Arcadia Performing Arts Center Announces Inaugural 2014 Season
By: Robert Diamond Jan. 12, 2014
Arcadia Performing Arts Foundation presents its first season at the Arcadia Performing Arts Center - Air Supply on Saturday, January 25 at 8 pm; America on Saturday, February 22 at 8 pm; Broadway star Susan Egan, the original Belle of Beauty and the Beast, on Saturday, March 1 at 8 pm; and The Temptations on Saturday, June 7 at 8 pm. This four concert season, presented by the Arcadia Performing Arts Foundation, is a means of raising funds to support arts in the schools and maintain this beautiful state-of-the-art facility.
Tickets are available online by visiting www.Arcadiapaf.org. The theatre is at 188 Campus Drive at North Santa Anita Avenue, Arcadia CA 91007. For information please call 626-821-1781. Tickets for Air Supply, America and The Temptations are priced at $49.50, $59.50 and premium. Tickets for Susan Egan are $39.50, $49.50 and $59.50.
About the artists for the 2014 Winter-Spring season
Air Supply
Saturday Jan. 25, 2014 at 8:00pm
Graham Russell & Russell Hitchcock met on May 12, 1975, the first day of rehearsals for "Jesus Christ Superstar" in Sydney, Australia; they became instant friends with their common love for The Beatles and, of course, singing. After the shows' performances at 10:30, they would play pizza parlors, coffee bars and nightclubs with just one guitar and two voices. They quickly gained a reputation for great harmonies and for original songs that Graham was constantly writing. They made a demo on a cassette of two songs, "Love and Other Bruises" and "If You Knew Me" and took it to every record company in Sydney. Everyone turned it down but one - CBS Records - who admired their unique style.
They made a single in one afternoon and it shot to number one on the national charts. Air Supply was born! That same year, they opened for Rod Stewart across Australia and then throughout the U.S. and Canada playing all of the famous huge venues before Rod would take the stage. They found new fans, but did not break the U.S. market. Back in Australia they the album Life Support including "Lost in Love" which went Top 10 in Australia; it somehow found its way to music industry executive Clive Davis in New York. Davis immediately signed Air Supply to Arista Records and in 1980; "Lost in Love" became the fastest selling single in the world, leaping to the top of all of the charts. The second single was "All Out of Love," and that went up the charts even quicker. Seven top-five singles later, Air Supply at that time had equaled The Beatles' run of consecutive top five singles. The albums Lost in Love, The One That You Love, Now & Forever, and The Greatest Hits sold in excess of 20 million copies. "Lost in Love" was named Song of the Year in 1980, and, with the other singles, sold more than 10 million copies. The trademark sound of Russell Hitchcock's soaring tenor voice and Graham Russell's simple yet majestic songs created a unique sound that would forever be known as Air Supply. However, it is the live shows that always hold audiences captive around the world. They were the first Western group to tour China, Taiwan, and countless other countries that before would not allow pop music across their borders. In 1983 they recorded "Making Love Out Of Nothing At All" by Jim Steinman, which solidified the group as a permanent force in modern music. This song was released on The Greatest Hits album, which soared past 7 million copies. "Lost in Love", "All Out of Love", "The One That You Love", "Sweet Dreams", and "Making Love Out Of Nothing At All" have each achieved multi-million plays on the radio. In 1986 the group's music was still playing endlessly on radio. That same year, Graham was married to actress Jodi Varble from Rochelle, Illinois, who also was his leading lady in the video for "Making Love Out Of Nothing At All." Air Supply began to tour with lavish productions in places that no one had been before. In South America and Asia they became a part of everyone's life. In 1988, Air Supply was asked to participate in Australia's bicentennial celebration and to play for HRH Prince Charles and HRH Princess Diana, where they learned both were already ardent fans. This engagement would be one of their most treasured moments in their career. In 1989, they recorded The Earth Is album selling over a million copies outside of the U.S. This album was followed by The Vanishing Race CD and, with the singles "Goodbye" and "It's Never Too Late", again saw multi-platinum success. The following albums, News from Nowhere, Yours Truly, and Across the Concrete Sky all gave their second greatest hits album multi-platinum status as they traveled the world each and every year. In 2000, a new Production Company was founded to be devoted to Air Supply's entire future product, called A Nice Pear, which gave them complete creative control. In July 2005, their live DVD, "It Was 30 Years Ago Today" celebrated 30 years of success around the world and in that same month, Air Supply smashed attendance records when, in Cuba, at one show they played to 175,000 people. Also 2005 saw the release of The Singer and the Song, an acoustic album of many of their big hits, which received critical acclaim. In May 2010, Mumbo Jumbo - also the duo's first studio recording in eight years - was released. Recorded at Graham Russell's home studio near Park City, Utah and at Odds On's state of the art facilities in Las Vegas with top session musicians and an orchestra, Mumbo Jumbo was produced by Russell and engineered by Odds On's Sean O'Dwyer, whose credits include Pink Floyd, Randy Newman and Blink-182. Among the 14-tracks, released by Odds On's label, was the first single "Dance With Me," which earned Air Supply a prominent feature article in Billboard Magazine titled "Still Supplying The Hits After 35 Years." Just weeks after composer and vocalist Graham Russell was honored with a BMI Million-AirCertificate recognizing 3 million performances of the duo's hit "All Out Of Love," Air Supply's new song was the #1 most added track on the FMQB AC40 Chart, and also one of the most added on the R&R (Radio and Records) AC Chart and the Mediabase AC chart. In 2011, the duo continues to play more than 150 shows a year worldwide, including stops in England, Ireland, Israel, Philippines, Korea, Japan, Canada, the U.S. and beyond. Currently, Air Supply just finished filming our live Jerusalem, Israel show for a new DVD that will be out later this year. The DVD features two new songs, "Sanctuary" and "Everywhere." America Saturday, February 22, 2014 at 8:00pm The year 2010 marks the 40th Anniversary of perennial classic-rock favorite, America. Founding members, Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell (along with former band mate Dan Peek) met in high school in London in the late 1960s and quickly harmonized their way to the top of the charts on the strength of their signature song "A Horse With No Name." America became a global household name and paved the way with an impressive string of hits following the success of their first #1 single. Forty years later, these friends are still making music together, touring the world and thrilling audiences with their timeless sound. America's journey has found them exploring a wide variety of musical terrain. Their best-known tunes, which also include "I Need You," "Ventura Highway," "Don't Cross The River," "Tin Man," "Lonely People," and "Sister Golden Hair" were cornerstones of 1970's Top 40 and FM rock radio. Yet beyond their impressive catalog of hits, listeners would discover there was always much more to America than surface perceptions. The combination of Gerry Beckley's melodic pop rock and Dewey Bunnell's use of folk-jazz elements, slinky Latin-leaning rhythms and impressionistic lyric imagery contrasted well with Dan Peek's more traditional country-rock leanings and highly personal lyrics. America's albums -- six certified gold and/or platinum, with their first greatest hits collection, History, hitting four+ million in sales--displayed a fuller range of the trio's talents than did their singles. Their material encompassed an ambitious artistic swath; from effects-laden rockers to oddball medleys to soul-bearing ballads, America displayed a flawless blend of disparate genres and styles as wide-open as the great American plains. Enjoying massive success early in their career, America earned their stripes as musical soldiers on the battlefield amidst the excess, craziness and chaos of the 70's. The trio won the Grammy for Best New Artist in 1972 and began working with George Martin and Geoff Emerick in 1974. This successful team went on to record seven albums and several Top Ten hits, including "Tin Man" and "Sister Golden Hair". By the mid-70s, inter-band conflicts combined with an exhaustive touring and recording schedule exacted its toll on the group. With Peek's departure from the fold in 1977, his band mates rose to the challenge and carried on as a duo. Shifts in sound and direction, changes in producers and managers, and a renewed dedication to the craft of songwriting helped rocket America to the upper reaches of the pop charts in 1982 with their smash single, "You Can Do Magic." During this tumultuous time in their career, Beckley and Bunnell immersed themselves in their craft, infusing a newfound maturity into their rich body of work. Their growth as singers, songwriters and musicians has continued into the present day as illustrated by landmark releases such as 2000's Highway 3-disc box set, 2002's Holiday Harmony, an album comprised of seasonal classics and live showcases, 2007's Here & Now and 2009's Live In Concert: Wildwood Springs. >From their formative years, America has been a band capable of transcending borders with its uplifting music and positive message. Embracing a rainbow of divergent cultures, America's audiences continue to grow, comprising a loyal legion of first, second and third generation fans, all bearing testament to the group's enduring appeal. "I think that the ingredients of the America sound are the basic fundamentals that translate internationally," explains Beckley. "The Italians are huge fans of dance music, but they also love a ballad--they're romantic at heart. It's the same in the Far East. A lot of times in these countries, we see people singing along, and they don't really know what the words mean. Music is truly the international language." In the midst of their 40th-year anniversary of music making, America continues to evolve while remaining a perennial mainstay on the domestic and international concert circuit and a cornerstone of 70's Top 40 and FM rock radio. In addition to their classics, America is revisiting their roots as writers and artists. The 40th Anniversary show features songs reflecting some of their song-writing inspirations as well as showcasing their first album America with a very special acoustic set featuring standards such as "I Need You" and "Three Roses", as well as some never-before-performed deep cuts. >From anonymous horses to fast-moving trains, America's extraordinary four-decade musical legacy of consummately crafted pop/rock songs, trademark lush harmonies and evocative lyrical landscapes will never go out of style.
Susan Egan Saturday, March 1, 2014 at 8:00pm
Susan Egan has traversed all four corners of the entertainment industry, making powerful impressions in theatre, film, television and music.
On Broadway, Susan starred in the title role of Thoroughly Modern Millie; won critical acclaim as Broadway's longest-running 'Sally Bowles' in Cabaret; originated the leading roles in Triumph of Love and State Fair; and most notably, received both Tony Award and Drama Desk nominations for "Best Actress" as the original 'Belle' in Disney's Beauty and the Beast. Regionally, Egan starred alongside Carol Burnett in Sondheim's Putting It Together, Tommy Tune in the national tour of Bye, Bye Birdie, and created works at Yale Repertory, Baltimore Center Stage, South Coast Repertory, and the Mark Taper Forum. Susan's film credits include 13 Going on 30, Gotta Kick It Up for the Disney Channel, and countless independent features seen at the Seattle Film Festival, Sarasota Film Festival, Slamdance, the HBO Comedy Festival and beyond. In animation, Egan gave voice to sultry 'Meg' in Disney's Hercules, sang as 'Angel' in Lady and the Tramp II, and translated two Japanese blockbusters into English for director Hayao Miyazaki: 'Gina' in Porco Rosso, and 'Lin' in Spirited Away, which won an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. She has also spent the last 6 years recording the voice of 'Belle' for all those Disney Princess CDs and toys! On television, Egan spent two seasons on the WB's Nikki, and has guest-starred on HOUSE, NUMB3RS, NYPD Blue, Arliss, Party of Five, Drew Carey, Almost Perfect, Partners, All My Children, Loving, PBS Great Performances, and several movies of the week and specials for ABC, CBS, and the Disney Channel.
As a concert performer, Susan has taken her solo concert from coast to coast in over 300 appearances and even on the high seas with the Disney Cruise Line on several occasions. She has also headlined with some of the finest symphonies worldwide, including the National Symphony Orchestra, Hong Kong Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, the Philly Pops, Utah Symphony, and more than 40 others. She has taken the concert stage at Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center and the Hollywood Bowl just to name a few. Susan has over 40 recording credits from Broadway cast albums to film soundtracks, including her 6 solo CDs: All That and More, So Far, Winter Tracks, CoffeeHouse (Best Vocalist 2004 - TalkingBroadway.com), Susan Egan LIVE, and her 2011 release, The Secret of Happiness, produced and music directed by composer and pal, Georgia Stitt. In the past several years, Ms Egan has also been "taking stage" in the educational arena and now her teaching resume reads nearly as complete as her performance career, having given master classes at universities and conservatories across the country, including USC, Pepperdine, University of Miami, Pacific Conservatory of Performing Arts, CSU Fullerton, Circle In the Square Acting Program and more than a dozen others. She has also been on faculty at UCLA (her alma mater) for their Summer Conservatory program, the Young Americans College of Performing Arts, and Cal Poly Pomona. In 2002-3 she dedicated an entire year away from performing to be the Interim Artistic Director of the Orange County High School of the Arts, which has been named one of the top high schools in the country by both Newsweek and US News & World Report. Susan now spends her time with a full calendar of concerts, teaching, and penning the mom blog, http://www.glamourandgoop.com with composer Georgia Stitt. She makes her home in Southern California with her husband, Robert, and daughters, Nina and Isla.
The Temptations
Saturday, June 7, 2014 at 8:00 pm
For more than forty years, The Temptations have prospered, propelling popular music with a series of smash hits, and sold-out performances throughout the world. The history of the Temptations is the history of contemporary American pop. An essential component of the original Motown machine, that amazing engine invented by Berry Gordy, the Temps began their musical life in Detroit in the early sixties. It wasn't until 1964, however, that the Smokey Robinson written-and-produced "The Way You Do the Things You Do" turned the guys into stars.
An avalanche of hits followed, many of which - "My Girl," for instance-attained immortality. "It's Growing," "Since I Lost My Baby," "Get Ready," "Too Proud to Beg," "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep," "I Wish It Would Rain"-the hits kept coming. The classic lineup was Otis Williams, Melvin Franklin, Paul Williams, Eddie Kendricks and David Ruffin. Beyond the fabulous singing, the Temps became known for smooth stepping and flawless presentations. The Temptation Walk became a staple of American style, Flair, flash and class. Millions of fans saw their Temptations as cultural heroes. When the sixties and seventies turned political, the Temps got serious. They changed their tone, dress and music. Producer Norman Whitfield led the way. His Temptations hits, many featuring Dennis Edwards who had replaced David Ruffin, burned with intensity. "Runaway Child," "Cloud Nine," "I Can't Get Next to You," "Papa Was a Rolling Stone" and "Psychedelic Shack" still smolder. Other stellar singers -- Richard Street, Ali-Ollie Woodson -- joined, adding their luster to the group's growing fame. No matter the change in personnel, the Temptations remained true to the Temptations tradition. They survived the whims of fashion, whether disco or techno, and stuck to their guns. In the eighties, the Temps prevailed with smashes like "Treat Her Like a Lady." Then in the nineties, another Temptation explosion: It began with their appearance on Motown 25 in 1983; it continued with the NBC mini series that chronicled the group's history, a ratings triumph over two nights in prime time. Then came a series of acclaimed records:
- For Lovers Only, a collection of love standards, termed an instant classic by critics, remains among the most cherished of all Temptations recordings.
- Phoenix Rising went through the roof, a platinum-plus mega-hit featuring "Stay" the Narada Michael Walden-produced song that topped the charts.
- Ear Resistible nailed a Grammy and a legion of new fans.
- Awesome, released in 2001 is The Temptations at their freshest, strongest, and most appealing.
- Reflections was released in 2005, nominated for a Grammy and brought to the world The Temptations versions of some of Motown's greatest songs
The current lineup consists of Otis Williams, Ron Tyson, Terry Weeks, Joe Herndon and Bruce Williamson. "The more we change," says veteran Ron Tyson, "the more we stay true to ourselves. We're about singing straight-up soul. It's a style that will live on forever." "The Tempts have always been known for great lead singers", says Williams. "Today we have three of the greatest leads in the proud history of the group."
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