Kelli Agresta, Crystal Bowersox & More to Play bergenPAC in 2014

Bergen Performing Arts Center located at 30 North Van Brunt Street in Englewood New Jersey announces new shows for 2014! - See Kelli Agresta perform Thursday January 16 and Friday January 17th in the all new Drapkin Cabaret Room, then on Monday, January 20th its Michael Shenker Group, American Idol's Crystal Bowersox with a special guest appearance by Bergen County's Heather Brave on Thursday, March 27th and on Saturday, May 17th its Tommy James and The Shondells and don't miss Yanni on Wednesday, Auguat 13th --Tickets for these shows go on sale Friday, November 22nd at 11 AM. Reserve tickets at www.ticketmaster.com or call the Box Office at 201.227.1030.

Kelli "Rabke" Agresta ** note this show takes place in the Drapkin Cabaret & Lounge

Join them for an intimate evening in our Drapkin Cabaret room featuring Bergen County's own Broadway star, Kelli Rabke Agresta.

No Place Like Home will feature well-known songs from the worlds of musical theatre and pop, beloved standards, and even some unknown treasures from new musicals.

Kelli received her first "big break" playing Dorothy in Paper Mill Playhouse's acclaimed production of THE WIZARD OF OZ. Shortly thereafter, Andrew Lloyd Webber himself selected her to play the lead role of the Narrator in the Broadway revival of JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT. Kelli went on to play Eponine in LES MISERABLES on Broadway, and has performed extensively in regional theatres around the country.

A full bar, waitress service will be available - seating is limited. Proceeds from this show goes to Bergen Performing Arts School.

The Michael Schenker Group

Aaward-winning guitarits Michael Schenker will be touring the USA with vocalist Doogie White and will make a stop at bergenPAC in Englewood, New Jersey to promote the upcoming "Bridge The Gap" album. This will be a special opportunity to hear some of the material from the incredible new album for the first time.

Award winning guitar legend Michael Schenker will release a new studio album entitled "Bridge The Gap" on Friday, November 22nd. the album features Schenker's Temple of Rock band which consists of ex-Scorpions drummer Herman Rarebell and bassist Francis Buchholz, vocalist Doogie White (ex-Rainbow) and Wayne Findlay (guitar, keyboards).

The new album features 13 hard-hitting, adrenalin fuelled melodic rock 'n' roll songs that showcase Schenker's distinctive and explosive guitar playing, valiantly underpinned by the ferocious rythym section of Rarebell and Buchholz, marking the first time Schenker, Rarebell and Buchholz appeared on the same album since the Scorpions' 1979 Lovedrive.

Scottish vocalist Doogie White, who co-wrote the album with Schenker, soars across every song and stamps his enthusiatic personality with every note and phrase. Wayne Findlay adds another dimension to the dynamic, classic Schenker sound with his Dean 7 string guitar and keyboard orchestrations.

Bridge The Gap is a thunderous, explosive collection of brand new songs steeped in shades of dark and light. Musically and lyrically, the new album shows a re-energized guitarist at the top of his game, surrounded by top drawer musicians.

The album was recorded from January through March 2013 at Kidroom Studios in Germany and was produced by Michael Schenker and Michael Voss, and engineered by Michael Voss.

About Crystal Bowersox

Bowersox has made it her mission to live life and her music to the fullest. With a gentle warmth and wisdom well beyond her years, the consummate artist has an uncompromising vision of herself and her music that is refreshing and rare. "I believe if you stand for something, stand your ground; stand it strong and stand it proud." It is this fortitude and courageous spirit that resonated with millions night after night when the 2010 American Idol runner up took the stage. There is a sincerity and authenticity about her that just can't be manufactured. The same can be said about her musical prowess, which has all the markings of a creative force to reckon with who is in it for the long haul. Her rich amalgam of blues, country, folk and rock makes her one of the most dynamic young voices in music to come along in years. She has performed alongside everyone from Harry Connick Jr., Joe Cocker, and Alanis Morrisette, to Michael Franti, John Popper and BB King. All That For This, Crystal Bowersox's sophomore release and Shanachie Entertainment debut, is a powerful testament to her talents as both a singer and songwriter, as well as her unerring musical vision. She confides, "I am more proud of this body of work then anything I've done before. If this music can move someone to tears or makes them smile, then I have really accomplished something. That's all I can ask for." All That For This is Crystal Bowersox's emancipation from judgment. It is the manifestation of her own womanhood and enlightenment won through hard fought battles, failures and triumphs. It is the belief that listening to your own inner voice will lead you where you need to be. "I am learning not to judge music and myself so harshly and to not allow myself to be swayed by other's judgment. I'm trying to listen to my own instincts more often. I can't convince someone who doesn't like my music to like it, but for the people who do, I want to play them another song," she says smiling. Until now, the world has witnessed only a portion of Crystal Bowersox's talent, which was channeled through mainstream pop expectations on her debut release, Farmer's Daughter. With the highly anticipated release of All That For This (March 26, 2013), produced by Steve Berlin (Los Lobos, Sheryl Crow, John Lee Hooker, Raul Malo), Bowersox exposes a new dimension of her music. "There are definitely more happier light-hearted moments on this record," confides the 27-year-old Portland transport. "There are also touches of some of the darkest places and emotional states that I've been in my past. This album reveals a much more grateful and gracious side of me. It's the next chapter of my life."

Bowersox's new recording is a finely crafted and beautifully arranged tapestry that illustrates the dynamic singer's keen ability to shape a narrative poetically and metaphorically, inviting listeners into her world. "I was regularly obliterated by how powerfully Crystal can connect," says Steve Berlin. "I can say that tears and goose bumps were a fairly everyday occurrence." All That For This showcases originals and co-writes with the exception of a lone cover by the 90s British Pop group, The Sundays, which was suggested by Berlin. "My gut instinct told me it would be beneficial to work with Steve and that I would learn something and the record would be all that I wanted," explains Crystal.

Tommy James and The Shondells:

The music of Tommy James is heard continuously, everyday, in every country in the world: on radio, television or a film soundtrack. To date, he's sold over 100 million records and has been awarded 23 gold singles plus nine gold and platinum albums.

Born Thomas Jackson on April 29, 1947 in Dayton, Ohio, his family finally settled in Niles, Michigan, where he made his first stage appearance as a child model at age four. In 1959 he formed his first rock band, The Tornadoes, which developed a sizable regional following.

Tommy's music has also graced countless movies, television shows, and advertisements. Notable appearances on the big screen include spots in Forrest Gump, Moneyball, The Italian Job, Cape Fear, We Are Marshall, Pirate Radio, and Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me.

Small screen fans also caught "Draggin' The Line" in My Name Is Earl and Men Of A Certain Age, "Mony Mony" on Boston Legal, "Sweet Cherry Wine" in Life On Mars, and "I'm Alive" on Criminal Minds.

Not to be outdone, "Crystal Blue Persuasion" scored big-time on the 2013 season finale of Breaking Bad and The Simpsons BBparody episode.

In 2008, Tommy marked the start of his fifth decade as a recording artist with the release of the I Love Christmas album and a fan-pleasing, career-spanning retrospective 40 Years: The Complete Singles Collection (1966-2006), which included all 48 of his singles.

His recent autobiography - Me, The Mob and The Music - became a bestseller for Simon & Schuster, garnered rave reviews from critics and industry insiders, and was chosen by Rolling Stone magazine as one of the 25 greatest rock 'n' roll memoirs of all time (#12).

On the road, he and his Shondells are still rockin', performing their many timeless hits to sellout crowds across the country. When not on the road, Tommy continues to craft new music geared toward film and television, and develop new business opportunities for his company Aura Entertainment Group.

Yanni

His concerts are legendary. Yanni returns with a worldwide tour performing in over 60 concerts through the USA, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Puerto Rico and Panama and bergenPAC in Englewood, New Jersey.

This is Yanni as you know him best, performing his instrumental hits from shows that have become famous around the world. Fans will witness Yanni and his world-class musicians as they take the stage to perform his greatest instrumental hits made famous in his shows from The Acropolis in Greece, The Taj Mahal in India, The Forbidden City in China and The Royal Albert Hall in England.

For the first time ever, the live show will also introduce music from Yanni's new album "Truth of Touch," which is the composers first album of original studio music in almost a decade.

Come hear the music that touches the world as Yanni performs another 140 concerts scheduled over the next year including Eastern Europe, Western Europe, South East Asia, South America, Central America and North America.