In celebration of 22 years on tour, the live musical revue of In The Mood is coming to Syracuse this March.
With a cast of 19 and a 13-piece big band orchestra (the String of Pearls), the fully staged show features more than 50 popular 1940s numbers, including “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” “Well Get It,” “Sing, Sing Sing,” “On The Sunny Side of the Street,” “Chattanooga Choo Choo,” “Tuxedo Junction” and “Moonlight Serenade.”
Fans of American big band music will appreciate the show’s brassy singing and dancing in tribute to Swing Era icons like Glenn Miller, the Andrews Sisters, Tommy Dorsey, Artie Shaw, Harry James, Erskine Hawkins, Benny Goodman and Frank Sinatra and many others.
According to the official press release, In The Mood “pays homage to America’s greatest generation who fought WWII. It was a time when Americans listened and boogie woogied to up-tempo Big Band rhythms and danced cheek-to-cheek to intimate ballads. Experience the swing, the rhythm and the jazzy, sentimental and patriotic music of this pivotal time in America’s history.”
Created by Bud Forrest, the ever-evolving production was selected by the National Archives in Washington, D.C., as part of the 50th anniversary commemoration of WWII; the cast was also chosen to perform at the 53rd Presidential Inauguration Ball.
In The Mood – A 1940s Big Band Music Revue returns to the Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theater March 30 for performances at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. The touring musical will make an additional stop in New York State on March 31 at Shea’s Performing Arts Center in Buffalo. Tickets are on sale now.
2016 In The Mood Tour:
3/30 – The Oncenter Crouse Hinds Theater, Syracuse, NY
3/31 – Shea’s Performing Arts Center, Buffalo, NY
4/12 – Coronado Performing Arts Center, Rockford, IL
4/14 – Victory Theatre, Evansville, IN
4/17 – Lexington Opera House, Lexington, KY
5/3-8 – Bucks County Playhouse, New Hope, PA
Celebrating the 25th anniversary of Grammy Award-winning musical director David Alan Miller, the Albany Symphony Orchestra has a big season lined up for their 87th year, including a performance with special guest cellist Yo Yo Ma and six world premiers. Miller’s strong devotion to music education, dynamic presence on the podium and dedication to the music of our time have brought a new level of success to the orchestra. The new season is designed to celebrate the collaboration between Miller and the musicians.
Joining the group as supporting acts this tour will be fellow Floridians Obituary, as well as Cryptopsy and Abysmal Dawn.
The original Woodstock took place in 1969 in Bethel and became one of the most famous music festivals of all time. There have been two other Woodstock anniversary festivals in the past, Woodstock ’94 in Saugerties and Woodstock ’99, held in Rome, N.Y., which came to a rather disastrous end with rioting, fires and police lines.
Music and politics have a long history together. Woody Guthrie wrote songs promoting populism and socialist viewpoints, particularly with “This Land is Your Land.” The civil rights movement adopted “We Shall Overcome” as their chant. The ’60s saw war protest songs being written by popular rock and folk artists. Punk music took an anti-establishment swing.
The music series will supply a rich diversity of blues and jazz styles, ranging from southern bayou roots to funk-infused soul. Those looking to diversify their musical interests or support time-tested favorites have a sparkling opportunity to witness world-class entertainment in a small city nestled in northern New York between Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains.