Preview: Academy of Music, Altar Boyz

Academy of Music, Northampton, MA

www.KETG.org

March 24-27, 2022

This winner of the 2005 Outer Critics Circle Award for outstanding Best Off-Broadway Musical is a foot-stomping, rafter-raising, musical comedy about a fictitious Christian boy-band on the last night of their national 'Raise the Praise' tour. "Altar Boyz" will be performed by K and E Theatre Group.    

The Boyz are five all-singing, all-dancing heartthrobs from Ohio: Matthew, Mark, Luke, Juan and Abraham. With their tight harmonies and spectacular choreography, the troupe will delight  audiences. As they perform their signature hits such as 'Rhythm In Me,' 'The Calling,' and 'I Believe,' the Boyz question their loyalty to each other and ask whether or not faith is really holding them together.

Full of sharp parody, sinful dancing and irreverent humor, the musical brings an extraordinary mix of side-splitting songs, uncontrollable laughs and light-hearted fun, this award-winning and totally original musical is 9minutes of heavenly delight that is destined to rock the masses of all denominations!

The Boyz raising the praise are Dante Woods as Matthew, Michael DeVito as Mark, David Webber as Luke, Michael Luciano as Juan, and Christopher Marcus as Abraham. Bill Martin is the musical director. K and E Theater Group Artistic Director Eddie Zitka is director and choreographer.

Tickets are general admission for $27.00. There is no reserved seating.

PREVIEW: CAPITOL STEPS: Cheaper Than Therapy Tour

Friday, April 20, 2018 , 7:30PM

Academy of Music, Northampton, MA

www.capsteps.com

The Capitol Steps return to Hampshire County in their first performance since 2010. The political

musical satire troupe has been a national institution for over 35 years, providing a unique blend of musical and political comedy and satire to audiences coast-to-coast. Each show consists of tasteful lampooning guaranteed to leave both sides of the political spectrum laughing. The troupe started in 1981. Since then, they have appeared on “The Today Show,” “ABC News Nightline,” “CBS Evening News” and on specials for NPR.

The Capitol Steps works overtime to capture the new administrations’ antics in satire and song. And since The Capitol Steps find their laughs in materials ripped from today’s and tomorrow’s headlines you never know whether Steve Bannon, Jeff Sessions, or Kim Jong-un might appear from Mar-A-Lago or The White House.

Tickets: 413-584-9032 ext. 105 or www.aomtheatre.com

Mr. Mambo

Academy of Music, Northampton, MA

http://mrmambo.net

World Premier One-Time Performance

By Tim O’Brien

How often does a western Massachusetts audience have the opportunity to take in a world premiere of new musical theatre? Well, after watching Dean Parker Presentations’ Northampton debut of his musical comedy “Mr. Mambo,” this reviewer answers, “Not as often as we should,” because this light-fare homage to the stylings of 80’s mall songstress Tiffany is off to a terrific start, smack out of the gate.

For those unfamiliar with the genre, “Mambo” is a so-called “jukebox musical,” where songs by popular artists are strung together to tell a story, or at least amplify the plot. (See the ABBA-driven “Mama Mia” for one of the best-grossing examples of the type.)

California-based actor/writer Parker served as executive producer and crafted the book. Plot-wise, it’s reminiscent of “Grease” and “Bye-Bye Birdy”; Pennsylvania nice-guy Johnny (Jarod Bakum) has a crush on classmate Kristen (Ally Reardon) but is barely on her radar screen; she’s obsessed with possible stardom on the “Dance America” TV show.  Not exactly heavyweight stuff. But no worries – here, the fun’s all in the journey.

Reardon consistently delights with her big smile and good-kid delivery; she also sings the living daylights out of whatever's handed to her. Bakum seems a bit stiff as the smitten male ingénue but handles his songs well and occasionally pulls out a saxophone to accompany the recorded score; extra points earned for that talent. Second leads Casey (Tina Sparkle) and Danny (Arnaldo Rivera) are both excellent as the high-school couple that hits the skids in the midst of the dance-show drama. Aileen Merino Terzi is strong as the cattily calculating dancer Amber Cattrell, and Lauren Duquette has a nice turn as the sharp-tongued but good-hearted show-runner. The biggest laughs come when Silk Johnson is onstage; he portrays over-the-top dance show host Eric Archer as a talented but unwitting blowhard and pulls it off with real charm. The chorus ably sings, dances and smiles as it should.

Director Bob Sands has molded a cast of mostly-youthful performers into a very solid ensemble. With no prior productions to help inform the production, he’s brought the book’s raw vision to life with wit and energy. Musical director Michael Rheault (no stranger to new musicals) has teased excellent vocals and harmonies from the lead performers and chorale alike. Kudos as well to veteran choreographer David Bovat; the cast bounds their way through some clever moves.

Off-Broadway “workouts” provide directors and producers with the opportunity to take some chances and make mistakes as they hone a show to be its ultimate best self. Other than some relatively slow set changes and an apparently migratory tree, “Mr. Mambo” delivered the goods in a genuinely entertaining fashion.

Heather Maloney

Academy of Music, Northampton, MA

www.academyofmusictheatre.com

April 24, 2015

by Eric Sutter

Signature Sounds' singer-songwriter Heather Maloney shared her CD release party for "Making Me Break" with a warm receptive audience at Northampton's Academy of Music. The concert was staged for those who love without boundaries. Suitcase Junket lone star Matt Lorenz from Amherst opened with " Earth Apple" and other songs from his CD "Make Time." His unique, to say the least, one-man band music incorporated junkyard guitar, suitcase bass drum, silverware, cook pot, and throat whistling.

Heather Maloney merged folk, pop and indie rock soul in an image invoking style that initially set the tone for the intimate "Nightstand Drawer." Her adventurous folk included a beautifully voiced "Oh Hope, My Tired Friend." Her Joni Mitchell cover of "Woodstock" registered high on the audience list of favorites, offering an honest calming effect.

Each number clearly told a  story. [I am made of] "Dirt and Stardust" was a rambling song about coping with life. "Daddy's Dreams and Mother's Heart" made for especially thought provoking lyrics. The lyrics of nearly all of the evening's songs veered close to poetry, with Maloney's musicianship becoming more and more refined as the concert progressed. "No Short Cuts" called for audience participation to set the hand-clap rhythm for flow of melody to this story song. "Flutter" seemed to float off somewhere new, vocally, with a dance among the stars in a bright ray. Maloney's voice swooped and dove through the air to catch the shine. "Involuntary" offered a personal story from a wife's perspective about a war's effect on her husband. "Otherwise" rocked freedom close to the edge with acoustic guitar, banjo, and harmonies. The passionate love song "Linger Longer" had Maloney center stage in her red dress on electric guitar. This was pure sonic beauty.

The lovely "Turn Yourself Around" closely connected the audience with the singer at the close. Like most concerts, an encore is never a surprise. Maloney, along with Chris Freemen Harrison, offered a powerful "Wrecking Ball" followed by a smooth "Roadside Lily."

Roger McGuinn

Academy Of Music, Northampton, MA
www.academyofmusic.com
June 6, 2014
by Eric Sutter

 Folk minstrel and living legend Roger McGuinn of "The Byrds" fame appeared at the Academy of Music with his collection of guitars and banjo. Possessed with a strong personal magnetism, he shined with song and story about his life in music. A good singing of Dylan's, "It's Alright Ma, (I'm Only Bleeding)" with the chiming jangly sound of his 12-string Rickenbacker guitar was met with enthusiastic response.

McGuinn was in warmly fine voice with acoustic folk ballads "Pretty Boy Floyd" and "Ballad of Easy Rider." Lively stage banter about "The Basement Tapes" preceded Dylan's great country-rock tinged "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere." His musical mix included an Appalachian banjo tune, the propulsive blues of "Rock Island Line" and the wayfaring psychedelic rock "5D (Fifth Dimension)." His stories paralleled his song writing career. "Grapes Of Wrath" was a moving song with lyrics about the movie of the same name.

Familiar originals "Lover of The Bayou" and "Chestnut Mare" were pure bliss with the audience taking obvious delight in a sing-along. The close and personal format of the performance lent to an intimate and uncluttered feel. The fun-spirited sea shanty, "Randy, Dandy Oh" integrated McGinn's  trademark vocals and magnificent acoustic guitar work. The traditional ballad, "The Water Is Wide" played well alongside the jangle-pop folk rock "Mr. Tambourine Man" and "Turn, Turn, Turn."

McGuinn's true mastery of guitar was exhibited on the jazz-raga-rock 12-string guitar rip of his hit "Eight Miles High." He specifically name-dropped his Byrds' band mates with a special nod to Gene Clark who co-wrote many folk-rock classics. In his remembrance, McGuinn sang "I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better" with the Rickenbacker guitar sound. Closing with a sincere rendition of the Irish blessing, "May The Road Rise to Meet You," one could not help but feel a special musical evening was shared.
 
Incidentally, the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame-r was listed as the "95th Best Guitarist" in Rolling Stone magazine.