Bela Fleck & The Flecktones, Boyz II Men, & Nestor Torres Coming to the Lyric Theatre

The LYRIC THEATRE was built in 1925 as a silent movie house and was operated until the depression when it was closed and eventually sold. Over the next 50 years it was bought and sold to various concerns and used in a variety of manners. In 1978 the theatre was purchased by a non-denominational church and was used for their weekly services until they built a new facility, and no longer needed the structure in downtown Stuart.

Bela Fleck & The Flecktones The Original Line-Up
October 18th at 6:00 pm & 8:30 pm

Groundbreaking banjoist, composer, bandleader Bela Fleck has reconvened his extraordinary original Bela Fleck & the Flecktones line-up for a North American tour to celebrate the group's new recording, "Rocket Science." On stage with Fleck will be bassist Victor Wooten, Roy "Futureman" Wooten on drums, and pianist Howard Levy on keyboards and harmonica. The tour - and the record - mark the first time in 20 years that Levy has reunited with the band.

Fleck first formed the Flecktones in 1988, ostensibly for a single performance on PBS' "Lonesome Pine Special." Frothe start, the four musicians - each a virtuoso in his own right - forged a special kinship through their mutual passion for creativity and artistic advancement. "When we come together and put our separate soups into one big stockpot, it turns into a very diverse concoction," says Fleck.

Although Levy hadn't played with the band since late 1992, the Flecktones continued to record and tour as a trio, later adding saxophonist Jeff Coffin. They've shared the stage with artists as diverse as Sting, Bonnie Raitt and the Grateful Dead, and have toured with the Dave Matthews Band. Blue-chip musicians like Chick Corea, Bruce Hornsby and Branford Marsalis have been guest artists on their recordings.

For Flecktone fans - and those who have never experienced the "Tones" before - this return of the original line-up offers an extremely rare opportunity to experience this vibrant, visionary and iconic band live.

Boyz II Men 

October 21st & 22nd at 8:00 pm

They have created such smooth contemporary hits as "I'll Make Love to You," "On Bended Knee," "End of the Road," and "Water Runs Dry." They've won four Grammys, sold 60 million recordings, and are the best-selling R & B group of all time. Best of all, they're returning to the Lyric this season.

Boyz II Men's emotional ballads and complex, a cappella harmonies have made it one of the most successful and enduring vocal ensembles ever. The group, comprised of members Wanya Morris, Nathan Morris and Shawn Stockman, celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2010 - and it's still going strong. Unlike traditional R & B groups with a lead vocalist and background singers, Boyz II Men features each member as a lead: an arrangement that has become the group's hallmark.

Most recently, they've brought their own inimitable style to American standards. Boyz II Men's 2007 CD, "Motown: A Journey Through Hitsville," took the international music scene by storm and earned them two Grammy nominations. Their latest release, "Love," covers everything from Cyndi Lauper's "Time after Time" to Earth, Wind and Fire's "Shining Star."

An evening with Boyz II Men is sure to include the favorites you know and love, with some beautiful surprises in store. From their synchronized dance routines to their tight, distinctive vocal arrangements, they'll bring you a performance that you'll remember long after their harmonies fade.

Nestor Torres
October 29th at 7:00 pm

Simply put, no one plays the flute quite like Nestor Torres. Drawing on his classical training (he studied at the Mannes School of Music and the New England Conservatory of Music) and his inspiration from Latin, jazz and R&B, Torres has literally transformed the flute's role in the contemporary musical landscape.

Torres developed his unique style while playing in Latin dance clubs, a scene in which he mingled with the likes of Ray Barretto and Eddie Palmieri. He credits his sense of melody and timing from those years of playing Cuban dance music, or charanga: "In charanga, the flutist improvises a great deal - the focus of his solos is to make people dance," he says. "When I play today, my approach is still very rhythmic and melodic."

In 1989, Torres released his debut album, "Morning Ride," which climbed to the top of the Billboard Contemporary Jazz Charts. And the hits kept coming. His composition "Luna Latina" was nominated for a Latin GRAMMY in 2000, and in 2001 he won a Latin GRAMMY for "This Side of Paradise." His CD, "Nouveau Latino," which pays tribute to the New York Salsa scene from the 60s-80s, was nominated for a Latin GRAMMY in 2009.

Torres has become a renowned headliner in the contemporary jazz scene, and has also shared the stage with jazz giants like Herbie Hancock and Wayne Shorter and Latin music icons Tito Puente and Gloria Estefan. His energetic, electrifying mix of Latin, jazz and R&B will take you on a thrilling ride!

Get your TICKETS TODAY! 772-286-7827 or WWW.LYRICTHEATRE.COM

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