Haystack will continue to run at the New McCree Theatre following the premiere performance, from May 4 - 27, on Thursday and Friday at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Call the theatre at (810) 787-2200 for ticket information, or visit the theatre's website.

Contact Charles Winfrey at (810) 787-2200 if additional information is desired.