Celebrate The Queen Of Soul: Aretha Franklin At The Colonial Today

Berkshire Theatre Group welcomes Respect: A Tribute to Aretha Franklin, The Queen of Soul at The Colonial Theatre on Thursday, November 1 at 7:30pm. Tickets are $25.

Four of the Northeast's most dynamic and respected vocalists, Gina Coleman, Danielia Cotton, Jen Durkin and Wanda L. Houston, gather to celebrate the life, music and spirit of The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. Respect: A Tribute to Aretha Franklin, The Queen of Soul features The Rev Tor Band backing the performances of these powerhouse vocalists.

Pre-show entertainment in The Garage (located in the lobby of The Colonial Theatre) will include local duo Acoustic Groove at 6pm. Refreshments and snacks will be available at the Garage bar.

GINA COLEMAN
Gina is a graduate of Williams College. She began singing in 1990 on a dare by her co-workers, and hasn't turned back. She began performing in a duet, The Siblings, and shortly after started her own duet which blossomed into a five-piece band, allowing her to showcase original music and gain regional recognition. Gina has performed at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, BTG's Colonial Theatre, Bethel Woods Center for The Arts and has made several appearances at NYC's famed Bitter End. Her band, Misty Blues, was featured at MASS MoCA's blues festival, has performed in legendary venues from Memphis to Vermont, performed regularly with the late Charles Neville (from the legendary Neville Brothers) and were finalists in both the 2017 and 2018 International Blues Challenge.

DANIELIA COTTON
Danielia Cotton closes her new record, The Mystery of Me, with a message of resilience. "The dark spots will appear," she sings on the title track, "Just remember, you're still here." Cotton penned "The Mystery of Me"-a lovely ode to self-acceptance-in just one night. The new album's 10 tracks feature an eclectic mix of rock and soul, from the soaring "Set Me Free" to the deeply personal "Drink." Cotton's upbeat song, "4 Ur Life," pulls inspiration from classic Motown, Sly and the Family Stone, and in this, Cotton comes to terms with her newfound happiness. The Hopewell, N.J. native who first picked up a guitar at age 12 and released her debut album in 2005, has since opened for the likes of Buddy Guy, Derek Trucks and Bon Jovi, and is still looking for fresh ways to say hello to audiences. Though she's constantly evolving as an artist, Cotton is quick to point out that she's always managed to remain herself.

JEN DURKIN
Jen Durkin attended Berklee College of Music and then moved to New York City giving her a broad range of connections and knowledge. From gospel, funk and world music, the roots and mixed genre lends itself to Jen's unique and amazing journey on and off the road. Jen's high-profile east coast funk band, Deep Banana Blackout, set Jen on the path to attain her dreams and more. Jen has toured and performed with Bernie Worrell of The Talking Heads; The Grateful Dead drummers Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann; Mike Gordon of Phish; and George Porter Jr. of The Meters. She has shared the stage with everyone from Gregg Allman to Metallica.

WANDA L. HOUSTON
Wanda L. Houston has lived and performed professionally throughout the U.S., Europe and Australia. She has performed on Broadway stages, television, recordings and in films. Living on the East Coast in New York and New England returned Houston to the roots of her career and music. It connected her with musicians who share her joy and belief in the power of music on the hearts of people who take the time to listen. Houston has worked in varying capacities with musicians such as: Michael Jackson, Barbara Streisand, John Turturro, Eddie Izzard, Natalie Cole, Eartha Kitt, Patti LaBelle and Sam Harris, on the stages of Pasadena Playhouse, Universal Studios, Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden and Carnegie Hall.

Tickets to Respect: A Tribute to Aretha Franklin, The Queen of Soul are $25 and to purchase tickets, contact the Colonial Ticket Office at 111 South Street, Pittsfield by calling 413-997-4444, or online at www.berkshiretheatregroup.org. Ticket Offices are open Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sundays 10am-2pm or on any performance day from 10am until curtain.

About Berkshire Theatre Group

The Colonial Theatre, founded in 1903, and Berkshire Theatre Festival, founded in 1928, are two of the oldest cultural organizations in the Berkshires. In 2010, under the leadership of Artistic Director and CEO Kate Maguire, the two organizations merged to form Berkshire Theatre Group (BTG). Berkshire Theatre Group's mission is to support wide ranging artistic exploration and acclaimed performances in theatre, dance, music and entertainment. Every year, BTG produces and presents performances to over 68,000 attendees and, through our Educational Program, serves over 13,000 Berkshire County schoolchildren annually. BTG's celebrated stages reflect the history of the American theatre; they represent a priceless cultural resource for the community.

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