Cicero, Ill. – The Jedlicka Performing Arts Center (JPAC), located on the campus of Morton College in Cicero, jumps, jives and boogies into the new year with a swinging new musical tribute to the greatest artists of the 1930’s and ‘40’s. "Big Band Legends" pays homage to the singers and musicians of the World War II era and features the greatest songs from the Greatest Generation. The audience will be up on their feet “cutting the rug” to the music of Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington and more. The show features songs from many of the greatest vocalists of all time including Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney and Sammy Davis, Jr. among many others.
“We always listen to suggestions from our audience about what kind of shows they would like to see,” says JPAC’s Managing Director, Steve Calzaretta. “Well, this time they spoke loud and clear and let us know, in no uncertain terms, that they were ‘in the mood’ for a little nostalgia.” When requests for a musical revue of Big Band music kept coming in, the JPAC staff decided it was time to bring swing to the stage.
And, as always with JPAC productions, get ready to be wowed! You can’t have a true tribute to the era without an authentic big band and JPAC has secured the “Cool Breeze Orchestra,” a 12 piece band conducted by Justin Amolsch. Justin is a well-respected musician in the Chicago area. He is known for his mastery of brass instruments including the French horn, trumpet and trombone as well as classical piano. He has performed with the Rockford Symphony Orchestra, has played in the pit for the Goodman Theatre’s A Christmas Carol for 13 seasons and runs Brass Inferno Productions, LLC. Justin is also the Co-Musical Director and Arranger of Big Band Legends along with JPAC’s Resident Music Director, Mike Pryzgoda.
And the talent doesn’t stop there. Bringing the songs to life are three amazing Chicago-area’s vocalists, Tony Calzaretta, Steve Calzaretta and Lisa Beery.
Tony Calzaretta is a veteran singer, born and raised in Chicago and best known as a founding member of the 1950’s quartet, The Highlights. Tony started singing at age 8, formed a vocal quartet with his brother and two neighbors at age 13 and formed The Highlights by the age of 16 at Chicago’s Weber High School. That same year the group recorded the Top 40 hit, “City of Angels.” The song reached #18 on the Hot 100 chart in 1956 and sold over a half million copies. The group had a second hit, “To Be With You” and went on to perform with such stars as Pat Boone, The McGuire Sisters, Andy Williams, Ann Margaret, Frankie Avalon, Mel Torme and many others. Tony later became a solo artist performing in many Chicago clubs building a strong gathering of loyal followers including Tony Bennett.
Steve Calzaretta is Tony’s son who followed in his father’s performing arts footsteps. Steve has been a performer in the Chicago area for more than two decades. He has toured nationally with country music superstar, Kenny Rogers as a featured vocalist for five years, toured with UFO Guitar legend’s Paul Chapman Project as lead vocalist for six years, starred in “Tony ‘n Tina’s Wedding,” in Chicago and performed on Broadway. Steve also is the Managing Director at JPAC and is overseeing this production of Big Band Legends.
Lisa Beery has been performing since she was 9 years old. She is an accomplished singer, dancer, director and choreographer. She has performed with a number of Chicago bands including Spot Blues, Blues Express, RockStar and Rodeo. She currently teaches voice at School of Rock in Orland Park and is lead vocalist for the group, Gone Country,
Big Band Legends promises to be a fun, uplifting and enjoyable nostalgic trip through a magical time in musical history. The show runs for two weeks only and ticket prices are incredibly reasonable as JPAC prides itself on making top-notch theater affordable for everyone.
Big Band Legends
January 15 – 24
Fridays & Saturdays, 7:30pm; Sundays, 3:00pm
Jedlicka Performing Arts Center
3801 S. Central Ave., Cicero IL
(on the campus of Morton College)
Tickets: $18; Seniors: $16
708-656-1800
About JPAC:
The Jedlicka Performing Arts Center is a professional, non-equity Theater located on the campus of Morton College in Cicero, Ill. JPAC produces 6 shows a season and is now in its 33nd year. To date, the acclaimed JPAC Theatre has presented more than 150 productions to an estimated quarter of a million people. JPAC’s national reputation grew over the years due to its mounting of rarely produced shows and Chicago-area premieres that caught the attention of producers from London to Broadway. In 1990, Academy Award winner, Joseph Brooks launched the North American Premiere of his West End musical Metropolis at the JPAC. A number of other Broadway and West End musicals have since had their Chicago debut at the theater including: The Baker’s Wife, Blood Brothers, The Who’s Tommy, Jekyll & Hyde, Aspects of Love, We Will Rock You, Phantom of the Opera and most recently, Big Fish. World Premiere productions include Nefertiti - The Musical, Danger Will Robinson! and the Liberace musical, Mr. Showbiz. JPAC has made a similar commitment to non-musical plays. Several successful, acclaimed playwrights have made Chicago-area debuts of their work on the JPAC stage including Ray Cooney, Rupert Holmes, Neil Simon, Steven Dietz and Matthew Barber. JPAC’s mission is to present vibrant theatre at an affordable price. More information at www.jpactheater.com
Media Contact:
David Viggiano
david@alpaytac.com
773-580-9721