CLOSE TO YOU: THE MUSIC OF THE CARPENTERS Tour Celebrates 200th Show

Close to You: The Music of the Carpenters has begun their 2017/18 touring season with what is their biggest season to date as they are about to hit a major milestone: their 200th performance.

Beginning their 8th year on the road, playing in 36 states for over 100,000 people, this group led by singer, Lisa Rock, along with her six-piece band (Ken McMullen, piano/music director, Christian Moreno, drums, Eric Justen, bass, Ian Letts, reeds), complete with back-up vocals found in powerhouse singers, Sari Greenberg (national tours of Bad Romance, The Wizard of Oz, A Christmas Carol), Melissa Minyard (Cosette in Broadway's original company of Les Miserables) and Drew Jansen (composer/lyricist Church Basement Ladies) is dedicated to creating an experience like no other.

They bring the music of the Carpenters back to the stage with their spot-on renditions of Carpenters' classics with Close to You: The Music of The Carpenters. Lisa Rock, a singer as well as a playwright, has been performing to sold-out crowds for years. She's written more than 20 original concerts and cabarets that have been seen across the country including a cabaret about the Carpenters' that began in 1997 in Minneapolis with five sold-out performances.

Rock's amazing four octave range allows her to effortlessly sing the hits like "We've Only Just Begun" and "Rainy Days and Mondays" in their original key, keeping the songs genuine and more recognizable for the audience.

Considered one of the best vocalists of all time, Karen Carpenter captured the attention of a generation with her unabashedly catchy pop music. The Carpenters' beautiful, memorable love songs topped the Billboard charts with more than a dozen number one hits.

But Rock goes beyond the music in her concert. She draws the crowd in with anecdotes about Karen Carpenter, her life and how some of the songs originated. Rock engages the audience to the point where they can't help but sing along with her and share the memories of The Carpenters and their music.

Their 50+ city tour includes their companion show, A Carpenters Christmas, that will play 17 shows during the holiday season. This amazing holiday concert is a nod to the two Christmas albums The Carpenters made. It showcases Rock's amazing vocal talents and recreates the holiday experience the Carpenters made famous including "I'll Be Home for Christmas", "Do You Hear What I Hear", "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" and of course, "Merry Christmas, Darling".

2017 TOUR DATES:

August 18 Sellersville Theatre, PA

August 29 Columbus, Ohio

September 15 The Seasons, Yakima, WA

September 26 Atlanta, GA

October 20 Ames Center, Burnsville, MN

November 11 Oceans Springs Cultural Center, MS

November 25 Beverly Arts Center, Chicago, IL

November 30 Colonial Theater, Idaho Falls, ID

December 2 Memorial Auditorium, Worthington, MN

December 3 River Center, Davenport, IA

December 5 Freedom Hall, Park Forest, IL

December 5 Metropolis PAC, Arlington Heights, IL (2 shows)

December 9 Gem Valley, Grace, ID

December 14 Genesee Theatre, Waukegan, IL

December 15 Third Avenue Playhouse, Sturgeon Bay, WI

December 16 Janesville PAC, WI

December 19 Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater, FL

December 20 Macon Opera House, GA

December 22 Peacock PAC, Hayesville, NC

December 23 Historic Wayne Theatre, VA (2 shows)

2018 TOUR DATES:

January 19 Covington Arts Center, Andalusia, AL

January 20 Richland Parish, Rayville, LA

January 22 Jackson Parish, Jonesboro, LA

January 23 Lincoln Parish, Rustin, LA

January 24 Madison Parish, Tallulah, LA

Jaunary 25 Concordia Parish, Farraday, LA

January 26 Princess Theatre, Winnsboro, LA

February 10 Palace Theatre, Stamford, CT

February 11 Kean University, Enlow Hall, NJ

February 13 Creative 360, Midland, MI

February 14 Calumet Theatre, MI

February 17 Tybee Post, GA

March 3 Luhr's Center for the Performing Arts, Shippensburg, PA

March 4 Concordia Lutheran, Cabot, PA

March 10 Ashwaubenon Performing Arts Center, PA

March 24 Reif Center, Grand Rapids, MN

April 7 Marion Cultural Center, IL

April 17 Del Webb, Huntley, IL

April 21 Dominican University, River Forest, IL

May 5 Paramount Theatre, Austin, MN

Check out the website for upcoming dates at www.closetoyouonline.com.