The Falmouth Chorale Presents MAKE 'EM LAUGH

The Falmouth Chorale, led by Artistic Director John Yankee, presents Make 'Em Laugh, on Saturday, May 5, and Sunday, May 6, 4 pm, at John Wesley United Methodist Church, 270 Gifford Street in Falmouth.

This rollicking program includes selections from Gilbert & Sullivan operettas, Johann Strauss, Jr.'s light opera Die Fledermaus, PDQ Bach, Tom Lehrer, Tom Paxton, Bobby McFerrin, George Gershwin and Irving Berlin--plus more spoofs, parodies, farces, just plain silly, or simply cheerful songs. Audience sing-alongs will be included throughout.

The Chorale and its Chamber Singers will be joined by guest baritone Mark McGrath, the Cape Youth Chorale, Falmouth Academy Women's and Men's Choruses, and pianist Stephanie Weaver. Each will offer their own brand of humor to help both performers and audiences break out of the winter-induced doldrums and greet our belated spring with a laugh, a smile - or a smirk.

Cape Cod audiences last enjoyed Mark McGrath in 2016 as Papageno in the Chorale's presentation of selections from Mozart's Magic Flute. "I didn't think that role could be topped," says McGrath, "until Maestro Yankee offered up the chance in this concert to be the Modern Major-General from The Pirates of Penzance." He will also present a solo "Toast" as part of the Chorale's selections from Die Fledermaus and be featured in several other songs, including as part of a trio singing PDQ Bach's The Art of the Ground Round.

Mark McGrath has soloed with many of the Mid-Atlantic's premier classical music organizations including the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Concert Artists of Baltimore and the Annapolis Chorale. For many years, he assumed the comic baritone roles with the Young Victorian Theatre Company. He also sings in the a cappella group Some of the Parts and plays bass guitar with The Ruxtones.

As part of the concert mix, there will be songs about bears, pigeons and a variety of farm animals. Falmouth Academy women will sing Rossini's famous "Cat Duet" based primarily on melodies from his opera Otello. Singers and members of the audience will voice the sounds of animals, musical instruments and noisy toys.

Pianist Stephanie Weaver will accompany many of the songs and provide some surprises of her own. Contributing to the program's abandon, the Cape Youth Chorus advises "Don't Worry, Be Happy." And, in case the audience misses the sacred content of many Chorale concerts, the Falmouth Academy men will fill in with a piece about atheists' lack of a proper hymnal.

Tickets to Make 'Em Laugh are $25 in advance, $30 at the door for adults; $5 for students. Information and tickets are available at www.falmouthchorale.org or 774-392-2383. Advance tickets paid by cash or check are also available from members of the Chorale and at LeRoux Kitchen, 208 Main Street in Falmouth, Uncle Bill's Country Store in North Falmouth, Market Street Bookshop in Mashpee Commons and Titcomb's Book Shop in East Sandwich.

The mission of The Falmouth Chorale is to share with our audiences the joy of singing and to communicate with passion the marvelous and varied choral music that has been created over the centuries. Celebrating 54 years of performing choral music for audiences on the Upper Cape, the Falmouth Chorale has enjoyed membership of nearly 1000 passionate singers over its existence. Today, Artistic Director John Yankee leads the 65-voice ensemble. Fifteen members sing in the select Chamber Singers for community and private events. For more information, visit falmouthchorale.org, call 774-392-2383, or visit us on Facebook.

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