CLEARWATER – Ruth Eckerd Hall recently announced its Adults At Leisure Series for the 2014-15 season, which includes returning favorites “Blue Suede Shoes – The Premier Elvis Birthday Bash” starring Scot Bruce and Mike Albert; The World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra and Neil Berg’s 107 Years of Broadway.
In addition, the new season will include “Live From Nashville,” “The Bronx Wanderers,” “Swingtime!” featuring The Jive Aces and many other presentations.
Single tickets are priced at $18 and $25 and a limited number of VIP seating also is available. Packages are priced at $180 for all 12 performances. Tickets are on sale now. For ticket information, call 791-7400 or visit www.rutheckerdhall.com.
Convenient pre-show boxed lunches priced at $8 are available. For reservations and more information, patrons are encouraged to contact the Ruth Eckerd Hall ticket office.
Following is a schedule of Adults At Leisure Series performances:
• “The Bronx Wanderers present The Merry Bronxmas Tour” – Sunday, Dec. 14, 1 p.m. A father and two sons are living the American rock and roll dream. Quite possibly the best 90 minutes of ’50s, ’60s and ’70s rock and roll ever presented on stage, the Bronx Wanderers’ previous doo-wop shows have been very popular with fans. Now, fresh off their full-length album “Merry Bronxmas,” they return singing holiday tunes as well as the favorites. The show will feature classic holiday songs done with a Bronx twist that is instantly unforgettable and magical.
• “Blue Suede Shoes” – Sunday, Jan. 11, 2015, 1 p.m. “Blue Suede Shoes” is billed as the premier “Elvis Birthday Bash. The production stars Scot Bruce and Mike Albert along with the Big E Band. This show will serve up a rockin' birthday party celebration of America's first rock 'n' roll icon.
• Barbara And Frank: The Concert That Never Was – Monday, Jan. 19, 2015, 1 p.m. This performance will star Sharon Owens as Barbara Streisand and Sebastian Anzaldo as Frank Sinatra. Together, the performers create a “concert that never was,” bringing two powerhouse voices of the 20th century together on the same stage. The show features segments in which Owens and Anzaldo create masterful duets of “Somewhere,” “Something Stupid,” “New York, New York” and many more. The performers have captivated audiences worldwide with their originally self-produced Las Vegas show.
• The World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra – Monday, Jan. 26, 2015, 1 p.m. It’s been more than 70 years since the public first embraced the successful Glenn Miller sound. Both the legend and the music live on. The Glenn Miller Orchestra – featuring music director Nick Hilscher, vocalist Natalie Angst and The Moonlight Serenaders – is the most sought-after big band in the world today for both concert and dance engagements. Still considered the greatest band of all time with 31 Top 10 hits – such as “Tuxedo Junction,” “In the Mood,” “Pennsylvania 6-5000,” “Moonlight Serenade” and “Chattanooga Choo Choo” – its unique sound is loved by almost anybody that cares for dance music.
• “Neil Berg’s 107 Years of Broadway” – Thursday, Feb. 12, 2015, 1 p.m. Back for its annual celebration of Broadway’s greatest songs from its finest shows the most successful touring Broadway concert in America brings an all-star Broadway cast to Ruth Eckerd Hall. This dazzling all-new show which sells out every year features five of Broadway’s finest stars performing songs from the best and most beloved Broadway musicals such as “Jersey Boys,” “Wicked,” “Mamma Mia” and Broadway classics from such composers as Jerome Kern, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Kander and Ebb, Cole Porter, Stephen Sondheim, and Andrew Lloyd Webber and many more.
• Sinatra Centennial Celebration with The Nelson Riddle Orchestra – Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015, 1 p.m. – Directed by Christopher Riddle and featuring vocals by Bryan Anthony, this show will be a centennial celebration of the musical collaboration of Sinatra and Riddle. The performance will include songs that Sinatra made into worldwide classics with the Nelson Riddle Orchestra such as “I’ve Got The World On A String,” “All The Way,” “Chicago,” “The Way You Look Tonight,” “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” “Summer Wind,” “Night and Day” and “My Kind of Town (Chicago Is).”
• “Live from Nashville: The Sights and Sounds of Music City” – Monday, Feb. 23, 2015, 1 p.m. Direct from Music City comes a troupe of singers, dancers, a bona fide band of Nashville musicians, dazzling staging and rhinestone-bedecked costumes, all designed to celebrate a century of celebrities and treasured songs. This incredible theatrical production brings phenomenal fiddling, fancy footwork and top-flight vocals to the theater in a trip through some of country’s greatest music – songs brought to life by Patsy Cline, Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton to today's stars like Carrie Underwood and Brad Paisley.
• Jim Stafford – Wednesday, March 4, 2015, 1 p.m. This comedian/guitarist/singer-songwriter offers music and satirical humor, from “Spiders & Snakes” to his classical guitar album “Somewhere in Time.” Stafford is known for performing and writing for “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour” and “The Jim Stafford Show” as well as songs for movie soundtracks. He hosted “Nashville on the Road” and co-hosted the popular 1980s series “Those Amazing Animals.”
• Swingtime! featuring The Jive Aces and special guests The Tinseltown Jitterbugs – Monday, March 9, 2015, 1 p.m. Direct from London, The Jive Aces are internationally renowned for their superior musicianship, spectacular stage show and their energetic renditions of fresh arrangements by such greats as Louis Prima, Cab Calloway, Bobby Darin, Louis Armstrong, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis, Jr. The Tinseltown Jitterbugs representing six swing dancers join The Jive Aces on stage for a memorable afternoon of swing, jive and R&B classics.
• Tony Kenny’s Irish Celebration – Sunday, March 15, 2015, 1 p.m. The show will feature Richie Hayes, Bernadette Ruddy, Trinity Dublin Band and the Dublin City Dancers. One of Ireland’s most beloved artists, Tony Kenny has sung in countless musical productions and for more than 20 years has starred in the world famous Jurys Irish Cabaret. He’s won many awards for his work and has entertained millions of people in Ireland and across the United States. Hayes has been in the entertainment world from the age of 4 and has appeared in numerous theater and television productions. His debut single, “One Voice,” reached No. 3 in iTunes and he subsequently had four Top 10 singles on the Irish charts. Bernadette Ruddy’s rich earthy tones and touching delivery is the ultimate Irish female ballad singer of today. She is truly an ambassador of song of Ireland. Rounding out the show, the Trinity Dublin Band will create that traditional Irish sound while the Dublin City Dancers will serve up Irish dancing.
• Sha Na Na: Grease Tribute Concert – Monday, March 23, 2015, 1 p.m. Rock and roll is here to stay! From the stage at Woodstock to the stage at Ruth Eckerd Hall, Sha Na Na will perform music from the hit movie “Grease.”
• The Diamonds: Bandstand Boogie! – Tuesday, March 31, 2015, 1 p.m. The Diamonds return to Ruth Eckerd Hall with their all-new show, Bandstand Boogie! It features songs performed on America's all-time favorite music performance TV show, “American Bandstand.” From 1952 to 1989, “American Bandstand” aired 3,000 plus programs showcasing the greatest music, dance and fashion of four decades. Bandstand Boogie! captures the magic and the enduring memories of that golden age.
For tickets and information about individual performances, call 791-7400 or visit www.rutheckerdhall.com.
Article published on Monday, June 16, 2014 Copyright © Tampa Bay Newspapers: All rights reserved.